AP Sports SummaryBrief at 8:52 p.m. EST

Texas Rangers ink free-agent ace Jacob deGrom to 5-year deal

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Free-agent ace Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a five-year contract. The two-time Cy Young Award winner leaves the New York Mets after nine seasons — the past two shortened by injuries. After making his first start last season in early August, deGrom went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He helped the Mets reach the playoffs, then opted out of his contract to become a free agent. Texas announced the signing Friday night after the 34-year-old deGrom passed his physical.

South Korea advances at World Cup after wild finish to group

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — South Korea advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup on the tiebreaker of goals scored after beating Portugal 2-1 following a stoppage-time strike from Hwang Hee-chan. South Korea was heading out until Son Heung-min led a length-of-the-field breakaway in the first minute of added time and slipped a pass through for Hwang to convert with a low finish. Son and his emotional teammates then formed a huddle in the middle of the field after the final whistle and watched coverage of the end of the match between Uruguay and Ghana on several cell phones. That game finished 2-0 to Uruguay so South Korea advanced ahead of the south Americans.

US coach Berhalter to draw on Dutch lessons at World Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Gregg Berhalter went to the Netherlands 28 years ago to turn pro and will apply some of the early lessons he learned when he coaches the United States against the Dutch on Saturday for a berth in the World Cup’s quarterfinals. The U.S. was knocked out in the round of 16 in extra-time losses to Ghana in 2010 and Belgium in 2014 then failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament. The Americans have not reached the quarterfinals since 2002. The Netherlands is a three-time World Cup runner-up and finished third in 2014.

If NFL had its way, Deshaun Watson’s return would be on hold

If the NFL had its way, Deshaun Watson wouldn’t be playing this week or anytime this year. The league wanted to suspend Watson for at least one season over sexual misconduct allegations but settled for 11 games after an independent arbiter initially gave him a six-game ban. Watson, who has been accused by more than two dozen women of sexual harassment and assault during massage therapy sessions, makes his debut for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday facing his former team in Houston. There won’t be any hype videos promoting his return. Nobody outside the Browns organization is welcoming him back with open arms.

Column: College coaching color barrier firmly entrenched

Associated Press Sports Columnist Paul Newberry says Hugh Freeze is returning to the Southeastern Conference with enough baggage to fill a jumbo jet. He also writes that Freeze had one big edge when the Tigers came looking for a new head football coach: He’s white. Newberry contends that an all-too-familiar pattern remains firmly intact at the highest level of college football: Black coaches need not apply. Chances are, they’re not even going to get a call back.

CFP deja vu: TCU in third, Ohio State lurking and lobbying

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU is third in the College Football Playoff rankings going into its last game before final four teams are set. Just like in 2014, Ohio State is fifth. The Horned Frogs missed out on the inaugural four-team playoff eight years ago even after a seven-TD win. Ohio State got in and won the national title. Their rankings are the same now, but the scenarios are different. The undefeated Frogs play in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The Buckeyes missed the Big Ten title game, and can only tout what they had done before losing to Michigan last week.

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins success shows value of elite WRs

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami has the NFL’s No. 2 passing offense and sixth-best scoring offense thanks largely to the nearly unstoppable connection between Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tyreek Hill leads the league in yards receiving with 1,233 and trails only Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs in receptions with 87. Hill’s success and role inelevating Miami’s offense shows the value of having an elite receiver in today’s NFL. The Dolphins play San Francisco on Sunday.

Capitals, Flyers, Avalanche handling injury woes differently

A handful of NHL teams are dealing with significant injury issues in the first part of the season. Leading the way are the Flyers, Capitals and reigning Stanley Cup champion Avalanche. Those three teams have very different sets of expectations going into the year from a rebuild in Philadelphia to the playoffs in Washington and a repeat bid in Colorado. They’ve also handled this adversity differently. Unsurprisingly the Avalanche have enjoyed the most success while missing captain Gabriel Landeskog and others. The Capitals are just trying to tread water until players like Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom can return.

EXPLAINER: Why Japan’s World Cup goal was judged valid

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The most controversial goal of the World Cup so far was scored by Japan and it eliminated Germany. The Japanese came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 on Thursday and advance to the round of 16 on a goal that many felt went out of play before the ball went into the net. The victory also meant that four-time champion Germany was knocked out of the competition in Qatar. FIFA has confirmed that an overhead camera positioned along the goal line verified the ball stayed in play.

Uruguay beats Ghana 2-0 at World Cup, both teams eliminated

AL WAKRAH, Qatar (AP) — Uruguay and Luis Suarez were eliminated from the World Cup despite a 2-0 win over Ghana. The result also knocked Ghana out of the competition. Suarez played a key role in both of Giorgian De Arrascaeta’s first-half goals. Uruguay was in a position to advance until a late goal gave South Korea a 2-1 win over Portugal in the other Group H game. That meant Uruguay needed to score one more goal in the final minutes of its game to advance. It didn’t and Suarez was distraught on the sidelines after being substituted in likely his last World Cup appearance.