AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:45 p.m. EST

Comeback-king Vikings set NFL rally record in win vs. Colts

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings completed the biggest comeback in NFL history by erasing a 33-point deficit to beat the Indianapolis Colts 39-36 in overtime. Greg Joseph’s 40-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in OT gave the Vikings the victory and clinched the NFC North division for them in their typical dramatic fashion. The Vikings are 11-3. They’re just the third team in NFL history with 10 wins of eight points or fewer. The previous league record rally was Buffalo in the 1992 playoffs. The Bills trailed 35-3 and beat the Houston Oilers 41-38.

AP sources: Cubs, SS Dansby Swanson agree to 7-year deal

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Dansby Swanson have agreed to a $177 million, seven-year contract, adding the All-Star shortstop to the team’s rebuilding project. The deal includes a full no-trade clause, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract was pending a physical. Swanson was part of a stellar group of free agent shortstops that also included Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts. He was the last one of the four to decide on a team.

Messi seeks glory, Argentina meets France in World Cup final

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — It’s now or never for Lionel Messi in the World Cup final between Argentina and France. The Argentina superstar’s once-in-a-generation career will be defined to many by whether he leads his country to the World Cup title on Sunday. The 35-year-old Messi is looking to win soccer’s biggest prize to secure his place alongside Pelé and Diego Maradona in the pantheon of the game’s greatest ever players. Standing in his way is defending champion France and Kylian Mbappé. The striker is the player best positioned to take over from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer’s marquee name and is seeking to emulate Pelé by being a champion at his first two World Cups.

Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take 3rd place at World Cup

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup. The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match. Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric finished on a winning note if this does turn out to be his last World Cup match. Josko Gvardiol put Croatia ahead in the seventh minute but Achraf Dari evened the score in the ninth. The World Cup final between defending champion France and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday at Lusail Stadium.

Walker, defense lead No. 5 Houston past No. 2 Virginia 69-61

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Jarace Walker scored 17 points and No. 5 Houston used runs in each half and the nation’s best scoring defense to beat No. 2 Virginia 69-61. Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark each added 13 points for the 11-1 Cougars. They used a 10-2 run early in the second half to open a 40-30 lead. Virginia was playing for the first time in 11 days and never got closer than six again, and each time the Cougars answered. Kadin Shedrick scored 16 points and Jayden Gardner had 13 for the 8-1 Cavaliers.

Timme leads No. 15 Gonzaga over No. 4 Alabama, 100-90

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Drew Timme matched his season-high with 29 points and No. 15 Gonzaga overcame Brandon Miller’s 36-point outburst to beat No. 4 Alabama 100-90 in the C.M. Newton Classic. Timme had 10 rebounds, four assists and made 12 of 18 shots to help the Bulldogs cool off one of the nation’s hottest teams. The Crimson Tide had won four straight and beat two No. 1 teams to earn their highest ranking in 15 years. Miller scored 26 points in the second half, including the team’s first 10. Gonzaga is 7-1 in regular-season games against teams ranked in the top five by either the AP or the coaches’ poll since 2018-19.

Crypto’s ties to sports raise ethical questions

Sports fans who view their favorite players as role models might think twice before taking their financial advice, too. The bankruptcy of FTX and the arrest of its CEO are raising new questions about the role celebrity athletes such as Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Naomi Osaka and others played in lending legitimacy to the largely unregulated landscape of crypto. It is also reframing the conversation about just how costly blind loyalty to favorite players or teams can be for the average fan. FTX itself had numerous ties to sports before its eventual collapse. Separately, dozens of athletes have endorsed crypto, and in doing so, have led some of their fans to follow suit.

No. 8 Kansas romps to 84-62 victory over No. 14 Indiana

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Gradey Dick scored 20 points, Dajuan Harris Jr. added 10 points and 10 assists and eighth-ranked Kansas roared to an 84-62 victory over No. 14 Indiana. Kevin McCullar Jr. had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalen Wilson and KJ Adams also scored 11 apiece, as the Jayhawks beat their fellow college basketball blueblood for the seventh time in their last nine meetings. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 13 points and nine blocks to lead the Hoosiers, who played most of the way without second-leading scorer Xavier Johnson. He hurt his right ankle about 10 minutes into the game.

NC Central beats Jackson State in Deion Sanders’ final game

ATLANTA (AP) — Quarterback Davius Richard ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns, including a 1-yard scoring plunge in overtime, and North Carolina Central beat Jackson State 41-34 in the Celebration Bowl. It spoiled the Tigers’ bid for an undefeated season under outgoing coach Deion Sanders. The Eagles’ defense made a goal-line stand on Jackson State’s first overtime possession to preserve the win. Shedeur Sanders’ 19-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter as time expired in regulation set up Alejandro Mata’s tying extra point to send the game to overtime. Deion Sanders will take over the program at Colorado next season.

Louisville beats Cincy 24-7 for Keg of Nails and Fenway Bowl

BOSTON (AP) — Jawhar Jordan ran for 115 yards and Louisville beat Cincinnati 24-7 in the twice-delayed first edition of the Fenway Bowl at the chilly home of the Boston Red Sox. Jordan broke free for two long touchdowns and Maurice Turner ran 31 times for 160 yards for the Cardinals. Jordan scored from 49 yards out at the end of the first quarter and 40 at the end of the second to help clinch the Keg of Nails for Louisville over its Ohio River rival. Brock Domann hit Marshon Ford for another score. It was 40 degrees and both teams struggled to pass — or even hold onto the ball.