Inside: Michigan cancels Ohio State showdown, citing COVID-19 cases,
Citing a rising number of COVID-19 cases in its program, Michigan canceled its annual showdown with Ohio State on Tuesday as college football lurches toward the end of the season without one of its cornerstone rivalry games.
The season- ending grudge match known as “The Game” won’t be played for the first time in 102 years.
While outbreaks have disrupted more than 100 games across major college football since late August — the problems with the Wolverines were closely watched in part because the undefeated Buckeyes (5- 0) have championship goals again this season.
With two games already canceled, the Buckeyes under current conference rules need a sixth game to be eligible to play for a Big Ten championship Dec. 19 in Indianapolis against Northwestern.
TIDE, IRISH, TIGERS, BUCKEYES HOLD STEADY ATOP CFP RANKINGS » For the third straight week, Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State held on to the top four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The selection committee’s second- from- last rankings had only a little movement in the top 10. Texas A&M is still fifth and Florida held at sixth.
Iowa State moved up a couple of spots to seventh after earning a spot in the Big 12 title game. Cincinnati slipped a spot to eighth after an idle week because of COVID-19 issues in the program.
MLB
WHITE SOX REUNITE WITH
EATON, FINALIZE TRADE FOR LYNN » The Chicago
White Sox reunited with outfielder Adam Eaton and finalized a trade with the Texas Rangers for workhorse starter Lance Lynn.
Eaton agreed to a oneyear deal that guarantees him $8 million and fills Chicago’s hole in right field, according to The Associated Press.
The signing of Eaton comes one day after the White Sox agreed to acquire Lynn from Texas for pitchers Dane Dunning and Avery Weems. SANTANA GETS 2-YEAR DEAL FROM ROYALS » The Kansas City Royals and free agent first baseman Carlos Santana have agreed to a two-year, $17.5 million deal. Santana, 34, batted a career-low .199 with eight homers, 30 RBIs and a league-leading 47 walks in 60 games with the Cleveland Indians in 2020.
He made the American League All- Star team in 2019, finishing with a .281 average, 34 home runs and 93 RBIs.
FREEMAN, ABREU WIN
HANK AARON AWARDS FOR OFFENSE » First basemen Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves and José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox have won Hank Aaron Awards as the outstanding offensive performers in each league as voted by MLB.com.
Freeman, 31, was second in the NL in batting .341, OBP (.462), slugging percentage (.640) and OPS (1.102).
The 33-year- old Abreu hit .317 with 15 doubles, 19 homers and 60 RBIs during 60 games in the pandemic-shortened season.
Motor sports
FIRST 3 RACES OF NASCAR
SEASON TO BE IN FLORIDA » NASCAR already has started adjusting the 2021 calendar. The first three races of the season, which begins Feb. 14 with the Daytona 500, all will be held in Florida now.
NASCAR shifted the February race scheduled for
Fontana to the road course at Daytona International Speedway. It swapped the Fontana date to make it the second race of the season and follow the Daytona 500 at the same track. The race at Homestead-Miami Speedway originally scheduled as the second event of the year was moved into Fontana’s original slot and will be run Feb. 28.
NBA
HARDEN IN HOUSTON FOR
COVID TESTS » James Harden is back in Houston after missing the start of Rockets training camp and was going through the NBA’s COVID-19 testing protocols.
Coach Stephen Silas said after Houston’s practice that Harden had arrived in the city and was getting tested but didn’t have much information beyond that. Silas said he hadn’t spoken to Harden and had no comment on reports that the All- Star wants to be traded.