Off the wire

FOOTBALL Source: Miles to Kansas

Les Miles could be back in the Big 12 soon. The former Oklahoma State coach, who led LSU to the 2007 national championship before getting fired four games into the 2016 season, is in negotiations with Kansas to take over the downtrodden Jayhawks, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was not complete. There are numerous details to work out, though those are expected to be finalized in the coming days. Miles would take over for David Beaty, who was fired two weeks ago. Beaty agreed to finish out his fourth season, and was 6-30 heading into Saturday night’s game at No. 6 Oklahoma. Miles has long been considered the front-runner for the job because of his close relationship with Jeff Long, the new athletic director at Kansas and a former AD at Arkansas. The two worked together at Michigan and stayed in touch over the years. Sports Illustrated first reported Friday that Long and Miles were in negotiations. Miles, who turned 65 last week, turned around Oklahoma State over the course of four years before leaving for LSU, where he inherited Nick Saban’s powerhouse. He won a national title three years later, then lost to Saban and Alabama in the national championship game after- the 2011 season.

GOLF Howell ahead by 1

Charles Howell III had a 2-under 68 for a one-shot lead Saturday in the RSM Classic at St. Simons Island, Ga., along with a reminder that winning for the first time in more than 11 years won’t be easy. With two quick birdies, Howell stretched his lead to five shots. By the end of the third round, his lead was down to one shot over PGA Tour rookie Cameron Champ and Jason Gore, who each shot 66 and made up ground on the back nine of the Seaside course at Sea Island. Howell was at 16-under 194 as he tries to end 332 starts on the PGA Tour without winning. Champ is trying to win for the second time

this fall. Webb Simpson shot a 63 and was only three shots behind.

Thompson in control

Lexi Thompson has control of the CME Group Tour Championship at Naples, Fla., and Ariya Jutanugarn is in control of just about everything else. Thompson’s 4-under 68 on Saturday pushed her to 16-under after three rounds of the LPGA’s season-ending event, as she moved three shots clear of Nelly Korda and six ahead of Carlota Ciganda at Tiburon Golf Club. Korda shot her second consecutive 67 to get to 13 under, and Ciganda grinded out a 69 to get to 10 under for the week. Thompson has been nearly flawless this week. Her only dropped shot of the tournament came Saturday when she made bogey at the par-4 fourth hole, then put together five birdies over the remainder of her round. If Thompson hangs on today, she’ll have her

first win of the season. If Jutanugarn keeps things together, she’ll leave with plenty of prizes as well.

Ancer leads by 5

Abraham Ancer shot a 7-under 65 Saturday to leave Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley and the rest of the field at the Australian Open at Sydney well behind after three rounds. The Mexican golfer had a five-birdie stretch mid-round, then added two late birdies to finish with a 13-under total of 203 and a fiveshot lead going into today’s final round at The Lakes. Japan amateur Keita Nakajima was in second place after a 70, while Bradley was tied for third with Australian veteran Marcus Fraser. They were six strokes behind after 71s. Kuchar, who trailed by a stroke after the second round, shot 73 Saturday and was tied for fifth, seven behind Ancer.

TENNIS Zverev, Djokovic in final

Alexander Zverev denied Roger Federer a shot at a 100th career title by beating the Swiss great 7-5, 7-6 (5) at the ATP Finals in London on Saturday to advance to the championship match against Novak Djokovic. Zverev is the youngest player at 21 to reach the final since 2009 and the first from Germany since 1996. He will face five-time champion Djokovic, who defeated Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2 to extend his semifinal win-loss record at the tournament to 7-1. Federer, 37, was seeking a record-extending seventh title, but was unable to cope with the pressure created by Zverev’s power and precision at the O2 Arena.

BASEBALL Astros acquire Diaz

The Houston Astros have acquired infielder Aledmys Diaz from the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Trent Thornton. The trade was announced by both teams Saturday. Diaz, 28, hit .263 with 26 doubles and a career-high 18 home runs in 130 games with the Blue Jays. Thornton, 25, is a right-hander who went 9-8 with a 4.42 ERA in 24 games at Class AAA Fresno last season.

Jansen surgery set

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will undergo heart surgery Nov. 26 and expects to be fully recovered by spring training. The All-Star has twice experienced an atrial fibrillation episode, otherwise known as an irregular heartbeat, while the Dodgers were in the high altitude of Colorado. It most recently occurred in August, when his heart had to be shocked back into a regular rhythm. He didn’t travel with the team back to Colorado in September as a precaution. Jansen underwent a heart procedure in 2012 to help the issue. He said Friday while distributing holiday turkeys that if all goes well, he would be cleared in two weeks. But if doctors find anything abnormal, Jansen said he would be down for eight weeks, although he could still do his offseason work to be ready for opening day.