ATLANTA (AP) — At 36, Colt McCoy is savoring every opportunity to play for the Arizona Cardinals, especially after teammate J.J. Watt's plans to retire were announced this week. At 23, Desmond Ridder is trying to show he deserves to be considered the long-term starter for the Atlanta Falcons. McCoy, who was cleared from concussion protocols this week, and Ridder, the rookie making a late-season audition, are expected to start at quarterback when the Cardinals visit the Falcons on Sunday in a matchup of teams eliminated from playoff contention.

ATLANTA (AP) — Only months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft, those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal. Georgia had three defensive linemen, including No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, selected in the first round of this year's NFL draft. Ohio State had wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave chosen with the 10th and 11th picks, respectively.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Pelé, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82. The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game” had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. He had been hospitalized for the last month with multiple ailments. His agent Joe Fraga confirmed his death.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Jermaine Marshall scored 25 points as Samford beat Mercer 78-69 on Wednesday night. Marshall also had seven rebounds for the Bulldogs (7-7). Logan Dye was 7 of 11 shooting, including 3 for 4 from distance, and went 6 for 6 from the line to add 23 points.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves acquired left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor leaguers on Wednesday night. The Yankees acquired right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin. Luetge, 35, posted ERAs under 3.00 while pitching in at least 50 games in each of the last two seasons with New York.

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant had 26 points and a season-high 16 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets won their 10th straight game, 108-107 over the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. The winning streak is the longest in the NBA this season and the Nets’ longest since they took 10 in a row in 2005-06.

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Trae Young has been scratched from Wednesday’s starting lineup against Brooklyn with a left calf contusion. Atlanta is also without starting center Clint Capela, who has a right calf strain, and starting forward De’Andre Hunter, who has a left ankle sprain.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Terry Roberts and Kario Oquendo each scored 17 points and Georgia held off Rider for a 78-72 victory on Wednesday night. Mervin James scored six points and Allen Betrand had a 3-pointer during Rider's 17-4 run to pull to 74-72 with 56 seconds to play, but Georgia made its last four free throws to end it. Georgia (10-3) has won six of its last seven games and is 8-0 at home.

A change of scenery worked out just fine for Katie Ledecky. Shifting coasts and coaches after last summer's Tokyo Olympics, the American swimmer turned in another stellar performance at the world championships, set a pair of world records and capped 2022 as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, selected by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors from news outlets across the country. Ledecky, who previously won the award in 2017, edged out American track star Sydney McLaughlin in balloting announced Wednesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Demaree King's 30 points led Jacksonville State over Georgia Southwestern 78-73 on Tuesday night. King added five assists and four steals for the Gamecocks (7-6). Skyelar Potter scored 15 points, going 5 of 14 (3 for 9 from distance). Clarence Jackson finished 3 of 5 from the field to finish with eight points.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves signed newly acquired catcher Sean Murphy to a $73 million, six-year contract Tuesday, locking up another key player with a long-term deal. The contract …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Buddy Hield made six 3-pointers on his way to 28 points, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-114 on Tuesday night. Hield hit 11 of 16 shots, including 6 of 7 from deep. He leads the NBA with 132 3s this season.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart's plan for a deep running back corps was based on more than making it through a 12-game regular season. Smart wanted his backs to be fresh for the College Football Playoff. The No. 1 Bulldogs will take a group of four running backs, led by Kenny McIntosh, into the Peach Bowl semifinal against No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Buffalo built a lead with Cole Snyder’s passing and Alex McNulty’s kicking. The Bulls put the Camellia Bowl away with an unrelenting barrage of fourth-quarter runs by Tajay Ahmed for a 23-21 victory over Georgia Southern on Tuesday.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Georgia Southern and Buffalo are set to meet in a Camellia Bowl matchup of 6-6 teams in Montgomery, Alabama. Both teams won in their previous trips to Montgomery and became bowl eligible with close wins in their regular-season finales that snapped three-game losing streaks.

Kearis Jackson insists he and his Georgia teammates are not content. No. 1 Georgia won the national title last season but Jackson says the new goal is to win back-to-back championships for the first …

BALTIMORE (AP) — As coach John Harbaugh discussed Baltimore's victory over Atlanta, a television in the back of the news conference room was showing the Cincinnati-New England game. When the Bengals finally sealed their victory, Harbaugh's Ravens were assured of a postseason spot.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — No. 1 Georgia bolstered its depth at wide receiver for the 2023 season Thursday when two wide receiver transfers from Southeastern Conference teams committed to play for the Bulldogs.

JEFFERSON, Ga. (AP) — Devon Gales wasn't even supposed to be on the field for that fateful play. He was a backup on the kickoff return team, lingering at the other end of the Southern University bench when one of the coaches shouted: “Hey, Devon, get out there!” To this day, Gales still isn't sure what happened to the teammate who was supposed to be in on the play.

ATLANTA (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu banked in a putback jumper as time expired and the Chicago Bulls rallied after blowing an 18-point lead to win their second straight game, 110-108 over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

TROY, Ala. (AP) — Jalyn McCreary's 22 points helped Mercer defeat Troy 82-79 on Wednesday night. McCreary had nine rebounds for the Bears (7-6). Kamar Robertson scored 17 points while going 5 of 7 from the floor, including 3 for 4 from distance, and 4 for 5 from the line.

ATLANTA (AP) — PJ Hall scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Clemson rolled to a 79-66 victory over Georgia Tech on Wednesday night. Clemson (10-3, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) has won six of its last seven games since its 74-71 loss to then No. 25 Iowa at the Emerald Coast Classic on Nov. 25.

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Jaylin Sellers had 17 points in Ball State's 58-54 victory against Georgia Southern on Wednesday night.

ATLANTA (AP) — Joe Jones III had 18 points and Georgia State beat Toccoa Falls 91-52 on Wednesday.

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks president Travis Schlenk is stepping down and moving into an advisory position, the team said Wednesday, while general manager Landry Fields will assume control of daily operations.