The highlights of Sunday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports
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All times EDT
TOP STORIES
FBN--NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Aaron Donald and the star-studded Los Angeles Rams host Deebo Samuel and the surging San Francisco 49ers in an NFC championship game between division rivals. The Niners have won six straight times in their rivalry with the Rams, who must break the streak to play in their home Super Bowl in two weeks. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts 6:40 p.m.
FBN--AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joe Burrow and the young Cincinnati Bengals are one win away from sending the franchise to its first Super Bowl since 1989. Standing in their way is Patrick Mahomes and the grizzled Kansas City Chiefs, hosting their fourth straight AFC championship game - with a third straight trip to the Super Bowl on the line at Arrowhead Stadium. By Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game starts 3 p.m.
FBN--SUPER BOWL LOOKAHEAD
Three teams with recent Super Bowl experience — Kansas City, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams — and one that hasn't been to the big game in decades, Cincinnati, play for conference championships. The Chiefs host the Bengals in the AFC before the 49ers visit the Rams in the NFC. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
FBN--BRADY'S FUTURE
TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady's retirement appears imminent. The seven-time Super Bowl champion could make a decision about his future before making an official announcement because of a complicated contract. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal won a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title with a comeback five-set victory over second-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final. He had to do it the hard way after Medvedev won the first two sets. By John Pye. SENT: 970 words, photos. With TEN--Australian Open-Glance (Sent), TEN--Australian Open-Women’s Doubles (Sent) and TEN--Australian Open-Rankings (Sent).
COMMENTARY
FBN--TIM DAHLBERG-TITLE GAMES
AP Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg writes off the NFL conference championships. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 10 p.m.
TEN--ON TENNIS-NADAL'S 21ST
When Grand Slam title No. 21 belonged to him, when the Australian Open final was over after 5 hours, 24 minutes of twists and turns, when he had managed to complete a comeback from two sets down, Rafael Nadal dropped his racket to the court, covered his face with his taped-up fingers, then shook his head and smiled. This was, in various respects, a fitting way for Nadal to set himself apart, at least for the moment, from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 p.m.
NOTABLE
BKC--T25-OHIO ST-PURDUE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — No. 6 Purdue returns home for a second straight Sunday matinee when it hosts No. 16 Ohio State. Looking to win the Big Ten title, the Boilermakers need to start stacking wins — starting with the Buckeyes in a venue where they are 101-11 in their last 112 games. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game started at noon.
BKW--T25-ARIZONA-STANFORD
STANFORD, Calif. — Defending NCAA champion and second-ranked Stanford hosts No. 8 Arizona in a rematch of the NCAA title game won 54-53 by the Cardinal. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 4 p.m.
GLF--LPGA TOUR
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Lydia Ko leads by two shots over Danielle Kang going into the final round of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, where temperatures are expected to be frigid by Florida standards. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 7 p.m.
CAR--IMSA-DAYTONA-ROLEX 24
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Rolex 24 at Daytona will be decided in the final hour with a pair of Cadillacs battling a pair of Acura teams for the overall title of North America's most prestigious endurance race. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. UPCOMING: 900 words. Race ends at 1:40 p.m.
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Sunday Time Schedule
NFL Playoffs
AFC Championship
Cincinnati at Kansas City, 3:05 p.m.
NFC Championship
San Francisco at L.A. Rams, 6:40 p.m.
College Basketball (Top 25)
Men
No. 6 Purdue vs. No. 16 Ohio St., Noon
No. 11 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m.
No. 17 Providence vs. No. 22 Marquette, 4:30 p.m.
Women
No. 1 South Carolina at Florida, 11 a.m.
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 8 Arizona, 4 p.m.
No. 3 NC State at North Carolina, 4 p.m.
No. 5 Louisville vs. No. 21 Duke, 3 p.m.
No. 10 UConn at Providence, 11 a.m.
No. 12 LSU vs. Kentucky, 2 p.m.
No. 14 Georgia Tech at Clemson, 6 p.m.
No. 15 Georgia vs. No. 24 Mississippi, 3 p.m.
No. 17 Maryland at Penn St., 2 p.m.
No. 19 Oregon vs. Southern Cal, 3 p.m.
No. 20 Notre Dame vs. Boston College, 2 p.m.
NBA
LA Clippers at Charlotte, 1 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Portland at Chicago, 3:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Detroit, 6 p.m.
Dallas at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Denver at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
San Antonio at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Utah at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
NHL
Los Angeles at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Seattle at N.Y. Rangers, 1 p.m.
San Jose at Carolina, 5 p.m.
Boston at Dallas, 7 p.m.
Columbus at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at N.Y. Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Colorado, 8 p.m.
The Associated Press
