SPORTS digest

Texas, Wisconsin make big jumps in Top 25

Texas is ranked for the first time under coach Charlie Strong, coming in at No. 11 in the latest Associated Press college football rankings after a rousing opening victory against Notre Dame.

The last time the Longhorns were ranked was November 2013, Mack Brown’s last as coach.

No. 10 Wisconsin also made a big jump into the Top 25 after beating LSU. The Tigers and Fighting Irish were among seven ranked teams that lost during the first weekend of the season.

Alabama is still No. 1. The Crimson Tide picked up 21 first-place votes to total 54 after its 52-6 victory against Southern California. Clemson remained No. 2. Florida State moved up to No. 3. Ohio State is No. 4 and Michigan is No. 5. Houston is No. 6.

U.S defeats Trinidad in World Cup qualifying

jacksonville, fla.

Jozy Altidore scored twice in a three-minute span of the second half, Sacha Kljestan and Paul Arriola had goals and the United States beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 on Tuesday night to reach the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

The Americans finished atop Group C of the semifinal round in the North and Central American and Caribbean region and will open the hexagonal on Nov. 11 against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, where the U.S. has won four straight qualifiers over El Tri by 2-0 scores.

Christian Pulisic made his first U.S. start after seven appearances as a substitute, and became the youngest American to start a qualifier. Landon Donovan had set the mark against Honduras in 2001.

No charges for Elliot in domestic violence case

columbus

A prosecutor says charges won’t be filed against Dallas Cowboys rookie Ezekiel Elliott following domestic violence allegations.

The office of Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer (FEYE’-fuhr) cites conflicting and inconsistent information in evidence supporting the filing of criminal charges.

Pfeiffer’s office said it examined the credibility of all identified witnesses.

Elliott’s agent Frank Salzano said Tuesday Elliott and his family were pleased with the outcome and Elliott looked forward to putting the issue behind him.

A police report says Elliott, a running back who played at Ohio State, denied allegations that he assaulted his girlfriend in July, causing bruises and abrasions.

Three witnesses told police they didn’t see Elliott assault the 20-year-old woman. Elliott says the woman got the bruises and abrasions in a bar fight.

Chairman wants NFL-EPL doubleheader

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy hopes to host an NFL game and an English Premier League game on the same day in his new 61,000 seat stadium that will open in 2018.

The main issue with the idea is that EPL games take place on grass while the NFL plays on a synthetic surface but Mark Waller, NFL executive vice president of international thinks the idea is worth exploring.

“It wouldn’t be absolutely out of the question,” Waller said. “I don’t think you’d want to do it on a regular basis, but on a unique feature, that might be a really interesting idea.”

Jets’ Marshall calls Kapernick ‘patriot’

Brandon Marshall took radio host Boomer Esiason to task, calling the former NFL quarterback “100 percent wrong” for his negative response to the national anthem protest by 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“This guy, he is one of the biggest patriots out there. Because he’s standing up for human rights,” the Jets’ receiver said Tuesday on WFAN’s “Boomer and Carton.”

Marshall made it clear that he’ll be standing for the anthem before the Jets’ regular-season opener against the Bengals Sunday, also the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But he also defended Kaepernick’s right to peacefully protest police brutality.

Staff/wire report