Let’s kick it

NASVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Are you ready for some football that really counts?

The college season kicks off tonight and there is a member of the preseason AP Top 25 getting ready to take the field. Ninth-ranked South Carolina is in Nashville to take on Southeastern Conference rival Vanderbilt.

The Gamecocks need a win to keep the goal of a SEC title alive past the opener. Coach Steve Spurrier is 17-2 all-time against Vanderbilt and 22-1 in season openers.

South Carolina finished second in the SEC East last season and went 11-2 overall.

Vanderbilt is looking for its second straight win in a season opener and SEC opener. The Commodores have not won SEC openers in consecutive seasons since 1957 and 1958.

Get back

UNDATED (AP) – When the major college football season kicks off tonight, those kickoffs will be 5 yards closer to midfield.

It’s one of several changes made by the NCAA rules committee for this season. They’ve moved the spot of kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35-yard line. Also, the kicking teams can line up no more than 5 yards from the 35 when the ball is kicked. And when a touchback does occur on a kickoff, the offense will start at the 25-yard line instead of the 20.

Their reasoning: More touchbacks should equal fewer injuries.

Chasing a postseason berth

UNDATED (AP) – The American League wild card hunt resumes early today with Oakland playing at Cleveland and Baltimore home to Chicago this afternoon.

The Athletics begin the day holding the first wild card. The A’s have won five straight and are one game better than the Orioles. The Birds lead Tampa Bay by a half-game for the league’s second wild card. The Rays are at Toronto this evening.

Rounding out this afternoon’s AL slate, it’ll be Minnesota hosting Seattle.

There are two afternoon starts in the National League, neither with a contending team on the field. Philadelphia hosts the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs are home to Milwaukee.

Day 4

NEW YORK (AP) – Serena Williams is among those getting ready for Day 4 play at the U.S. Open. The fourth seed is on the afternoon card in Arthur Ashe Stadium against Maria Jose Martinez of Spain.

Williams will take the main show court in Flushing Meadows after 23rd-seeded Mardy Fish of the U.S. takes on Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko.

Venus Williams will share the spotlight with top-ranked Roger Federer during the night session in New York.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Oakland at Cleveland 11:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Baltimore 11:35 p.m.
Seattle at Minnesota 12:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
Detroit at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Boston at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
N-Y Mets at Philadelphia 12:05 p.m.
Milwaukee at Chi Cubs 1:20 p.m.
St. Louis at Washington 6:05 p.m.
San Francisco at Houston 7:05 p.m.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers 9:10 p.m.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Atlanta at Jacksonville 5:30 p.m.
N-Y Jets at Philadelphia 5:35 p.m.
Baltimore at St. Louis 6:00 p.m.
Buffalo at Detroit 6:00 p.m.
Carolina at Pittsburgh 6:00 p.m.
Cincinnati at Indianapolis 6:00 p.m.
Kansas City at Green Bay 6:00 p.m.
Minnesota at Houston 6:00 p.m.
New Orleans at Tennessee 6:00 p.m.
Chicago at Cleveland 6:30 p.m.
Oakland at Seattle 9:00 p.m.
San Diego at San Francisco 9:00 p.m.
Denver at Arizona 10:00 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)

TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
( 9) South Carolina at Vanderbilt 6:00 p.m.