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The New York Yankees plan to try Isiah Kiner-Falefa in center field during upcoming spring training games, opening the door further for top prospect Anthony Volpe to make the team as the Opening Day shortstop.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Kiner-Falefa, who primarily has played shortstop over the past two seasons, will see playing time in center field later this week as the Yankees seek a replacement for the injured Harrison Bader.

“I think [Kiner-Falefa] could play that role really, really well because of his athleticism,” Boone told reporters, according to MLB.com. “He’s worked in the outfield the last couple of days, and I looked at some video of it the other day, just watching how his feet move and stuff.

“I think he’d be natural out there — the ability to move around, his speed and athleticism, his bat-to-ball [skills].”

Kiner-Falefa told MLB.com on Wednesday that he expects to play center field on Friday against the Detroit Tigers.

“Adding center field to my resume a little bit is good — just being able to play there in a pinch if something happens and the team needs me,” he said.

The Yankees are open to using Kiner-Falefa in the outfield because of Volpe, who entered spring training as a longshot to make the major league roster but is “in the mix” to be the starting shortstop, according to Boone.

Volpe, 21, was batting .321 with two home runs, four doubles and three stolen bases in 28 at-bats entering Wednesday’s spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“He’s performed,” Boone said Tuesday. “We knew coming in that he was going to be a big story of camp. He’s come in with the expectations and a lot of eyeballs on him, and he’s performed.”

Volpe, recently rated by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel as baseball’s No. 3 overall prospect, was batting leadoff Wednesday as New York’s shortstop while Kiner-Falefa started at third base. Boone said Tuesday that Kiner-Falefa is “still in the running” for the starting shortstop job and noted that fellow prospect Oswald Peraza also has “looked the part out there at shortstop.”

A former Gold Glove-winning third baseman, Kiner-Falefa started 131 games at shortstop for the Yankees last season before struggling down the stretch and losing playing time to Peraza. The six-year veteran told NJ Advance Media last week that he wants a role on the Yankees even if it’s not at shortstop.

“I’m happy that I’m able to show [my versatility] off over the next couple of days,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I need a role on this team if I’m not playing shortstop. I have an opportunity over the next couple days to put myself in a role. If it’s not a shortstop, maybe that allows [the Yankees] to hold on to me.”

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Wisconsin QB O’Neil carted off with leg injury

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Wisconsin QB O'Neil carted off with leg injury

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Neil was carted off the field and into the locker room after injuring his leg in the first quarter of the Badgers’ game against No. 24 Washington (No. 23 College Football Playoff) on Saturday.

O’Neil got up at the end of a 21-yard keeper, limped and then went back down and clutched his right leg. Wisconsin announced in the second quarter that O’Neil would miss the rest of the game with what was officially ruled a lower-body injury.

The San Diego State transfer was making his first start since a Sept. 13 loss to Alabama, though he had played in a reserve role Sept. 20 against Maryland and Oct. 18 against Ohio State.

Freshman Carter Smith took over for O’Neil and made his college debut Saturday.

Quarterback issues have hindered Wisconsin throughout the season. Billy Edwards Jr. was Wisconsin’s first-team quarterback at the start of the year, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ season opener and has played only one full series since.

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Indiana rallies to stay unbeaten in ‘improbable’ win

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Indiana rallies to stay unbeaten in 'improbable' win

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Omar Cooper Jr. jumped to catch a pass from Fernando Mendoza in the back of the end zone, sweeping his inside foot within the field of play to go ahead of Penn State 27-24 with 36 seconds remaining and save No. 2 Indiana from its first loss of the season Saturday.

The downtrodden Nittany Lions, led by an interim coach and riding the school’s longest losing streak in 21 years, almost denied the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) their first Happy Valley win in school history.

Penn State (3-6, 0-6) came back from down 13 points in the third quarter and was a couple of first downs away from the upset. Once the Nittany Lions were forced to punt, they couldn’t respond with late-game heroics of their own in the little time the Hoosiers left them. A Hail Mary effort from midfield was unsuccessful.

“It was the most improbable victory I have ever been a part of,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “And there couldn’t have been a better place to make it happen.”

The Hoosiers entered Happy Valley used to losing in the sprawling, 107,000-seat Beaver Stadium. Before Saturday, the Nittany Lions owned a 25-2 edge head-to-head, winning all 13 games on their home field.

“It’s just a rocking crowd. When you hear that silence when you get hit when you throw, then you know it’s a completion,” said Mendoza, who was sacked three times, threw for 218 yards with one touchdown and an interception and also ran in a score.

Penn State rallied to take the lead 24-20 in the fourth quarter when Ethan Grunkemeyer connected with Nicholas Singleton for a 19-yard score with 6:27 to play.

Penn State punted to Indiana with 1:51 remaining, giving Mendoza the ball back at his own 20. He was sacked on first down, but recovered to hit receivers for 22, 12, 29 and 17 yards before finding Cooper at the back edge of the end zone.

Afterward, a smiling Cooper called it the best catch of his career. Mendoza agreed.

Kaelon Black scored a rushing touchdown and Nico Radicic kicked two field goals for the Hoosiers. Charlie Becker had seven receptions for 118 yards and Cooper finished with six receptions for 32 yards.

Singleton added two rushing touchdowns for the Nittany Lions, who are playing under interim coach Terry Smith and have lost six in a row.

“It’s just very humbling,” Smith said. “I think back to Joe Paterno and him running on the field. I’m in the same position that he was and I have to do better for our guys. We have to taste victory because they deserve it.”

After a pair of stunted possessions to start the game, the Hoosiers easily zipped down the field on their third try when Mendoza hit Becker for a 53-yard pass down the middle. Mendoza scrambled through Penn State’s defense for an 18-yard touchdown two plays later.

Penn State tied it 7-7 with a 10-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a short scoring plunge by Singleton, but the Andy Kotelnicki-called offense didn’t get rolling until the fourth quarter and Indiana led 17-7 at halftime.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ohio St. WR Tate sits out with undisclosed injury

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Ohio St. WR Tate sits out with undisclosed injury

Ohio State standout receiver Carnell Tate sat out Saturday’s game against Purdue after suffering a minor undisclosed injury during pregame warmups.

Coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes held Tate out just as a precaution.

“[Tate] wanted to play,” Day said, “but we’ve got a lot of football ahead us.”

The top-ranked Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) still defeated Purdue 34-10 to remain unbeaten. Jeremiah Smith led Ohio State with a career-high 10 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown.

This season, Tate has 39 receptions for 711 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns.

The Buckeyes play UCLA next weekend.

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