Losses for big technology stocks pulled major indexes lower on Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% from its record high a day earlier, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.6%. Losses for Nvidia, Microsoft and Broadcom were the biggest weights on the market. Dell sank 12.2% after reporting revenue that fell shy of forecasts, and HP dropped 11.4% after giving a weaker-than-expected outlook. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. U.S. financial markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks wavered in afternoon trading on Wednesday, as losses for several Big Tech companies offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in afternoon trading, even though more stocks were rising than falling in the index. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 135 points, or 0.3%, as of 3:05 p.m. Eastern time. Both indexes set records on Tuesday. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%. Losses for tech heavyweights helped pull the broader market lower. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slipped 1.6%. Its huge value gives it outsized influence on market indexes. Microsoft fell 0.9% Several personal computer makers added to Big Tech's heavy weight on the market following their latest earnings reports. HP sank 11.8% after giving investors a weaker-than-expected earnings forecast for its current quarter. Dell slumped 11.9% after its latest quarterly revenue fell short of Wall Street forecasts. Gains for financial and health care companies helped counter Big Tech's downward pull. Visa rose 0.9% and Thermo Fisher Scientific added 2.3%. The U.S. economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September, according to the Commerce Department, leaving its original estimate of third-quarter growth unchanged. The growth was driven by strong consumer spending and a surge in exports. The update follows a report on Tuesday from the Conference Board that said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Consumers have been driving economic growth, but the latest round of earnings reports from retailers shows a mixed and more cautious picture. Department store operator Nordstrom fell 8.5% after warning investors about a trend toward weakening sales that started in late October. Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters jumped 19.1% after beating analysts’ third-quarter financial forecasts. Weeks earlier, retail giant Target gave investors a discouraging forecast for the holiday season, while Walmart provided a more encouraging forecast. Consumers, though resilient, are still facing pressure from inflation. The latest update from the U.S. government shows that inflation accelerated last month. The personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE, rose to 2.3% in October from 2.1% in September. Overall, the rate of inflation has been falling broadly since it peaked more than two years ago. The PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, was just below 7.3% in June of 2022. Another measure of inflation, the consumer price index, peaked at 9.1% at the same time. The latest inflation data, though, is a sign that the rate of inflation seems to be stalling as it falls to within range of the Fed's target of 2%. The central bank started raising its benchmark interest rate from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023 and held it there in order to tame inflation. The Fed started cutting its benchmark interest rate in September, followed by a second cut in November. Wall Street expects a similar quarter-point cut at the central bank's upcoming meeting in December. “Today’s data shouldn’t change views of the likely path for disinflation, however bumpy," said David Alcaly, lead macroeconomic strategist at Lazard Asset Management. "But a lot of observers, probably including some at the Fed, are looking for reasons to get more hawkish on the outlook given the potential for inflationary policy change like new tariffs.” President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China when he takes office in January. That could shock the economy by raising prices on a wide range of goods and accelerating the rate of inflation. Such a shift could prompt the Fed to rethink future cuts to interest rates. Treasury yields slipped in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Tuesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely follows expected actions by the Fed, fell to 4.22% from 4.25% late Tuesday. U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday.Champions League table after Round 5: Two Italians in top 8No. 7 Tennessee extends its season-opening winning streak to 7 games in 78-35 win over UT Martin
Many Americans have come to rely on Chinese-made drones. Now lawmakers want to ban themQuarterbacks in spotlight when No. 6 Miami visits Syracuse
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Without many weapons around him, New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler couldn’t capitalize on his opportunity for a nationally televised showcase. One week after leading four straight scoring drives in a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders, the fifth-round pick from South Carolina didn’t produce any points as the Saints fell 34-0 to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, the first shutout in the NFL this season. The Saints (5-10) were shut out for the first time since falling 13-0 to San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2022. Rattler has started four games in his rookie season, and the Saints have lost each of them by at least 18 points. But he showed promise in his last appearance, when he came off the bench to replace an ineffective Jake Haener and orchestrated a comeback against the Commanders. That performance earned Rattler another start in place of the injured Derek Carr, but Rattler wasn’t nearly as effective Monday night. He went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble. The Saints were playing without five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara (groin) and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest/illness). Receivers Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Chris Olave (head) and tight end Taysom Hill (knee) have been sidelined for multiple weeks. The Saints lost center Erik McCoy to an elbow injury during Monday's game. Rattler was facing a Green Bay defense missing four starters: linebacker and leading tackler Quay Walker, two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) throws a long pass downfield during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. Credit: AP/Mike Roemer But the Packers still had plenty of answers for Rattler and the Saints. New Orleans was shut out in the first half for a second straight game, the first time the Saints have been scoreless at halftime of back-to-back games since 1997. On New Orleans’ first series, Rattler failed to connect with Kevin Austin on third-and-7 from the Green Bay 40. The Saints initially lined up to go for it on fourth down but opted to punt after a false-start penalty pushed them back 5 yards. New Orleans already trailed 21-0 when Rattler got the Saints inside the Green Bay 30 late in the second quarter. That drive ended when Keisean Nixon sacked Rattler and forced a fumble that Rashan Gary recovered. Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) stops New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) on a carry during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. Credit: AP/Morry Gash The Saints got to Green Bay’s 34 before a sack by Devonte Wyatt pushed them out of field goal range in the closing seconds of the half, leading to an unsuccessful Hail Mary attempt. That drive also included a clock management miscue. The Saints allowed about 24 seconds to run off the clock after Austin recovered his own fumble before New Orleans finally called a timeout with 15 seconds left. With the Saints trailing 24-0 in the third quarter, Rattler got New Orleans into scoring position again before Zayne Anderson picked off a first-and-10 pass from the 22. That was as close as Rattler and the Saints got to scoring.John Elway: remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in draft mitigated by watching Broncos rookie Bo NixVolvo Cars Australia hasn’t given up on its trusty XC90 just yet, with the popular large SUV’s second facelift originally not intended for our market now confirmed for launch during the first half of 2025. Revealed in September, the 2025 Volvo XC90 is the third iteration of the second-generation model first launched globally in 2015, boasting a more comprehensive set of design revisions and Volvo’s latest technologies to bring it in line with the Swedish brand’s newest models like the all-electric EX90 . Headlining the changes are a new face more akin to Volvo’s new electric range of ‘EX’ models, as well as a new 11.2-inch high-resolution infotainment system running the brand’s latest interface. Volvo has applied some less obvious changes, like improved storage space in the centre console, a relocated wireless smartphone charger, redesigned gear selector and additional sound insulation to make the cabin quieter. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Beyond that, “the best-ever Volvo XC90” is more or less the same under the skin – and it already had proven and capable underpinnings. Volvo is keen to label the available T8 plug-in hybrid version as an “electric car with a back-up plan”, quoting over 70km of WLTP-certified electric driving range, and a further 800km of range from the turbocharged petrol engine (based on fuel economy of 8.6L/100km once the battery is depleted). Globally, the existing B5 and B6 mild-hybrid versions also carry over. It’s unclear if all three powertrain variants will continue in Australia into 2025, or whether the T8 will become more widely available. Full pricing and specifications for our market will be detailed closer to launch but, for reference, the existing range is priced from $99,940 plus on-road costs for the Ultra B5 Bright, climbing to $128,390 before on-roads for the Ultra T8 Plug-in Hybrid flagship. Given the expected upgrades, we could see the upgraded XC90’s starting price in Australia start above six figures, unless base pricing reduces closer to the $86,990 entry point from a few years ago when the more affordable Momentum grade was offered (which could be called Plus in today’s nomenclature). Stay tuned to CarExpert for more details. MORE: 2025 Volvo XC90 gets new lease on life MORE: Everything Volvo XC90None
Trump 2.0: Asia in a highly risky place in America’s inflation era'Most agencies' onboarded in NSW $200m ERP rollout
As Asia braces for the great “Trump trade” adventure of 2025, the lessons from 2024 are fast piling up. The biggest lesson is how terribly the inflation-is-transitory trade worked out for investors. And for voters and world leaders who don’t relish a Donald Trump 2.0 presidency. The as many fathers — from post-Covid supply chain disruptions to excessively low interest rates to an explosion of over-the-top government stimulus. But Trump’s reelection is the mother-of-all side effects from fiscal and monetary policies run amok. And Asia has the ultimate front-row seat for what’s to come as Trump retakes the reins with very big — and controversial — plans. Most of the focus is on the Trump 2.0 trade war to come. But far more attention should be on the fireworks sure to come as Trump’s collide with a fiscal train wreck unfolding in slow motion. On January 20, Trump will inherit a national debt exceeding US$36 trillion. And, depending on which pundit you follow, Trump is either about to explode the debt in wildly disruptive ways via massive tax cuts – or, given the giant scalpel Trump has handed Elon Musk, slash it aggressively. Either outcome could pose huge risks for global markets. Door No. 1 could see the US debt zooming toward US$40 trillion and credit rating companies pouncing. Washington could quickly lose its last AAA rating, from Moody’s Investors Service. Asia is directly on the frontlines of the chaos such a downgrade would unleash in bond, stock and currency markets everywhere. Door No. 2 would see Trump’s Tesla billionaire benefactor trying to trim by firing government employees here and there. But unless Team Trump is willing to target the military and entitlements like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Musk’s government efficiency unit won’t make a dent. Far more success would be had focusing on deregulation and over-the-top subsidies on industries like those on which Musk’s private companies rely. It was a lack of investment in productivity-enhancing sectors and technologies that left the US so susceptible to inflation. “With Trump and some likely appointees focused on reducing bilateral deficits,” says Andrew Tilton, an economist at Goldman Sachs, “there is a risk that — in a sort of ‘whack-a-mole’ manner — burgeoning bilateral deficits could eventually prompt US tariffs on other Asian economies.” Tilton adds that “Korea, Taiwan and, especially, have seen large trade gains versus the US,” something Trump 2.0 isn’t likely to let slide. As such, Asia’s top trading nations may try to narrow surpluses to “deflect” Team Trump’s attention away from them. Barclays Bank economist Brian Tan adds that “trade policy is where Mr. Trump is likely to be most consequential for emerging Asia in his second term as US president,” inflicting “greater pain” on more open economies. Suffice it to say, America’s debt excesses also will challenge — and most likely plague — the Trump 2.0 era in ways the president-elect doesn’t seem to realize. If ever there were a buckle-your-seatbelt moment for Asia, 2025 is it. The combination of runaway debt and inflation will limit the Federal Reserve’s ability to continue . And even if Fed Chairman Jerome Powell tries, fiscal realities will result in higher-than-hoped long-term rates. One of the quandaries facing the Fed is the health of the banking system. Banks have been huge buyers of Treasury securities. Will institutions run into stability troubles if medium and long-term government debt yields fall faster than expected? This could trigger supply issues, too. It’s reasonable to question whether banks can continue to buy Treasuries if interest rates move too low too fast. Part of Asia’s problem is it’s unclear which Trump will enter the White House roughly a month from now, says Yanmei Xie, economist at Gavekal Dragonomics. “The problem with interpreting trade policy in a second Trump administration is that key Trump advisors have proclaimed two very different visions, and Trump himself has offered qualified support to both,” Xie notes. The common feature is tariffs or the threat of tariffs: 60% or more on China and 10-20% on the . But to what end?” One possibility, she says, is that Trump will go with his once and possibly future trade czar, Robert Lighthizer, in pushing for a rapid, across-the-board disengagement from China. “Trump,” Xie says, “promised a four-year plan to phase out all Chinese imports of essential goods — everything from electronics to steel to pharmaceuticals – and vowed to include strong protections to ensure China can’t circumvent restrictions by passing goods through conduit countries. In this scenario, there would be a ramping-up of coercive pressure on allies to join in the agenda.” Another possibility is that Trump uses the threat of tariffs as negotiating leverage to cut a deal with China, although the content of any such deal is very unclear. “This is the approach favored by Scott Bessent” – Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary – “who claims that Trump is in fact ‘a free trader’ who will deploy tariffs to escalate to ,” Xie notes. Another major Trump wild card is a US dollar devaluation, which many Trump advisers see as the fastest way to regain broad-based manufacturing competitiveness. “China is unlikely to cooperate with this agenda,” Xie says, “but the theory of the across-the-board tariff on all trading partners seems to be that it will also be used as leverage in currency negotiations.” Trump has indeed talked about a Plaza Accord 2.0 that weakens the dollar versus the yen. In 1985, US President Ronald Reagan’s Treasury secretary, James Baker, managed to convince the most powerful industrialized nations to push the yen sharply higher and the dollar lower. It was the high-point of Reagan’s mercantilist policy mix, which inspired Trump. The deal was done at the Plaza Hotel, a New York institution that Trump once owned. Early in the Trump 1.0 years, then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and advisors like Peter Navarro hinted at Trump’s desire for a “new Plaza Accord” that would send the Chinese yuan soaring. Now, as gears up, Trump seems ready to give the strategy another try. Chinese leader Xi Jinping would surely refuse. Chinese officials know how the 1985 currency deal precipitated Japan’s asset bubble in the late 1980s, leading to decades of economic stagnation. Many economists also worry that a weaker dollar could send inflation into the stratosphere, while a stronger yuan would slam China’s all-important export engine. One way Trump might try to engineer a weaker dollar is by commandeering decisions. Trump and his advisors have made it clear the Fed’s independence is on the line come January. The “Project 2025” scheme that Republican operatives cooked up for Trump 2.0 includes curbing the Fed’s autonomy. Jerome Powell, Trump’s handpicked Fed chairman, had a challenging time during Trump 1.0. From 2017 to 2021, Trump cajoled Powell’s team with a verve never before seen from a White House. Trump attacked the Fed in speeches, press conferences and on social media. Trump even mulled firing Powell. That year, the Fed suddenly began cutting rates, adding liquidity to an economy that didn’t need it. In October, Trump mocked Powell’s policymaking team. “I think it’s the greatest job in government,” Trump told Bloomberg. “You show up to the office once a month and you say, ‘let’s say flip a coin’ and everybody talks about you like you’re a god.” Trump also argues that presidents have the right to pressure the central bank to do their bidding. “The Federal Reserve is a very interesting thing and it’s sort of gotten it wrong a lot,” Trump said in August. He added that “I feel the president should have at least say in there, yeah. I feel that strongly. I think that, in my case, I made a lot of money. I was very successful. And I think I have a better instinct than, in many cases, people that would be on the Federal Reserve or the chairman.” Such maneuvers are of particular concern in Asia, where central banks hold the biggest stockpiles of US Treasury securities. Japan alone holds US$1.1 trillion of US debt; US$770-plus billion. Asia’s largest holders of dollars are sitting on about US$3 trillion worth. The Trump 2.0 presidency could put at risk vast amounts of Asian state wealth. Trump’s antics here could send the dollar sharply lower. Many investors argue, of course, that continued dollar strength isn’t necessarily great news for the global financial system heading toward 2025 either. The dollar’s “wrecking ball” tendencies have been shaking up global markets in recent years. It sucked up outsized waves of global capital, disadvantaging emerging economies in particular. Tom Dunleavy, a partner at MV Capital, speaks for many when he says risks posed by this wrecking ball dynamic are “particularly acute in emerging markets” because “they rely heavily on commodities and have debt in dollars.” Oil, most trade and debt are still priced in dollars. And, he says, “The denominator of everything is going up.” The more crowded a continued-dollar-strength trade gets, regardless of the questionable logic behind it, the bigger the global fallout when disappointed punters run for the exits. The U-turn could be especially chaotic if Trump’s Treasury team works to devalue the dollar. The more inflationary such a maneuver proves to be, the more chaotic it could be. Economists including former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers are warning that Trump would be wise to abandon his campaign promises, in order to avoid sending sharply higher. Summers was right about US inflation being of the longer-lasting variety. Now, he worries that Trump’s plans to impose giant tariffs, cut taxes, deport undocumented workers and mess with the Fed’s mandate will boost inflation. “If he carries through on what he said during his campaign, there will be an inflation shock significantly greater than the one the country suffered in 2021,” Summers told CNN recently. Summers worries that the Trump stimulus burst to come could send prices closer to the four-decade high of 9.1% recorded in June 2022. Even if this proves too pessimistic, US inflation is almost certain to dominate the global economy in 2025. Kelvin Wong, senior market analyst at broker OANDA, says that “the incoming Trump administration’s ‘America First’ policy may see a further escalation of deglobalization that can trigger headwinds to global economic growth and spurt another round of inflationary pressure resurgence.” Wong notes that the 10-year US Treasury yield may rise faster than the 2-year rate “due to higher inflationary pressures” from Trump’s mercantilist policies. Far from being transitory, US inflation may be about to get a very powerful second wind, one sure to blow Asia’s way early and often in 2025.MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. This week, Undue Medical Debt, formerly RIP Medical Debt, announced it had received a rare third gift — $50 million — from the billionaire philanthropist, signaling her satisfaction with the group’s efforts to purchase medical debt in bulk from hospitals and debt collectors. Scott has donated a total of $130 million to the organization since 2020. Medical debt is increasing despite most of the U.S. population having some form of medical insurance. Nearly 100 million people are unable to pay their medical bills, according to Third Way, a left-leaning national think tank. Overall, Americans owe about $220 billion in medical debt, with historically disadvantaged groups shouldering the bulk of the burden. Lower-income people, people with disabilities, middle-aged adults, Black people, the uninsured, and people living in rural areas are among the groups most likely to be affected by medical debt, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation . Undue Medical Debt buys debt at a discounted price, estimating that it erases about $100 in debt for each $1 donated. The group also collaborates with policymakers to encourage the adoption of measures to curb what people owe for medical care. Scott first gave Undue Medical Debt a $50 million donation in 2020, followed by a $30 million donation in 2022. With that money, the group has relieved nearly $15 billion in debt for more than 9 million people, CEO Allison Sesso said. That’s a significant leap from the $1 billion in debt relieved from 2014 to 2019, she noted. “I’m frankly astounded by this most recent gift from MacKenzie Scott and feel proud to be a steward of these funds as we continue the essential work of dismantling the yoke of medical debt that’s burdening far too many families in this country,” said Sesso. The continued funding has allowed Sesso “to not have to worry about my next dollar,” she said, and “think more strategically about the narrative around medical debt — she has helped us push that conversation.” Undue Medical Debt was started in 2014 by two former debt collection executives, Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico, who were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement’s advocacy for debt relief. Growth initially was slow. But with Scott’s gifts, the nonprofit has been able to staff up, produce more research, and develop relationships with policymakers who have pushed for changes to hospital billing practices to relieve debt and prevent people from accumulating it in the first place, Sesso said. Undue Medical Debt’s public policy arm has worked with lawmakers in North Carolina, which in July became the first state to offer additional Medicaid payments to hospitals that agree to adopt debt relief measures, she said. The policy change followed the publication of a 2023 report from Duke University, which found that one in five families in the state had been forced into collections proceedings because of medical debt. Since 2020, the organization’s staff has grown from three to about 40, Sesso said. Those hires included an anthropologist who collects stories from people set back by medical debt to inform the group’s research and advocacy work. Scott’s gifts also have helped improve Undue Medical Debt’s technology to identify people eligible for debt relief and to find hospitals from which it can purchase medical debt, among other things, Sesso said. “This coming year, because of this MacKenzie Scott grant, we’ll be able to add more people, making sure that we can support that growth on an ongoing basis,” Sesso said. Few repeat grantees Few organizations have received more than one gift from Scott. Other multi-grant recipients include Blue Meridian, an intermediary group that has directed billions of dollars to nonprofits around the world, and GiveDirectly, which provides no-strings-attached cash payments to low-income people globally. GiveDirectly has received $125 million from Scott since 2020. Blue Meridian has not disclosed amounts for the four gifts it’s received since 2019. Scott’s contributions to those two organizations were for specific causes like GiveDirectly’s U.S. poverty relief fund, said Christina Im, a senior research analyst at the Center for Effective Philanthropy. In the case of Undue Medical Debt, the timing of Scott’s first gifts in 2020 and 2022 seemed to correspond with COVID-relief efforts, she said. Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is worth an estimated $32 billion but provides few details about her grantmaking decisions. Without further information, it’s hard to know what prompted this third donation to Undue Medical Debt, but Scott has said in public statements that she wants to help those who are most in need and bear the brunt of societal ills, said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s vice president for research. “I have not seen a lot of other folks funding in this area,” Smith Arrillaga added. Anger over health care costs Scott’s latest gift to Undue Medical Debt comes amid national debates about medical insurance and the cost of medical treatments. The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in Midtown Manhattan has heightened these conversations, with some lionizing the man who allegedly committed the crime. “That’s no way to get change, full stop,” Sesso said in reference to Thompson’s murder. “But I think the anger around insurance companies and having access to care is very clear.” The U.S. has one of the most expensive health care systems in the world. And the amount of medical debt carried by individuals seems to be increasing, noted Adam Searing, a public interest attorney and associate professor at Georgetown University, where he focuses on Medicaid and other health coverage programs. Searing previously served for 17 years as director of the Health Access Coalition at the nonprofit North Carolina Justice Center, advocating for the uninsured and underinsured. During that time, he heard from people losing their homes due to liens from hospitals. Sometimes those liens could be delayed, but it still meant that the debtors couldn’t pass those homes along to their children or grandchildren, he said. “Those stories stuck with me,” he said. “It really has an impact on families.” Relieving debt allows people to get their lives back on track and become financially secure after a major illness or series of expensive bills, Searing said. For philanthropists, it’s also a cause that is largely nonpartisan. Scott shining a spotlight on the issue is undoubtedly “a good thing,” he said. “I think it will have a big effect.” _____ Stephanie Beasley is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy . Stephanie Beasley Of The Chronicle Of Philanthropy, The Associated PressThe AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Alabama faces a tougher roadblock than it might appear in its quest to maintain positioning for the College Football Playoff. Sure, Oklahoma has struggled in its first Southeastern Conference season. The Sooners (5-5, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight conference games. The Sooners have fired their offensive coordinator and they have the worst offense in the league. But they have a tough defense, too. Linebacker Danny Stutsman, a midseason AP All-American, anchors a nasty unit that has kept the Sooners competitive in losses at Ole Miss and Missouri. He ranks second in the SEC with 96 tackles. Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. has scored four defensive touchdowns since the start of the 2023 season, tied for the most nationally. Defensive end R Mason Thomas has seven sacks, with six coming in the fourth quarter of close games. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is paying attention. “It’s going to take a great week of preparation,” DeBoer said. “A physical football team all around. Their defense is, I think, an extremely tough defense in all ways — just what they do with their scheme and then with their personnel, the way they fly around.” RELATED COVERAGE Coach Spencer Danielson says 12th-ranked Boise State must seize moment and respect 2-win Wyoming No. 12 Boise State heads to Wyoming hoping to maintain No. 4 seed in College Football Playoff No. 4 Penn State tries to keep playoff picture out of focus in prep for tough trip to Minnesota Plus, Oklahoma is motivated. It’s Senior Day for a program that would become bowl eligible with a win. Beating the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide could cure a lot of ills for the Sooners. “I think they know they could be a great example for what fight and what belief and what finishing and what improving and what proving people wrong looks like,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “And I think this is a group of guys that are committed to doing that.” Alabama (8-2, 4-2) has more answers than most. Jalen Milroe has passed for 15 touchdowns and rushed for 17. Freshman receiver Ryan Williams has 40 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. “Yeah, incredibly explosive, and they have great playmakers everywhere,” Venables said. “Certainly, it starts — everything goes through the quarterback.” There has been much talk about what a third loss would do to Alabama’s playoff hopes. DeBoer said his team isn’t focused on that. “I think we’re really honed in and the guys really believe on and have understood the significance of really focusing on where we’re at right now,” he said. “We talk about the next play is the most important play, the next game is the most important game. We haven’t thought about anything beyond Oklahoma.” Heisman hype Milroe is only the fourth SEC quarterback since 2007 to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and 17 rushing touchdowns in a single season. The others won the Heisman Trophy during their seasons — Florida’s Tim Tebow in 2007, Auburn’s Cam Newton in 2010 and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel in 2012. “I think it just starts with doing what’s best for the team, and that’s what Jalen is all about,” DeBoer said. Arnold’s improvement Since returning to the lineup early against South Carolina four games ago, Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has completed 70 of 112 passes for 705 yards with five touchdowns with no interceptions. Still, his fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the final minute against Missouri was the difference in a 30-23 loss. Arnold has dealt with significant criticism all season. “That goes along with that position at a place like the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “That’s a position that’s a little bit ... it’s a bit like the head coach position. There’s a different type of microscope and there’s a different type of focus and that’s okay he’s got broad shoulders to handle that.” Questionable Barnes Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns against Maine two weeks ago, then he sat out last week’s loss to Missouri. He’s listed as questionable on this week’s injury report. He leads the Sooners with 577 yards rushing this season. Stepping in Venables is impressed with what DeBoer has done in his first year at Alabama since taking over for Nick Saban. “One of Kalen’s strengths as a football coach — a very successful coach — is he takes a group of players that he has, and their staff figures out what they can do,” Venables said. “They major in that, put them in position to be successful based on the players’ strengths. They’ve done a nice job of doing that throughout the course of the season.” Big games Oklahoma beat heavily favored Alabama 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl to cap the 2013 season, a game that helped pump energy into the Sooner program under Bob Stoops. Alabama got revenge in 2018, beating the Sooners 45-34 in the College Football Playoff. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football