Arizona
D-backs-Padres: Arizona hosts pivotal series for Wild Card hopefuls
The Arizona Diamondbacks are hosting the San Diego Padres on Friday in a series that is as close to “must-win” as it gets in early August.
The D-backs come into Friday’s series with the biggest slump in baseball, losers in 24 of their last 31 games and eight consecutive losses.
After a month and a half of consistent loss, Arizona sits just 2.5 games behind the Miami Marlins for a Wild card spot and is 2.0 games up on the Padres. Both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds remain 0.5 games back of the Marlins and are ahead in the standings of the two NL West foes.
Both teams reached this point in the season in drastically different ways.
As fans around the Valley know, the D-backs have seemingly forgotten how to score runs. During the eight-game losing streak, the D-backs have scored 15 runs for an average of less than two per game.
Even when Merrill Kelly pitches six nearly flawless frames against the Dodgers on Wednesday, one RBI knock for David Peralta was all Los Angeles needed for a 2-0 victory.
Batting averages have plummeted as Corbin Carroll once led the team in average over .300, Ketel Marte is now the clubhouse leader at .282. The team has just four players with 12 or more home runs and the power in key moments has been nonexistent.
The D-backs were buyers at the deadline and have seen poor results from those moves. Although a Wild Card spot is very much within reach, this series could determine whether Arizona is still one more year away.
Arizona looks to rookie Ryne Nelson on Friday, Cy Young favorite Zac Gallen on Saturday and rookie Brandon Pfaadt on Sunday.
The Padres sputtered out of the gate and have been playing disappointing uphill baseball for most of the year. This coupled with the $252.8 million payroll (third in baseball), fans in San Diego have not been thrilled.
The Padres dropped five of their last six ballgames and are at a point in their season where contenders are starting to separate from the rest of the pack. The Padres are faced with three games on the road in Arizona, three at home against the first-place AL East Baltimore Orioles, four against the D-backs at home and then six games against the Marlins and Brewers (both Wild Card contenders).
San Diego will turn to Cy Young candidate Blake Snell on Friday, trade deadline acquisition Rich Hill on Saturday and Seth Lugo on Sunday.
College Football Playoff second-round picks | Before The Snap
Before The Snap takes a close look at the four second-round CFP games and makes straight-up picks.
One spot to the College Football Playoff semifinals has been secured, and three more will follow suit on Wednesday — the first, by way of the Peach Bowl.
Kicking off Wednesday’s triple-header of CFP quarterfinal games is No. 4 Arizona State (11-2) vs. No. 5 Texas (12-2). The teams will kick off from the 2025 Peach Bowl inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It is the first meeting between the Sun Devils and Longhorns since the 2007 Holiday Bowl, in which Texas came out with a 52-34 victory. It is also the first ever CFP game in Arizona State’s program history.
Arizona State received one of the four first-round byes after beating Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 7. Star running back Cam Skattebo finished with 170 rushing yards and three combined touchdowns in the win over the Cyclones.
Elsewhere, Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns squad had to beat No. 12 Clemson in the first round of the newly expanded CFP to make it to the quarterfinals. In Texas’ 38-24 win over No. 12 Clemson, the Longhorns relied heavily on their run game and offensive line as they finished with 292 total rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal, where it will play the winner of No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State on Friday, Jan. 10.
Here’s how to watch Wednesday’s CFP quarterfinal between Arizona State and Texas, including time, TV schedule, game odds and more:
Watch Texas vs. Arizona State in CFP, Peach Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)
What channel is Arizona State vs Texas on today?
Wednesday’s CFP quarterfinal matchup between Arizona State and Texas will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, the latter of which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Arizona State vs Texas time today
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
The Sun Devils and Longhorns are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday in the CFP quarterfinals.
Arizona State vs Texas predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Dec. 31
- Spread: Texas -13
- Over/under: 51.5
- Moneyline: Texas (-550) | Arizona State (+400)
Here is how national media are picking the game:
Arizona State football schedule 2024
Here’s a look at Arizona State’s schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:
- Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Wyoming (W 48-7)
- Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Mississippi State (W, 30-23)
- Thursday, Sept. 12: at Texas State (W, 31-28)
- Saturday, Sept. 21: at Texas Tech * (L, 30-22)
- Saturday, Sept. 28: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Kansas * (W, 35-31)
- Friday, Oct. 11: vs. No. 16 Utah * (W, 27-19)
- Saturday, Oct. 19: at Cincinnati * (L, 24-14)
- Saturday, Oct. 26: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 2: at Oklahoma State * (W, 42-21)
- Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. UCF * (W, 35-31)
- Saturday, Nov. 16: at No. 16 Kansas State * (W, 24-14)
- Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 14 BYU * (W, 28-23)
- Saturday, Nov. 30: at Arizona * (W, 49-7)
- Saturday, Dec. 7: No. 16 Iowa State (Big 12 championship) (W, 45-19)
- Wednesday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 5 Texas ** (CFP quarterfinals — Peach Bowl)
- Record: 11-2 overall, 7-2 in Big 12
* Denotes Big 12 game
** Denotes CFP ranking
Texas football schedule 2024
Here’s a look at Texas’ schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:
- Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State (W, 52-0)
- Saturday, Sept. 7: at No. 10 Michigan (W, 31-12)
- Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. UTSA (W, 56-7)
- Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. UL Monroe (W, 51-3)
- Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Mississippi State * (W, 35-13)
- Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 18 Oklahoma * (W, 34-3)
- Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 5 Georgia * (L, 30-15)
- Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 25 Vanderbilt * (W, 27-24)
- Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida * (W, 49-17)
- Saturday, Nov. 16: at Arkansas * (W, 20-10)
- Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Kentucky * (W, 31-14)
- Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 20 Texas A&M * (W, 17-7)
- Saturday, Dec. 7: vs. No. 5 Georgia (SEC championship) (L, 22-19 OT)
- Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 12 Clemson ** (CFP first-round) (W, 38-24)
- Wednesday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 4 Arizona State ** (CFP quarterfinals — Peach Bowl)
- Record: 12-2 overall, 7-1 in SEC
* Denotes SEC game
** Denotes CFP ranking
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Arizona
Arizona official who delayed county’s 2022 election certification didn’t have immunity, court says
PHOENIX (AP) — An appeals court has rejected an Arizona official’s argument that felony charges against him for delaying certification of his rural county’s 2022 election results should be dismissed because he has legislative immunity.
In an order Tuesday, the Arizona Court of Appeals concluded Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby’s duty to certify the election results wasn’t discretionary. The court also said certifying election results is an administrative responsibility and that legislative immunity doesn’t apply to Crosby’s situation.
Crosby and Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd, both Republicans, were criminally charged after they balked at certifying the results. Two months ago, Judd pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to perform her duty as an election officer and was sentenced to probation.
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Crosby has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 30.
Dennis Wilenchik, one of Crosby’s lawyers, said his client will ask the state Supreme Court to review the matter. Wilenchik said moving the certification’s date by a few days wasn’t a criminal act and that Crosby should be immunized.
“If it’s just a rubber stamp then why is it (certification) needed at all?” Wilenchik said.
The Cochise County results were ultimately certified past the deadline after a judge ordered Judd and Crosby to carry out their legal duties. Judd and Supervisor Ann English, the board’s lone Democrat, finally approved the canvass, allowing the statewide certification to go forward as scheduled.
Watch The Republic’s coverage of Arizona in 2024
From the Phoenix Open to Election Day, from ‘Gilbert Goon’ violence to ASU’s Big 12 championship, The Republic covered it all in Arizona in 2024.
The Republic
Whether you’re going to a party on New Year’s Eve, hosting one or watching fireworks from home, you’ll probably need to stock up on supplies to celebrate the new year. From a last-minute bottle of champagne to an extra box of sparklers, grocery stores offer a host of New Year’s themed products.
But which Arizona grocery stores are open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Some have their regular hours, while some are closed entirely. To make shopping easier, The Arizona Republic put together a guide to the New Year’s hours of major retailers from Costco to Walmart to Fry’s.
AJ’s Fine Foods New Year’s hours
AJ’s will be open on New Year’s Eve from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (regular hours). On New Year’s Day, AJ’s will be open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Aldi New Year’s hours
Aldi grocery stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.
Bashas’ New Year’s hours
Bashas’ will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on New Year’s.
Costco New Year’s hours
Costco warehouses will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.
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Food City New Year’s hours
Food City locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
Fry’s New Year’s hours
Fry’s will be open for normal hours on New Year’s Eve and Day.
Sprouts New Year’s hours
Sprouts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. It will be open regular hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
Target New Year’s hours
Target will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and open its normal hours on Jan. 1.
Trader Joe’s New Year’s hours
Trader Joe’s will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.
Is Walmart open on New Year’s Eve?
Walmart stores will be open for normal hours on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
Whole Foods New Year’s hours
Whole Foods will be open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
WinCo Foods New Year’s hours
WinCo Foods will be open 24 hours as usual on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @Reialirui on X.
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