Bridgewater, Clowney headed to NFL

Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will forgo his senior season with the No. 18 Cardinals and make himself available for the NFL draft.

Projected as a first-round selection and possibly the first quarterback taken this spring, Bridgewater completed 71% of his passes for 3,970 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns this season, including a career-best 447 yards with three TDs in Saturday’s 36-9 rout of Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Bridgewater said in a release that the decision “was extremely difficult” but added that attending Louisville “was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.”

With Bridgewater starting, the Cardinals won 27 games and tied a school record with this season’s 12-1 finish.

Despite some lackluster efforts after a loss to Central Florida, Louisville entered the bowl game with the nation’s 18th-ranked passing game at nearly 303 yards per game.

South Carolina junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney said he will make himself available for the NFL draft.

Possibly the top overall talent in the draft class, Clowney finished his college career Wednesday in the Gamecocks’ 34-24 victory over Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl.

“Before we even put the pads on, I thought we’ve only got 60 minutes and it’s over with,” he said. “I’m going to be sad about it.

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Ohio State sophomore defensive end Noah Spence was suspended for three games for violating an undisclosed Big Ten Conference rule, the Buckeyes announced.

Spence did not accompany No. 7 Ohio State to the Orange Bowl, with the team citing “a personal issue.” The Buckeyes (12-1) play No. 12 Clemson (10-2) on Friday night, and as recently as Monday the team said there was some hope that Spence -- an All-Big Ten player this season -- would be able to join the team for the game.

Spence also will sit out the first two games of the 2014 season.

ETC.

Schumacher is still in critical condition

Formula One great Michael Schumacher’s condition was stable but still critical Wednesday as he remained unconscious following a brain injury suffered in a skiing accident, his manager said.

Sabine Kehm told reporters in Grenoble, France, that his condition has not changed since doctors said he showed small signs of improvement on Tuesday, following his second operation.

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Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Kyrie Irving has only a bruise in his left knee, the team said.

Irving did not sustain structural damage Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers and is not expected to miss significant time. He will have treatment, get continued evaluation and is listed as questionable for Cleveland’s game on Thursday night at home against Orlando.

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Third-seeded Andy Murray, in his first tournament since back surgery in September, was upset by Florian Mayer of Germany, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the second round of the Qatar Open at Doha.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win over Tobias Kamke of Germany, and second-seeded David Ferrer joined Murray in making made an early exit after a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Daniel Brands of Germany.

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Roger Federer got his 2014 season underway by advancing to the Brisbane International quarterfinals in Australia with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen.

Top-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland advanced, but second-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia quit his second-round match because of a stomach illness in the Chennai Open in India.

Wawrinka defeated Benjamin Becker of Germany, 6-3, 6-1, and Youzhny retired ill against Dudi Sela of Israel.

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Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in a semifinal of the Brisbane International in Australia.

Top-ranked Williams beat Diminika Cibulkova of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-3, and third-seeded Sharapova defeated 2012 Brisbane champion Kaia Kanepi, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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Top-seeded Li Na extended her defense of the Shenzhen Open title in China to the quarterfinals by easing past Ukraine’s Nadiya Kichenok, 6-1, 6-4.

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Maria Lamb earned her third trip to the Olympics by winning the 5,000 meters in the U.S. Speedskating trials at Kearns, Utah, with a time of 7 minutes 13.31 seconds.