Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Thursday, Oct. 8

Oct. 8 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - SOCCER World soccer rocked by suspension of Blatter and Platini ZURICH - World soccer chief Sepp Blatter and European boss Michel Platini are suspended, engulfed by a deepening corruption scandal as their sport faces criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States. (SOCCER-FIFA/BLATTER (UPDATE 4), moved; will be led, by Simon Evans and Joshua Franklin, 1,059 words) See also: Cameroon's Hayatou to take over as acting FIFA president (SOCCER-FIFA/HAYATOU) Platini suspension throws open race for soccer's top job (SOCCER-FIFA/ELECTION) UEFA defies FIFA and backs their president Platini (SOCCER-FIFA/UEFA (UPDATE 2) Consider external candidate to succeed Blatter, Bach says (SOCCER-FIFA/IOC (UPDATE 1) Blatter's ship finally runs aground (SOCCER-FIFA/BLATTER-PROFILE (NEWSMAKER) German soccer head calls for emergency FIFA meeting (SOCCER-FIFA/GERMANY (UPDATE 1) Barcelona's Messi, father face trial on tax fraud charges (SOCCER-SPAIN/MESSI-TAXTAXEVASION (UPDATE 1, PIX) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Colts at Texans HOUSTON - From the emergency room to the starting lineup within 36 hours, the Colts are turning again to 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck under center Thursday night at Houston with Andrew Luck ailing. Barring a surprise decision, Hasselbeck gets the start against the 1-3 Texans. (FBN-COLTS-TEXANS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 8:25 p.m. ET kickoff, by MoiseKapenda Bower, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Controversy follows Hardy back to field with Cowboys IRVING, Texas - Defensive end Greg Hardy joined practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, but he already talked his way into a controversy Tuesday while discussing Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. (FBN-COWBOYS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 600 words) See also: Lee returns to practice (FBN-COWBOYS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - NFL testing boundary camera system The NFL could adopt Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's proposal to use cameras at the goal line and sideline for replay purposes by next season. Testing will begin at MetLife Stadium, a league spokesman told USA Today, this season and provide multiple games of data for the NFL to evaluate. (FBN-NEWS-REPLAY/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 250 words) - - Week 5 previews Keys to the game, players to watch, key matchup and fast facts for all Week 5 games. (FBN-TEAMNAME-TEAMNAME/, expect by 4:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Derek Harper and Jeff Reynolds, 400 words per game) - - Jaguars see improvement from QB Bortles JACKSONVILLE - Blake Bortles lost to the oldest quarterback in the NFL last week. The Jags expect better results from their improved quarterback this week at Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers and the league's youngest passer, Jameis Winston, await. (FBN-JAGUARS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 593 words) - - Manning knows Broncos must be better ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Three players are still active in the NFL from the 1998 draft class. Two meet Sunday: Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson. (FBN-BRONCOS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 621 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400-600 words per team) - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL Top 25 previews Capsule previews of all Top 25 games on the schedule. (FBC-TEAMNAME-TEAMNAME-PREVIEW/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words per game) - - CFB notebook News and notes from around college football. (CFB-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - GOLF Americans take early advantage at Presidents Cup INCHEON, South Korea - Jack Nicklaus predicted superior putting would be the key at this year's Presidents Cup and so it proved as the United States' prowess on the greens helps them to a 4-1 lead over the Internationals after the opening day's foursomes. (GOLF-PRESIDENTS/ (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, by Peter Rutherford, 616 words) - - U.S. retains winning duos for Friday four-balls INCHEON, South Korea - The fearsome pairing of Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson will take on South African duo Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace to open Friday's four-balls at the Presidents Cup, as the United States looks to build on its 4-1 lead from the first day. (GOLF-PRESIDENTS/FRIDAY, moved, by Peter Rutherford, 379 words) - - India's Lahiri rues poor Presidents start INCHEON, South Korea - Anirban Lahiri is savoring the 'extremely special' experience of being the first golfer from India to play at the Presidents Cup but admits he and playing partner Thongchai Jaidee did not do themselves justice. (GOLF-PRESIDENTS/LAHIRI (PIX), moved, by Peter Rutherford, 316 words) - - Scott's putting woes laid bare at Presidents Cup INCHEON, South Korea - After flip-flopping between broomstick and conventional putters this year, Adam Scott opts to putt cross-handed with a shorter stick at this week's Presidents Cup, committing to the change three months before a ban on anchoring comes into effect. (GOLF-PRESIDENTS/SCOTT (PIX), moved, by Peter Rutherford, 428 words) - - Woburn wizard Fitzpatrick conjures a magical 64 WOBURN, England - Young gun Matthew Fitzpatrick fires six birdies and an eagle to sprint to the top of the leaderboard with a seven-under-par 64 in the British Masters first round. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, moved; will be led, by Tony Jimenez, 500 words) See also: European Tour British Masters scores (GOLF-EUROPEAN/SCORES) - - Poulter proves to be the host with the most...nerves WOBURN, England - Tournament host Ian Poulter has to overcome a rare attack of the jitters before getting his campaign underway at the $4.55 million British Masters. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/POULTER, moved, by Tony Jimenez, 393 words) - - Leaving on a jet plane? Not me, says Fritsch WOBURN, England - A top golfer who refuses to fly seems about as incongruous as a horse-hating jockey or a skier who dislikes snow but it is a situation that German professional Florian Fritsch is perfectly comfortable with. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/FRITSCH (INTERVIEW), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 728 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALDS: Rangers at Blue Jays TORONTO - Game 1 of the AL Division Series at Rogers Centre is a matchup of power pitcher David Price (8-1 since being traded to Toronto in July) and Texas right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who held baseball's best offense scoreless in two starts this season. (BBO-BLUEJAYS-RANGERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 3:37 PM ET start, by Larry Millson, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - ALDS: Astros at Royals KANSAS CITY - American League champion Kansas City welcomes new kid on the block Houston, a franchise with the lowest payroll - and youngest roster - in the 2015 postseason. (BBO-ROYALS-ASTROS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 7:37 PM ET start, by Alan Eskew, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Friendly enemies Lester, Lackey open Cubs-Cardinals series Jon Lester gets the ball for the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday with former Boston Red Sox teammate John Lackey on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals. (BBO-CARDINALS-CUBS-PREVIEW/, expect ASAP after 4 PM ET media availability, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Pirates go home with another immediate exit from playoffs PITTSBURGH - The standings show the Pittsburgh Pirates recorded the second-most wins in the major leagues during the regular season, going 98-64. However, their postseason run lasted all of one game. (BBO-PIRATES-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by John Perrotto, 475 words) - - MLB Notebook News and notes from around the diamond. (BBO-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - MLB schedule at a glance American League Division Series Texas at Toronto, 3:30 PM ET (PIX) Houston at Kansas City, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Pelicans to open season without Asik New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik will be sidelined approximately three weeks due to a strained right calf. (BKN-PELICANS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - NBA roundup News and notes from around the NBA. (BKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 280 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL Bryant coach comes out as gay in first-person essay BOSTON - An assistant at Bryant University comes out as gay in a first-person essay published by Outsports.com, making him the first coach of a top-level U.S. college program to do so. (USA-BASKETBALL/BURNS, moved, 365 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE - - NHL schedule at a glance Winnipeg at Boston, 7 PM ET (PIX) Ottawa at Buffalo, 7 PM ET (PIX) Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Edmonton at St. Louis, 8 PM ET (PIX) Carolina at Nashville, 8 PM ET Pittsburgh at Dallas, 8:30 PM ET (PIX) Minnesota at Colorado, 9 PM ET (PIX) - - NHL roundup The latest news and notes from the NHL. (HKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Russian Formula One Grand Prix Drivers prepare for Sochi weekend SOCHI, Russia - Formula One drivers meet the media ahead of a Russian Grand Prix that could seal Mercedes' second successive constructors' title. Nico Rosberg is in the regular FIA news conference with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat and others. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/ (PIX), expect throughout, by Alan Baldwin, 500 words) Note: We will also have stories from around the paddock. See also: Alonso commits to McLaren but more pain ahead (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/ALONSO (PIX) Red Bull drivers put engine worries to one side (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/REDBULL (PIX) Button upbeat on McLaren future, no fear of leaving (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/BUTTON (PIX) Ecclestone rejects Mercedes' TV coverage criticism (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/ECCLESTONE (PIX) - - - - SWIMMING Jet-setting Franklin returns to her roots to prepare for Rio SINGAPORE - Missy Franklin became the new darling of American swimming when she won three gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics as a teenager. Now 20, and taking a year off from her university studies, she has returned to her home town, but has also been around the world, as part of her intricate preparations for Rio. (SWIMMING-FRANKLIN/ (INTERVIEW), moved, by Julian Linden, 600 words) - - - - TENNIS Djokovic extends hot streak in China Open BEIJING - Novak Djokovic keeps his juggernaut rolling at the China Open by improving to 26-0 with a straight-sets win over local hope Zhang Ze which ties him with Jimmy Connors for the second-longest unbeaten record at an ATP Tour event. (TENNIS-CHINA/, moved, 438 words) - - New league will help find India's singles talent, says Amritraj MUMBAI - The franchise-based Champions Tennis League, which will begin its second season next month, will help end India's search for quality singles players, its promoter and former Davis Cupper Vijay Amritraj says. (TENNIS-INDIA/AMRITRAJ (INTERVIEW), moved, by Sudipto Ganguly, 470 words) - - - - RUGBY Boks prop cleared of allegations of biting U.S. player LONDON - South Africa prop Frans Malherbe is cleared of any wrongdoing after allegations that he had bitten an opponent in the Springboks' 64-0 Rugby World Cup Pool B victory over the United States. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/SAFRICA-MALHERBE, moved, 173 words) Note: We will also monitor news from across the tournament and file stories throughout. (RUGBY UNION-WORLD/) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)