| CPR | The initial sounds of the starred entries, in clue order, give you this lifesaving skill |
| UCLA | College home of the title team; the initial sounds of the starred entries, in clue order, spell it out |
| THREEINAROW | The first sounds of the starred entries, in clue order, give the name of a pencil-and-paper game. This is what's needed to win |
| HORSERACE | What the puzzle's title refers to; the first parts of the starred entries, in clue order, give the order of the top three finishers |
| SPOONERISM | In which form of metathesis, named after a warden of New College, Oxford, are the initial sounds of words transposed to form a ludicrous sentence? (10) |
| PLOPPLOP | Initial sounds of a relief effort? |
| LAYDOWNTHELAW | Enforce order, give up redistribution of wealth (3,4,3,3) |
| RSVP | Abbreviation for this puzzle's title: the first sounds of the starred entries, in clue order, provide another clue |
| CBS | Major network identified by the first sounds of the starred entries, in clue order |
| HOST | Emcee: the circled letters of the starred entries, in clue order, spell out the name of the late star of the puzzle's title show |
| EVERYTHING | "The works": the last words of the starred entries, in clue order, provide a clue to a similar phrase |
| SPACESHIP | Vehicle for extraterrestrials; the first sounds of the long entries, in clue order, provide another name for this craft |
| VOLUNTEERS | Athletes at one SEC University; the first sounds of the starred entries provide a clue to the state |
| MAKEAFACE | Express dislike, in a way, or what you can do with the last sounds of the starred entries |
| GREEKLETTERS | Parts of sorority names ... or the ends of the starred entries, in two ways? |
| CATCHSOMERAYS | Tan, or what can be done at the ends of the starred entries in this puzzle |
| DOROTHYGALE | Traveler to the Emerald City; the circled letters, in clue order, spell out the name of one of her companions |
| DEMS | One of the title groups; the circled letters, in clue order provide another clue |
| FORD | Major automaker; the circled letters, in clue order, spell out the name of a competitor |
| CROSS | Word that can precede the first word of the twelve starred entries in this puzzle |
