General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: September 24, 2026, 6:16 AM ET

College Football

ESPN's Bill Connelly ranks the 10 best College Football Playoff games ever, with the 2022 Georgia-Alabama national title thriller taking the No. 1 spot. The CFP Bubble Watch after Week 3 puts the LSU-Texas A&M loser squarely on the bubble, while the winner gets a major résumé boost. Meanwhile, No. 1 Texas is laying too many points in Knoxville against Tennessee, according to ESPN's Pamela Maldonado, who crunched the numbers on the spread.

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell has shown improvement "every game" through the first three contests, per coach Kalen DeBoer, but the Tide face their stiffest test yet this week. NC State quarterback CJ Bailey, in his first comments since fumbling in the end zone with one second left against Wake Forest, said he was trying to run out the clock — a decision that backfired spectacularly. The Wolfpack's inexplicable loss landed them in the Bottom 10, a very predictable appearance given the gaffe.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade is embracing his unconventional roster-building approach, "going for it" despite lingering player eligibility concerns. Indiana defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt are eligible to play again after a judge granted an injunction, giving the Hoosiers a major boost up front.

Basketball

The New York Liberty believe they can beat anyone in the WNBA playoffs, no matter the seed. After an inconsistent regular season, they'll have to hit the road in the postseason, but the confidence remains high in the locker room.

Kentucky State basketball player Aminata Seck, a Senegal native on a student visa, was detained by ICE at Louisville airport while traveling to a tournament. The situation raises questions about the team's upcoming schedule and Seck's eligibility status.

In women's recruiting news, ESPN reranked the class of 2024, with Sarah Strong remaining No. 1 while a previously unranked recruit vaults into the top. The mid-major landscape also got a deep dive, with Gonzaga, Miami (Ohio) and others' floors and ceilings projected for the new Pac-12, Mountain West and American conferences.

Rugby

The 2026-27 Premiership Rugby season is nearly upon us, and BBC Sport's club guide asks whether Northampton Saints can reign again or if new winners will rise. Ulster's James Hume has been ruled out of the URC season opener against Edinburgh with a "number of weeks" on the sidelines. Wales' Seren Lockwood is out of the USA Test after failing to recover from a knock, but Carys Cox is set to return.

BBC Sport Wales also previews the URC prospects for Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, with the Welsh regions hoping to improve on a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

Cricket

Essex cricketer Robin Das has been charged with two counts of rape and will appear in court later this month. The 24-year-old has been suspended by the club pending the legal process.

Will Jacks' career-best 50-over figures on Tuesday came just weeks after he underwent emergency appendix surgery. The England all-rounder called the experience "scary" but has already returned to match-winning form. Fans can now pick their County Championship team of the season, with the 2026 campaign officially in the books.

Boxing & Combat Sports

Moses Itauma may never lose again if he can get over the "humiliation" of his first defeat, according to Filip Hrgovic. The Croatian heavyweight told BBC Sport that the 21-year-old British prospect was humiliated but will learn from the experience and come back stronger. Great Britain's Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas have both reached the European finals and will fight for gold this weekend.

Motorsport

Kimi Antonelli has revealed the moment he knew he had been transformed as an F1 driver. The championship leader told BBC Sport he is "still finding my way" but the 2026 season has been a revelation. NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is stepping back from public life as he battles a brain disease, ending a broadcasting career that spanned decades.

Golf

The 2026 Presidents Cup is fast approaching, and ESPN's experts have weighed in on which players are under the most pressure, which rookies could step up, and who will hoist the trophy. The international team will need big performances from its young stars to unseat the Americans on home soil.

Cycling

Great Britain have a genuine chance at the Road World Championships with Tadej Pogacar absent. The British squad will be among the favorites for the road race, with several riders capable of exploiting the absence of the sport's dominant force.

Swimming

Thirteen-year-old Yu Zidi has completed a hat-trick of golds at the Asian Games, claiming a dominant victory in the 400m individual medley. The Chinese prodigy has taken the meet by storm and is already being hailed as the future of the sport.

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about his US Open return, missing rival Jannik Sinner and his Laver Cup comeback. The world No. 1 said he "misses" Sinner, who remains sidelined with injury, but is focused on adding more Grand Slams to his collection.

Legislation & Governance

The Protect College Sports Act would introduce salary caps, allow player unions and create roster limits, but ESPN sorts the truths from the myths as the Senate looks to pass the landmark bill. The legislation could reshape the college athletics landscape for decades to come.

Quiz

Finally, test your sports knowledge with the weekly sports quiz, which asks what happened to Townsend this week. The answer may surprise you.