General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 10, 2026, 4:51 AM ET
NFL
Week 5 features 14 more games, including Bears vs. Packers and 49ers vs. Seahawks, with ESPN providing matchup previews and picks for every contest. Coaching decisions drew scrutiny after a run of wild finishes, with scoring too early and kicking into the end zone proving costly. The NFL's 2027 draft class is taking shape as well, and ESPN's quarterback hot board ranks the top 15 passers by strengths and weaknesses.
Legendary coach Mike Ditka has died aged, having led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl XX title. Former Philadelphia Eagles champion Jason Kelce was spotted trying rugby in an amateur London side.
College Football
Georgia-Alabama headlines a Week 6 slate that also includes major tests for Big Ten unbeatens and several Big 12 contenders. The Big Ten takes center stage, with most of its teams seeking statement wins. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is being described as a quiet leader pursuing another national title, while Alabama believes it has fixed Ryan Coleman-Williams' drop issues after a VR-assisted diagnosis of a depth perception problem. President Trump will skip the Georgia-Alabama game due to Hurricane Isaias. Separately, a watchdog reportedly is checking several Power 4 schools for possible overspending, with the College Sports Commission looking into potential rules violations. ESPN's preseason All-Rolls-Royce teams and ranking of the 25 best freshmen round out the coverage, with UCLA's 4-0 start under Bob Chesney drawing particular attention.
WNBA
The Las Vegas and New York semifinals face elimination in Game 3 as both series reach a decisive stage. Dream forward Reese is already starring in her playoff debut after just four postseason games. The Indiana Fever, meanwhile, suffered another early playoff exit despite a dominant offense and Caitlin Clark's return. Wilson earned a record-extending fifth MVP award, though she is reportedly not planning to celebrate.
NBA
LeBron James suffered defeat on his 76ers debut in the preseason, with James saying it will "take some time" for his new teammates to gel.
Tennis
Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters in the second round, losing to Hubert Hurkacz in a shock upset.
Formula 1
George Russell was fastest in Singapore practice, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen claimed sprint pole ahead of Russell after another settings issue. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff rejected accusations of bias in favour of George Russell.
Boxing & MMA
Tickets for the Fury-Joshua fight at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, priced up to £13,000, sold out within an hour. Dana White credited Eddie Hearn for the bout taking place in the UK, though he admitted to being bored of the ongoing saga. Anthony Cacace's eyes are on Ball despite interest from Lomachenko. Sean Strickland argued that UFC fighters are not paid enough to retire.
Wrestling
WWE's Money in the Bank event is previewed in a fan-friendly guide to the ladder matches and title pictures, and ESPN's contributors offer ladder match picks and bold predictions.
Rugby & Football
Glasgow maintained an unbeaten start with a 36-19 win over Connacht, scoring five tries. Leicester recovered from a poor start to beat Gloucester. Shaun Edwards joined Argentina as defence coach. Jenna Wafer is ruled out of Ireland's South Africa Tests, while the Republic of Ireland cruised to an 8-0 win over 10-player Kazakhstan. Ryan Hall announced his retirement from Leeds Rhinos at. Joe Carpenter, in fine form for Sale, hopes to outshine Furbank to strengthen his England case.
Cricket
Nic Maddinson made the longest duck by a Test opener this century, facing 33 balls without scoring on his Australia return. West Indies remain hopeful of hosting England in a women's Test next year, contingent on ECB help. Robin Das, a former Essex cricketer, faces trial on two rape charges at Inner London Crown Court.
Tennis & Other
Coco Gauff features in the music video for Gunna's new single. Wimbledon's boss joked that the military would love to sort out influencers on site. A former MVSU forward, Qingfang Pang, is in ICE custody, and a Texas State Fair guide offers tips for first-timers ahead of Red River.