Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Verstappen and Red Bull
Max Verstappen secured his tenth podium autosport.com of the 2026 season at the US Grand Prix, though recurring issues again hampered Red Bull. Verstappen also criticised the track surface autosport.com at COTA, calling the bumps unacceptable and proposing major fixes in response to remarks from the circuit boss.
Mercedes
George Russell is searching for answers autosport.com after admitting he was "not being quick enough" in Austin.
Title Race
Kimi Antonelli dominated from pole autosport.com at the United States Grand Prix, taking another step towards an inevitable championship, though he must still wait for the title to be confirmed. Red Bull, meanwhile, showed progress autosport.com in qualifying, no longer falling away on difficult days.
Circuit of the Americas
COTA plans to build autosport.com a second track, with its Turn 1 clubhouse offering spectators and viewers a closer look at the venue's future development.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Premier League
Manchester United's crisis deepened as Bournemouth ran out 3-0 winners skysports.com at Old Trafford, with Michael Carrick's decision to drop Bruno Fernandes backfiring badly. Gary Neville accused skysports.com the players of downing tools and turning on their manager, while Carrick himself admitted espn.com he had no clarity about his future. Sources say United are weighing up espn.com Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann as replacements, and Howe is reportedly open to talks bbc.co.uk. Gary Neville's broader warning that the squad itself espn.com is the problem adds weight to the claim that no coach can fix the current group.
Liverpool continued their revival, with Alexander Isak scoring again skysports.com in a 2-0 win over Brighton to make it four straight league victories. Isak's sixth league goal bbc.co.uk of the season has justified his fee, and Fabian Hurzeler took a swipe espn.com at Liverpool's approach afterwards. Elsewhere, Tottenham secured only their second ever Premier League win espn.com at Stamford Bridge, and Roberto De Zerbi hailed espn.com the squad as a complete team. Sunderland remain bottom after a goalless draw skysports.com with Leeds, while Crystal Palace's Pierre Sage faces mounting pressure bbc.co.uk after a heavy defeat to Newcastle, though he insisted his players still back him skysports.com.
La Liga
Real Madrid stunned Barcelona bbc.co.uk at the Camp Nou, with Kylian Mbappe's two goals reopening the title race. José Mourinho said his side plays to win the league espn.com, not merely to win at Barcelona, and his tactical plan had been carefully prepared espn.com. Pedri admitted Barcelona paid for stupid mistakes espn.com in the defeat. Real Madrid had to do without Thibaut Courtois, who was ruled out espn.com with flu, and Julian Alvarez apologized espn.com to Atletico Madrid supporters over his attempt to force a move to Barcelona.
Bundesliga and Serie A
Bayern Munich held off espn.com Freiburg 3-1 away in their first game without Vincent Kompany and returned to the top of the table. AC Milan bounced back espn.com from their Bournemouth humbling with a 2-0 win over Udinese, Christian Pulisic finding the net, and Weston McKennie scored espn.com his first goal since April in Juventus's 2-0 win over Lecce. Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique expects espn.com Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to return stronger from his ACL injury. Neymar was furious espn.com after being sent off under the Vinicius Junior rule for covering his mouth.
Scotland and Women's Football
Celtic restored skysports.com their four-point lead at the top of the Premiership with a late winner from Duran at struggling Hibernian, and Martin O'Neill said Alistair Johnston felt something again bbc.co.uk. Sheffield Wednesday sacked bbc.co.uk head coach Henrik Pedersen after less than 15 months. In the WSL, Manchester United and City drew 1-1 skysports.com in the derby, with Elisabeth Terland's late equaliser ending City's perfect start, and Chelsea came from behind skysports.com to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 with super-sub Sandy Baltimore's contribution. England won the cerebral palsy World Cup for the first time bbc.co.uk.
MLS and NWSL
Nashville SC clinched espn.com the 2026 Supporters' Shield with a 2-0 win, its first major title. LAFC secured espn.com a playoff spot with a 2-2 derby draw against the Galaxy, Leo Walta's equaliser proving decisive. Lionel Messi came off the bench espn.com as Inter Miami lost to the Red Bulls after a Casemiro own goal. Kansas City's Croix Bethune set espn.com a new NWSL single-season assist record.
Coming Up
Leeds's Dominic Calvert-Lewin was named to start skysports.com at Sunderland, and Celtic's visit to Hibernian is already underway skysports.com. Man United's coaching decision is expected skysports.com imminently, with Neville reporting Carrick is poised to be sacked.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Knicks Struggles
The Knicks dropped their third straight game Sunday to the Magic, and Jalen Brunson said everything falls on his shoulders espn.com as New York's offense continues to sputter in a 0-3 start.
Lakers and Luka
Luka Doncic poured in 52 points espn.com, hitting eight 3-pointers, to lead the Lakers past the Jazz 132-123 and reach 3-0, marking the league's first 50-point game of the season.
Nuggets Comeback
Nikola Jokic rallied Denver espn.com from a 23-point deficit against New Orleans, racking up 35 points and 15 rebounds for his 199th career triple-double, then lashed out at booing fans.
Sixers Shorthanded
LeBron James started at center espn.com for a short-handed Philadelphia squad, while Philadelphia also sat Joel Embiid espn.com despite his public push to play, managing plantar fasciitis.
Injury Report
Thunder guard Jalen Williams was stretchered off espn.com with a significant leg injury, with no immediate diagnosis yet. Magic guard Jalen Suggs was helped off espn.com late in the win over New York with an apparent knee injury, and Pistons center Jalen Duren is out at least two weeks espn.com with a hamstring strain.
Off the Court
Former NBA player Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea deal espn.com with federal prosecutors in a gambling case.
Coming Up
The Pistons' Jalen Duren faces at least two weeks espn.com on the sideline before returning.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Week 7 Results and Upsets
The Seahawks stifled the Chiefs espn.com in a 20-3 Sunday night win, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba leading the way as Seattle handed Kansas City its first loss. Kenneth Walker III espn.com managed just 36 rushing yards in his return to Seattle, his worst game of the season. Elsewhere, the Falcons sealed a win over the 49ers espn.com on a late interception by Kendal Daniels, one week after his scary injury, while San Francisco dropped its first game espn.com after blowing an 11-point lead.
Bengals, Dolphins and Buccaneers
The Bengals rallied to beat the Ravens 35-13 espn.com after Ja'Marr Chase delivered a fiery halftime speech, while Baltimore faces questions about its identity after its latest collapse espn.com. The Dolphins snapped a five-game losing streak espn.com with a 28-25 win over the Jets. Tampa Bay routed Carolina 43-13 espn.com, with Baker Mayfield needing only 11 passing attempts in his return.
Giants, Broncos and Vikings
The Giants got a boost from their backfield espn.com in an overtime win, as the running backs responded to coach John Harbaugh's public criticism. Denver stood by Bo Nix espn.com after his 62-yard run helped beat Arizona. Minnesota improved to 6-0 despite an offense espn.com that continues to struggle badly.
Injuries, Trades and Front Office Moves
Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton suffered a fractured fibula espn.com and will be out for a while. The NFL and NFLPA are reviewing how Jalen Hurts' blood clot diagnosis espn.com was handled. Browns defensive tackle Maliek Collins agreed to a two-year, $30M extension espn.com. The Colts face difficult decisions espn.com on several star players as the trade deadline approaches, and Shane Steichen said he has not considered espn.com a quarterback change despite Anthony Richardson's struggles. Sources report that Peyton Manning is not expected espn.com to be a candidate for the Colts' vacant general manager job.
MVP Race and Fantasy Notes
Sixteen executives and coaches weighed in on the early MVP picture espn.com, and Tony Pollard, Joe Burrow and Zay Flowers led the fantasy winners espn.com in Week.
Coming Up
The Cowboys and Eagles meet Monday espn.com, both at 2-4 in the NFC East. Cam Skattebo is expected to return espn.com as the Giants' lead back against Houston.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
World Series
The Brewers rallied from a 4-0 deficit espn.com in the first inning to beat the Rays 5-4 and take a 2-0 lead in the Fall Classic. The comeback was their seventh of the postseason, and Milwaukee looks increasingly unbeatable espn.com as the series shifts toward Florida.
Brewers Legacy
ESPN's Kurkjian argues that this year's club espn.com recalls the 1982 team, winning with old-school baseball and a sense of the franchise's glory days.
Young Stars
Jackson Chourio espn.com and Junior Caminero are headlining a clash of young talent in the Fall Classic, with both stars shining brightly on the sport's biggest stage.
Travel
Brewers manager Pat Murphy praised a flight arranged by Quinn Priester's uncle espn.com, who piloted the team to Florida for the series.
Coming Up
Games in the World Series continue in Florida, with the Brewers looking to extend their 2-0 lead against the Rays.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Lightning & Ducks
Nikita Kucherov espn.com passed Steven Stamkos to become the Lightning's career points leader with an assist in the latest game. In Anaheim, Leo Carlsson espn.com scored and assisted as the Ducks edged the Flyers 5-4, a result that underlined what Philadelphia gave up after offering him a sheet.
Trades & Signings
Connor Hellebuyck espn.com said he was glad to join the Devils, adding that sitting at home for so long was getting to him. Carolina agreed to terms espn.com with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin on a one-year, $3M contract.
Returns to Vancouver
Quinn Hughes espn.com heard boos at Rogers Arena in his first return to Vancouver since leaving as the Canucks captain, now wearing a Wild jersey.
Coming Up
Sunday's five-game slate espn.com features several revenge games, with ESPN previews covering the matchups.
General Sports
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Motorsport
Kimi Antonelli espn.com started from pole and took the United States Grand Prix in Austin, a result that puts him close to the drivers' championship. Antonelli's performance was described as the best he has delivered bbc.co.uk, while BBC commentator Harry Benjamin gave superb marks bbc.co.uk to Antonelli and a near-perfect showing from Leclerc. ESPN framed the race as the race of a champion espn.com who is not yet champion.
NASCAR
Kyle Larson extended his points lead espn.com with his first win at Talladega after a last-lap scramble, a welcome rebound following his worst finish of the Chase.
WNBA Finals
The Valkyries stole Game 4 espn.com on the road to even the series at 2-2, though Golden State had won the game in Atlanta and held Angel Reese to eight points. With the series tied, the Dream are working through scheduling problems espn.com to determine where Game 6 will be played. Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever face questions espn.com after the president stepped down and the general manager was fired.
College Football
Week 8 produced more upsets, as Ohio State moved up espn.com to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 after several top-10 losses, with Miami the only team to hold its spot. Bill Connelly questioned what can be trusted espn.com after another round of unexpected results, while a broader look at the week described the chaos espn.com that has defined the season. Texas received bad news as star left tackle Trevor Goosby will miss the rest of the season espn.com after a knee injury. Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy returned to practice espn.com for the first time since being shot at a concert in May. Notre Dame's CJ Carr watched his brother Tommy espn.com make his first start for Michigan during Notre Dame's bye week. Oregon fired offensive coordinator espn.com Drew Mehringer after a third loss, and Baylor parted ways with Dave Aranda espn.com the day after its first loss to Kansas since 2007. NC State moved on from Dave Doeren espn.com after 14 years. Quarterback Bo Bryan, son of country star Luke Bryan, committed to Georgia espn.com.
NFL
The Vikings became the last unbeaten team bbc.co.uk after the Chiefs and 49ers both lost in week seven.
Soccer & Rugby
Cardiff's Yousef Salech praised his partnership bbc.co.uk with Jack Moylan. Harlequins beat Saracens bbc.co.uk 33-15 for their first win of the season, with Marcus Smith starring. Leinster beat Munster bbc.co.uk 24-18 in a URC derby, and Munster's Gavin Coombes was backed bbc.co.uk by head coach Clayton McMillan after a groin-grab allegation. Ospreys returned home bbc.co.uk with a win over the Dragons, while Ulster's Richie Murphy praised his side bbc.co.uk for sticking in the fight against the Bulls. In the Rugby League World Cup, Australia edged Fiji bbc.co.uk 36-22 to reach the semifinals.
Cricket & Other Sport
England lost to Pakistan bbc.co.uk after a last-wicket stand, with Shadab Khan's 113 proving decisive. Kyren Wilson won the Northern Ireland Open bbc.co.uk title, beating Jones for his second win in three years. Jake Jarman claimed a second individual silver bbc.co.uk at the World Gymnastics Championships, becoming the first British male gymnast to do so. Yuri Yoshida won her first LPGA Tour title espn.com in South Korea after overturning a four-shot deficit. Magherafelt won the Derry Senior Football Championship bbc.co.uk for the first time since 2019. Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan cemented their legacies espn.com at UFC. Joe Marchant was recalled bbc.co.uk to England's training camp by Steve Borthwick. Naomi Osaka said she is not far off bbc.co.uk her best form, though she often considers her future.
Coming Up
The Dream and Valkyries must settle the Game 6 venue espn.com before the WNBA Finals can continue. Baylor's search for a new coach is already underway espn.com, with the Bears looking for a fresh start.