Sports 8-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 20, 2026, 5:20 PM ET
Formula 1
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed confidence that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will proceed as scheduled.
Coming Up
The Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are set to go ahead as planned, according to the FIA.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Champions League: Madrid, Arsenal and Como
Real Madrid maintained their perfect start in the Champions League with an emphatic win, and Diomande's stunner capped the night against his former club Leipzig. Kylian Mbappé has warned that not much should be read into Madrid's dismantling of their opponents, while José Mourinho said the crowd went home happy after the goals, even as Vinícius Jr. was whistled.
Arsenal were held 2-2 at Bayern Munich, with Declan Rice snatching a late equaliser in the 82nd minute after Bayern had ended their win streak. Bukayo Saka was substituted in the 10th minute, and Mikel Arteta says the quadriceps injury does not look good.
Aston Villa made it three wins from three in Europe, with Alysson starring in a 3-1 win over Viking.
Manchester United
Manchester United suffered a 4-1 defeat at Como that prompted Michael Carrick to apologise to supporters for what he called an unacceptable result. Captain Bruno Fernandes rounded on Carrick, while Carrick hit back at the criticism. Lisandro Martínez publicly targeted espn.com the club's hierarchy, and Como's Cesc Fàbregas and Nico Paz dedicated their historic win to loyal fans.
Premier League and Transfers
Declan Rice offered Arsenal hope that star attackers are not essential to winning the Champions League. Man City's rule-bending came under scrutiny, with one commentary arguing that Premier League rules espn.com left them no other choice. AC Milan's supporters are boycotting away games over excessive ticket prices espn.com, a stance the club has backed.
In transfers, Chelsea are eyeing Brighton's Yasin Ayari, and Shearer reportedly favours Hurzeler as Carrick's successor. Ryan Bertrand is leading a consortium that has proposed an £87m investment in AFC Wimbledon.
Ballon d'Or
Harry Kane is trying not to stress ahead of Monday's Ballon d'Or reveal, and Declan Rice backs his England team-mate to win the award.
Coming Up
Real Madrid face Barcelona in Sunday's Clásico. The Ballon d'Or winner is revealed on Monday.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Opening Night Results
LeBron James opened his 24th season espn.com with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a Sixers win over the Knicks, who raised their title banner before tip-off. Joel Embiid was dominant espn.com with three blocks as he targets an All-Defensive season.
Knicks coach Mike Brown said the loss was a warning espn.com about his team's play, even though the title celebration added a surprise Cup banner to the ceremony, as the defending champions espn.com honored their 2025-26 season.
Thunder and Spurs
The Thunder rallied around Chet Holmgren espn.com after an early second-quarter scuffle in Tuesday's season opener. Victor Wembanyama endured a career-worst night espn.com, starting 0-for-12 before finally scoring late in the third quarter.
Across the league's opening-day tripleheader, full results and highlights espn.com from Detroit and San Antonio were posted as the 2026-27 season got underway.
Lakers and Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić took out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times declaring the Lakers' title run starts now and asking for fan support. Meanwhile, five major questions espn.com remain for the team after a transformative offseason.
Transactions
The Mavericks agreed to a two-way deal with former first-round pick Walter Clayton, while the Warriors have begun exploring trade options for center Kristaps Porzingis.
Off the Court
Haliburton wore a jacket espn.com nodding to Triple H on his return to the NBA, and LeBron and Savannah James opened their L.A. home to show off his trophies and her heartbeat necklace.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Josh Jacobs and the Packers
Running back Josh Jacobs offered his first public comments since his May arrest, apologizing for the disruption his situation has caused Green Bay. Jacobs's return to the lineup is also a central question in weekly fantasy discussions, with analysts weighing whether to start him espn.com as the season moves into Week.
Titans and Broncos Discipline
Titans coach Robert Saleh defended espn.com former defensive lineman Jordan Elliott's character, saying the gun incident after a practice dispute was not a "criminal act." In Denver, linebacker Jonathon Cooper, now off the exempt list after two arrests on domestic-related charges, said there were no excuses for his absence.
Remembrances
The league lost two former players this week. Cornell Green, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive back who never missed a game in 13 seasons with the Cowboys during the Doomsday Defense era, died at 86. The Chiefs also mourned Allen Bailey, a 10-year veteran who spent most of his career in Kansas City, after he was found dead at age.
Texans and Giants Quarterbacks
Texans receiver Tank Dell said he is "ready to get tackled" in his first game since December 2024, dismissing any concern about contact. The Giants plan to start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback against Houston, while a separate analysis weighs his pros and cons espn.com against Jameis Winston as coach John Harbaugh works through the decision.
Injuries and Lineups
The Bears will be without running back Kyle Monangai, who has been ruled out for Thursday night's game against New England with a toe and thumb injury. The Patriots face their own problems, losing both starting guards, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown, as their offensive line woes continue. Panthers linebacker Phillips is set to miss Sunday's game against Tampa Bay with a hamstring injury, coach Dave Canales said. In Detroit, the Lions expect Branch's return to transform their defense ahead of Sunday's game.
League Business
Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL welcomes an investigation into the medical care provided to Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Goodell also defended the attendance of Giants co-owner Steve Tisch and 49ers co-owner John York at the league's fall meeting. Tight end Sam LaPorta, a free agent after the season, said he will "go get paid somewhere else" if no deal with Detroit materializes.
Power Rankings and Week 7 Buzz
ESPN released its Week 7 power rankings espn.com, with a 1-32 list that also flags each team's biggest offensive problem. Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy, meanwhile, says he is "building momentum" in an expanded role, while the week's buzz column espn.com focused on the Seahawks' Sam Darnold situation and a wild NFC East. Jalon Daniels, after Pittsburgh's 26-19 overtime win, swapped jerseys with his idol Aaron Rodgers.
Draft and Entertainment
Field Yates released an early 2027 mock draft, projecting three quarterbacks going in the top ten espn.com. Separately, U2 will headline the first Thanksgiving Eve halftime show, the league announced espn.com.
Coming Up
The Bears and Patriots meet Thursday night, and the Giants face the Texans with McCarthy expected to start, per the report. Panthers host the Buccaneers this Sunday, with Phillips ruled out.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Postseason Matchups
The Brewers and Rays are set for the World Series espn.com, two small-market clubs that were long shots to reach this stage. Tampa Bay clinched the AL pennant espn.com behind a memorable blast from Junior Caminero, his first career postseason home run, which he off Guardians All-Star pitching. The Guardians, meanwhile, ran out of gas espn.com in the ALCS, extending Cleveland's championship drought to 78 years.
The matchup has drawn comparisons to a small-ball contest, though ESPN's analysis questions how neatly espn.com both clubs fit that label. Rays insiders describe a disciplined internal system espn.com that has carried the franchise deep into October.
Brewers Fan Frustration
Milwaukee supporters who cashed in on a 2015 promotion have voiced anger espn.com over the seating allotted for World Series games, with the club acknowledging it fell short of the promotion's spirit. The family of Bob Uecker said the late broadcaster would be incredibly proud of this group.
Front Offices and Managers
Athletics owner John Fisher defended his hiring espn.com of a young executive, arguing that "the world is run by 31-year-olds today." In New York, Brian Cashman reached a new contract espn.com to remain Yankees GM, while Aaron Boone rejected calls for a culture overhaul, insisting the clubhouse remains a strength. In Anaheim, Kurt Suzuki is out as Angels manager after a 100-loss season.
Player News
Shohei Ohtani will not require surgery for his ailments this year, and the Dodgers fully expect him to pitch next season. Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, is seeking an MLB move espn.com through the posting system. The qualifying offer for this winter's free agents rose to $23.15M espn.com, up 5.1% from 2025. An Ohio bettor was banned by regulators for alleged violent threats against a Blue Jays manager.
Coming Up
The World Series opens between the Brewers and Rays espn.com, with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay meeting for the championship.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Penguins and Panthers
Penguins forward Ben Kindel was hospitalized espn.com in Salt Lake City after a medical emergency on a team flight, and he was being evaluated at the hospital on Tuesday. In Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk embraced the boos he faced in his first game back since being traded to Florida, scoring in an acrimonious return. Tkachuk later said he will donate the Senators jerseys espn.com fans threw onto the ice in protest.
Kings, Red Wings and Around the League
The Los Angeles Kings finally snapped espn.com their winless skid with a 5-2 win over the Capitals, but they lost Byfield to an upper-body injury. In Detroit, Dylan Larkin's trade request has expanded to 10 teams espn.com, according to a source. Elsewhere, CBS Sports has previewed the day's best bets and NHL action.
Coming Up
Larkin's trade situation remains open, with ten teams now on his list.
General Sports
Last updated: October 21, 2026, 11:10 PM ET
Champions League
The Champions League is generating plenty of debate after a chaotic stretch for Manchester United, with ESPN's panel examining what to make of the Man United mess and weighing in on an extremely embarrassing moment for the club.
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals resume with Game 3 as Atlanta hosts Golden State, and ESPN is covering the action courtside with live updates and analysis. Six players are finally getting the spotlight in the series, with several breakout stars espn.com emerging after careers that did not start with instant recognition. Off the court, the Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena arranged a suite for former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom to address his safety concerns.
NBA
Brian Windhorst's opening night takeaways highlight a surprising shift for LeBron espn.com and how Philadelphia and Oklahoma City got creative in their road wins. In a more personal feature, ESPN takes readers inside the home of LeBron and Savannah James, from his trophies to her heartbeat necklace.
College Football
After an unprecedented amount of change in 2025, ESPN breaks down how the 17 first-year Power 4 coaches espn.com have performed at the midseason mark. The Bottom 10 list was reshuffled by a bunch of upsets espn.com in Week, with several top teams bottoming out. Maryland, meanwhile, has fired Mike Locksley after seven seasons, and the program now turns to its candidate list and roster priorities.
Fantasy Football
ESPN's weekly matchup rankings upgrade Jaylen Warren and downgrade Patrick Mahomes espn.com based on this week's favorable and unfavorable matchups.
College Basketball
Jay Bilas has released his preseason picks espn.com for the players to watch this season, while Florida's Thomas Haugh and Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. were near-unanimous picks for preseason All-Americans. ESPN has also published predictions for all 32 conference players of the year espn.com, covering experienced seniors, talented newcomers and big-name transfers. Away from the court, Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins has been diagnosed with a progressive cognitive condition.
Mixed Martial Arts
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski says retirement and fighting at 40 espn.com do not scare him, even at 38 years old.
Cricket
Australia are reeling after an extraordinary day in the second Test, with South Africa routing them for 99 bbc.co.uk in Gqeberha and players reportedly playing for their careers.
Rugby
Former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray's teammate Frawley has made an impressive start at Connacht, and the question now is whether he could earn the Ireland fly-half starting spot.
Coming Up
The WNBA Finals continue with Game 3 in Atlanta against Golden State. College basketball's season is almost here espn.com, with the preseason All-America picks already set.