General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: September 5, 2026, 10:36 PM ET

College Football Opening Weekend

No. 2 Oregon survived a scare against Boise State in its season opener, overcoming a slow start that prompted coach Dan Lanning to call the performance a "wake-up call." Top-ranked Ohio State rolled past Ball State 56-3, with coach Ryan Day already focused on next week's "monster game" at Texas. No. 13 Alabama got a debut to remember from quarterback Keelon Russell, who accounted for 335 yards and a touchdown in a 48-10 win over East Carolina. Miami receiver Malachi Toney put on a record show in his sophomore debut, delivering 12 catches for a school-record 234 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-6 blowout of Stanford.

The weekend also featured notable off-field storylines. Florida revived its "gator bait" cheer in the first quarter of its season opener against Florida Atlantic, six years after the school banned it over racial concerns. Tennessee honored the late Dolly Parton with multiple tributes at its home opener, including a rendition of "I Will Always Love You." West Virginia retired Pat White's No. 5 jersey, capping a record-setting career that ended two decades ago. Jim Tressel, who coached Ohio State to the 2002 national championship, was enshrined in the Buckeyes' ring of honor on Saturday.

Several roster and eligibility situations dominated headlines. An Indiana circuit court judge issued a temporary restraining order clearing defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt to return to the Hoosiers this season. LSU, meanwhile, left ex-pros off its roster for its Clemson opener, despite Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris being cleared earlier this week to return to college football after brief NFL stints. The College Football Playoff issued a statement "strongly supporting" conference bans on players returning from the NFL, though it stopped short of implementing new eligibility rules.

Boxing

Katie Taylor ended her career in style at Croke Park, defeating Flora Pili to retain her undisputed junior welterweight titles in front of approximately 80,000 adoring fans. The Irish great retires as a three-time undisputed world champion, with the boxing world paying tribute to "one of the best to ever do it." BBC Sport picked the best pictures from her iconic career, capturing the tears, blood and triumph of her journey. ESPN provided live updates and analysis from her final ring-walk in Dublin, where she received one last emotional ovation.

In other boxing news, former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr lost his comeback fight to Poland's Damian Knyba. Ruiz, who shocked Anthony Joshua in 2019 to capture world titles, could not replicate that magic in his return to the ring. Michael 'Venom' Page won an underwhelming decision against Nursulton Ruziboev in his final fight on his UFC contract, with fans in Paris booing the lackluster performance.

US Open Tennis

The US Open delivered a weekend of dramatic upsets and emotional moments. No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz blew a two-set lead against No. 24 Francisco Cerundolo, losing 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a shocker. Fritz was among six top-10 seeds eliminated in the first week of the men's singles, with Flavio Cobolli also going out in the third round. Zheng Qinwen staged a remarkable comeback against American 22nd seed Madison Keys, fighting back from 5-0 down in the deciding set and staring down match point to stun the crowd. Zheng's rally and Anastasia Potapova's upset of Amanda Anisimova highlighted a pair of high-profile wins on Saturday.

Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round, but it was a mixed day for home hopes as last year's finalist Anisimova and Keys both exited. Serena and Venus Williams fell short in their doubles return, but the veteran pair proved they can still compete on an entertaining night in New York. Carlos Alcaraz, feeling better than expected after a four-month absence, is planning more in-season breaks during the tennis season. With no Brits left in singles competition, the LTA sees reasons for optimism despite the early exits. A separate controversy emerged over influencers at the tournament, with ESPN separating fact from fiction regarding credentialed content creators versus fans lacking tennis etiquette. US Open tournament director Eric Butorac discussed the never-ending puzzle of match scheduling, balancing player and broadcast requests in a hectic environment.

Snooker, Darts & Cycling

Jak Jones stunned Judd Trump at the British Open, earning a surprise win to set up a final against Mark Selby. In darts, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler advanced through their second-round matches at the Czech Open on the European Tour. Five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar will miss the rest of the season after suffering injuries including a neck fracture in a crash at the Vuelta a Espana.

Rugby League & Union

Wigan Warriors moved within touching distance of the League Leaders' Shield with a superb 40-8 victory over closest rivals Leeds Rhinos. York Knights ran in five tries for a dream 10th-place finish in Super League, beating Catalans Dragons in Perpignan. In rugby union, South Africa finished strongly to defeat New Zealand 29-24 in Soweto, overpowering a spirited All Blacks side in the final quarter to take a 2-1 series lead.

Formula 1 & Basketball

Pierre Gasly delivered the biggest surprise pole position in F1 for years in Italy, ahead of George Russell, as leading contenders had scrappy qualifying sessions at Monza. Kimi Antonelli is disrupting the rules of fandom in Ferrari's home country, with BBC Sport investigating whether Italians want the young driver to win the title or if it is all about the Scuderia. The FIA appeal court refuted an impartiality claim by Alpine boss Flavio Briatore, which it said questioned the independence of the judges. In basketball, Mali pulled off the first stunner of the Women's Basketball World Cup, shocking Spain 82-73.

UFC & Other Sports

Kurtis Campbell, introduced to combat sports as a seven-year-old after being bullied at school, is now chasing UFC success. Jonny Brownlee retired from triathlon, with former coaches and teachers recalling his impact and that of his brother Alistair, shaped by their Yorkshire upbringing. Lane Kiffin, who chose LSU as the path of least resistance to win a title, is anything but boring as he enters a new era with the Tigers, knowing anything short of a championship will bring a legion of critics. College football fans have 34 games to watch in Week, with Lane vs. Dabo, Arch's next steps and Indiana's title defense among the top storylines. The weekend's key matchups include Clemson vs. LSU, with Mike Norvell on the hot seat and several teams on upset watch.