General Sports 3d Briefing
×Last updated: August 14, 2026, 11:45 PM ET
College Football
The 2026 college football season is on the horizon, and ESPN has released its tiered rankings of all 138 FBS teams espn.com. Bill Connelly's final preseason SP+ rankings espn.com offer insights into what projections and production numbers mean heading into the season. The SEC projections espn.com for 2026-27 highlight three potential champions and three teams unlikely to make the NCAA tournament. For those interested in the financial side, a Power 4 starter's earnings espn.com in 2026 can range significantly, with discussions involving general managers and agents to price each position. Alabama running back AK Dear espn.com is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to an ankle injury sustained in a preseason scrimmage. In a bizarre incident, a high school football player in Arkansas unknowingly wore a helmet containing a venomous snake espn.com for nearly an hour before discovering it.
Golf
LIV Golf bbc.co.uk is reportedly set to cancel its season-ending Team Championship, a move that will impact players later this month. Rory McIlroy espn.com expressed confidence in maintaining his PGA Tour status despite participating in only 14 events, aiming to reach the minimum of 15 required for dual membership.
Tennis
Elena Rybakina bbc.co.uk staged a comeback to defeat Naomi Osaka in their Canadian Open quarter-final match, winning in three sets after being a set and a break down.
Fantasy Sports
For fantasy football managers, Matt Bowen espn.com has outlined his top draft targets for the upcoming season, covering everything from early-round picks to late-round gambles. He has also provided his fantasy tight end tiers espn.com, helping identify value throughout the draft. In fantasy baseball, advice is available espn.com for setting Saturday lineups, and Tristan H. Cockcroft offers insights into potential late-season trade targets espn.com.
Track & Field
At the European Championships, Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith bbc.co.uk made history by winning the 400m gold, becoming the joint most decorated man at the event. Amy Hunt bbc.co.uk also secured gold in the 200m, her second European title, and has her sights set on a quadruple. Keely Hodgkinson bbc.co.uk advanced to the women's 800m final, while rival Audrey Werro progressed despite a fall. In the men's 200m breaststroke, British teenager Filip Nowacki bbc.co.uk claimed a dramatic gold medal. Adam Ramsay-Peaty bbc.co.uk expressed confusion regarding his early exit from the 50m breaststroke event. Ruby Evans, a British gymnast, spoke about managing fame as she prepares for the European Artistic Gymnastis Championships bbc.co.uk.
Basketball
The Los Angeles Lakers' record 12.5 billion sale bbc.co.uk was finalized over a single weekend, surprising the NBA world. In WNBA news, power rankings espn.com indicate a tight race for playoff seeds as teams jockey for position. Fever coach Stephanie White espn.com defended her players amidst criticism and boos from fans, receiving support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. The league has also revealed the group stage schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup espn.com, the fourth annual in-season tournament.
Boxing & MMA
UFC 330 bbc.co.uk is set to feature two championship bouts, with Ian Machado Garry facing welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Garry was heavily booed at the UFC 330 press conference but stated fans would be chanting his name after the fight. Makhachev indicated that he "does not have much time" left in the UFC as he prepares for his title defense. Mackenzie Dern bbc.co.uk shared how her poker skills have helped her develop composure in the octagon as she prepares for her strawweight title defense. Sadly, boxer Prichard Colon bbc.co.uk, who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2015 fight, has died at the age of.
Cycling
Tragically, British cyclist Finlay Tarling bbc.co.uk died at the age of 19 following a serious accident during the eighth stage of the Volta a Portugal.
Rugby
Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies bbc.co.uk has called for the Welsh Rugby Union board to step down. The Ospreys bbc.co.uk have publicly responded to WRU plans, believing that four professional Welsh sides are the correct structure. England have handed out central contracts to five players, including Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Alex Coles, as part of a squad shake-up by Steve Borthwick bbc.co.uk. England's Red Roses are in pre-season training for the WXV Global Series bbc.co.uk, utilizing smaller balls.
Baseball
Legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman espn.com, who led the Tigers to five Men's College World Series titles, has died at the age of. A Texas judge upheld a decision to remove a Tulsa, Oklahoma, team from the Southwest Region, preventing them from competing for a spot in the Little League Baseball World Series espn.com.
Cricket
Tanzid Hasan Tamim made history by scoring Bangladesh's first Test century bbc.co.uk in Australia, contributing to the team's dominance on day two of the match. Steve Smith benefited from an unusual reprieve, but Bangladesh otherwise controlled the first Test against Australia bbc.co.uk. Scotland secured a commanding 170-run victory over Canada in a World Cup League 2 match, with captain Richie Berrington bbc.co.uk and debutant Lyle Robertson starring. Notts and Durham have advanced to the One-Day Cup semi-finals, with Jack Haynes and Kyle Verreyne scoring centuries for Notts. England bbc.co.uk has scrapped its midnight curfew, with only wins now expected to repair their reputation. Moises Henriques sees helping Portugal qualify for their first T20 World Cup as "cricket nirvana" at the end of his playing career. Welsh Fire bbc.co.uk and MI London have been eliminated from The Hundred after losing their final group matches, though Birmingham Phoenix, led by Ellyse Perry's unbeaten, secured a victory over MI London.
American Football
Ty Gibbs espn.com will honor former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch by driving an M&M's paint scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway. ESPN has released its preseason All-America team espn.com, featuring top players from various programs. In a debate about college quarterbacks, Oklahoma's John Mateer espn.com has drawn attention for his physique.
Other Sports
Scottie Scheffler espn.com fired a 9-under, tying the course record and taking a three-stroke lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He is battling for position alongside Sungjae Im. The Great Britain women's flag football team has advanced as group winners, aiming to secure an Olympic spot at the World Championships bbc.co.uk. The Great Britain dressage team has qualified for the 2028 Olympics by winning silver at the FEI World Championships bbc.co.uk. In a somber note, promising Australian golfer Jessica Bang bbc.co.uk died at the age of 18 after suffering a brain haemorrhage. The Irish League's European hopes now rest with Larne bbc.co.uk, as Northern Ireland has fallen outside the top 50 of Uefa's coefficient ranking. Efe Obada bbc.co.uk has retired from the NFL to pursue his "true calling" and launch a foundation. Former All Blacks star Ma'a Nonu bbc.co.uk performed a solo haka in South Africa before his side, the Sharks, played against New Zealand. Croke Park hosted its first association football match between two English teams when Manchester United bbc.co.uk faced Leeds. Arne Slot, former Liverpool head coach, confirmed talks for the Netherlands managerial role but said his next job will be in club football bbc.co.uk.