General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: September 15, 2026, 7:33 AM ET

US Open: Zverev Breaks Through

Alexander Zverev captured the US Open title, closing out a tournament and a Grand Slam season defined by unpredictability from the first week to the last. The German's run through a chaotic draw delivered his second career major and cemented his status as one of the sport's most resilient competitors.

F1: Madrid Debut Draws Fire

The Spanish Grand Prix's brand-new Madring circuit produced dull racing exactly as many in the paddock feared, with even the weekend's top three finishers left dissatisfied. Andrea Kimi Antonelli took the win while Lando Norris endured another stroke of bad luck. Organisers are set to make changes to the layout after the criticism, and BBC Sport's Andrew Benson answered reader questions on the overtaking problems and virtual safety car controversy that marred the inaugural event. Away from the track, Max Verstappen traced his karting roots in an interview with ESPN's Laurence Edmondson, explaining how those formative years shaped his driving and prepared him for the Max vs 100 challenge.

NFL: Chiefs Roll, Rams Lose Garrett

New signing Kenneth Walker rushed for 173 yards as the Kansas City Chiefs opened their season with a 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, with Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise among those watching on. The Los Angeles Rams absorbed a far tougher Week, and coach Sean McVay said it became clear after the loss that Myles Garrett needed knee surgery rather than being able to play through the injury. The defensive end will now miss at least four weeks following the operation.

NFL: Jaguars' Hot Start Faces a Test

Trevor Lawrence's four-touchdown performance against the Cleveland Browns has Jacksonville buzzing, but the question now is whether the dominance is a new normal or an outlier. The Jaguars' quarterback has historically struggled in September, and a run of tough matchups looms as the real early-season examination of his form.

College Football: Texas Topples No. 1 Ohio State

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after his team's dramatic 24-23 comeback over then-No. 1 Ohio State that the Buckeyes deserve credit for scheduling such a marquee nonconference matchup. Oregon suffered the weekend's biggest shock, and Ducks coach Dan Lanning pointed to a lack of leadership after the loss to unranked Oklahoma State, calling it "by far the worst performance that we've had since I've been here." One week after an embarrassing defeat to Tulsa, the Cowboys snapped the nation's longest losing streak, with players afterward insisting they probably should have won by.

College Football: Rankings and Playoff Picture

Week 2 brought a new No. 1 in the Power Rankings, plus Michigan's entry into the Top 25 as the season's early lessons took shape. The committee's eventual top 12 projection now has Ohio State sliding following its loss to the Longhorns. Fans can make their own picks for the 12-team field and see how the Allstate Playoff Predictor charts each contender's season. The postseason picture already looks different, with bowl projections shifting after the weekend's big wins and tough losses. Two weeks in, several CFP contenders have answered reasonable questions about themselves — including Ohio State's tempo problem.

College Sports Legislation

With college football in full swing, Senator Ted Cruz expects a Senate vote on the Protect College Sports Act this week or next, as proponents launch an all-out blitz to push the legislation through before the chamber breaks.

LSU-Ole Miss: Kiffin's Return

Ahead of Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford on Saturday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Ole Miss coach Pete Golding pleaded for Southern hospitality, saying they hope security issues do not arise during the highly charged reunion.

NBA: Ballmer Accepts Punishment

LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said he will accept the NBA's punishments for the franchise's salary-cap violations and will not pursue legal action, adding that he has "sincere regrets" over the matter.

Women's Basketball: Team USA Wins Fifth Straight World Cup

Team USA rallied past France to claim a fifth consecutive World Cup gold, overcoming a 14-point first-half deficit behind dominant defense and timely play from its veterans. Breanna Stewart drew much of the credit, with teammates calling her the greatest winner for guiding the program to yet another title.

Cricket: Pietersen Joins England, County Title Race

Kevin Pietersen's arrival as a mentor in England's white-ball set-up will bring an unfiltered challenge the side needs, according to Steven Finn, who welcomed the appointment as well timed. Coach Brendon McCullum wants Pietersen to challenge the team's established methods, a role that carries weight given Pietersen's past accusation that England players were not trying on last year's tour of India. In the County Championship, Somerset, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire are separated by just five points with two matches remaining in the 2026 season.

Rugby: Pollock Talks, WRU Responds

Henry Pollock is still open to offers from elsewhere while negotiations over a Northampton Saints contract extension continue, with the flanker playing hardball. The Welsh Rugby Union's director of women's rugby, Nadine Griffiths, hit back at "embarrassing" claims that women's rugby is to blame for the axing of a men's region. GAA President Jarlath Burns insisted integration continues between Gaelic games' three bodies despite a missed 2027 deadline, stressing the outcome must be "sustainable and robust."

Tennis: Samuel's Davis Cup Debut

Britain's Toby Samuel is set for his Davis Cup debut after what he described as a "surreal" 12 months that took him from the Challenger Tour to the international team stage.

Athletics: Kerr's Kit Protest and Sweeney Advert Backlash

Josh Kerr celebrated becoming Great Britain's first Ultimate Champion by making a point about funding, ramping up a brands-versus-country kit battle that has sparked debate in the sport. British sprinter Amy Hunt led the response from an array of female athletes criticising a controversial betting advert starring actress Sydney Sweeney, declaring, "This is what women in sport look like."

Motorsport: Larson Ends Drought

Kyle Larson ended a 51-race winless streak in a crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway, a victory that shook up the playoff standings and boosted his title hopes.

Hockey: Storm Game Called Off

Manchester Storm called off their Challenge Cup match against the Nottingham Panthers at the AO Arena because of what the club described as a "technical issue with the ice."

Commentary: Sports as a Unifier

In a column arguing that sports should unite rather than divide, Wetzel writes that the image Bo French found troubling in UT's victory party was actually a picture of the American dream.