Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 4:20 PM ET
Bortoleto and the Junior Class
Gabriel Bortoleto has watched Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar celebrate their first wins, a rise that is setting the pace for the next generation of drivers.
Verstappen's Red Bull Deal
Max Verstappen was weighing a possible exit from Red Bull when a major car upgrade influenced his decision to sign a new deal.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Premier League
Manchester City face substantial hurdles in their appeal, while Erling Haaland's brace carried City to a win that ended in a limp scare for the striker, which Enzo Maresca has played down. Liverpool returned to winning ways at Brentford, with Florian Wirtz instrumental, though Andoni Iraola questioned the VAR decision that overturned a penalty. Aston Villa beat Newcastle 1-0 as Johan Manzambi scored the winner. Chelsea won 2-0 at Everton, with Pedro Neto scoring both goals, and Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests. West Ham won 1-0 at Championship leaders Swansea, and Jordan Henderson, at 36 the league's oldest player, is becoming undroppable at Chelsea.
La Liga and Europe
Barcelona matched the best start to a LaLiga season in history, with Lamine Yamal scoring a brace in a 5-2 win over Betis. Bayern Munich thrashed RB Leipzig 6-1 with a Díaz hat trick to go top of the Bundesliga. Real Madrid have demanded that LaLiga chief Javier Tebas resign after he compared the club's efforts to Nazi propaganda. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez is likely to miss the next seven matches with a hamstring injury.
MLS and USMNT
Lionel Messi scored twice in Miami's win at Atlanta, taking his season tally to, and Miami coach Cristian González says a trip to Spain to collect an award will not be a concern. Gio Reyna continued his resurgence with a goal for Strasbourg in a defeat to PSG, which went on to win 3-1. Chicago and Portland have joined the race to host 2031 Women's World Cup games.
Manchester United and Arsenal
Michael Carrick dismissed questions about his future as United head coach as "not important," and said the squad has moved past Lisandro Martínez's outburst. Manchester United may look at January signings to strengthen the squad. Viktor Gyokeres wants to leave Arsenal amid a lack of minutes. Mikel Arteta has been told the club's job cuts aim at success. In the Women's Super League, Arsenal were booed after a 1-1 draw with Birmingham, and Renee Slegers is under mounting pressure, with Olivia Smith's strike saving a point.
Championship and Scottish Football
Liam Millar scored twice as Birmingham beat QPR 3-0. West Brom came back from two early goals to beat Blackburn 3-2, and Wrexham thumped Preston 4-1, easing pressure on Phil Parkinson. Norwich lost again, beaten by Portsmouth. Rangers were held to 2-2 at Dundee and missed the chance to go top. Greg Kiltie scored twice to lift Kilmarnock off the bottom of the Premiership, and Aberdeen beat St Mirren 3-1. Falkirk completed an Edinburgh double by beating Hibs.
Other Football
Sonay Kartal reached her first WTA 1000 final at Wuhan, and Dan Evans backs Emma Raducanu to win Wimbledon one day. Gianni Infantino apologized, but his reelection as FIFA president remains uncertain. Fran Kirby said she was stressed by the abrupt exit of Brighton head coach Dario Vidosic.
Coming Up
Dubois has called for a trilogy fight with Usyk after stopping Wardley in the second round. Rangers and Celtic's next meetings and Hearts' trip to Parkhead are a test for Hearts' title credentials.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 17, 2026, 10:40 PM ET
Knicks Roster Moves
The Knicks are waiving Bruce Brown while keeping James Wiseman on the roster ahead of the season opener, a decision that gives New York added frontcourt depth.
Lakers Ownership Dispute
Five of the Buss siblings filed a challenge against Jeanie Buss's petition to remove them as trustees, escalating a family legal fight over control of the Lakers.
Suns Ownership
Kevin Durant fired back at Suns owner Mat Ishbia on social media after Ishbia framed Phoenix's tenure in a way Durant rejected publicly.
Wizards Injury Update
First overall pick AJ Dybantsa exited the preseason finale with an ankle injury, and the Wizards will have it checked out.
76ers
Joel Embiid insisted that no one on the star-laden roster will take a back seat, even as VJ Edgecombe sat out Friday night's 125-120 loss to the Celtics. LeBron James delivered a monster slam in front of a sellout Philadelphia crowd during his home debut. Philadelphia also converted 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall to a two-way contract to bolster its injury-hit frontcourt.
Nuggets Injury
Julian Strawther will miss six weeks with a sprained knee and will be reevaluated at that point.
Thunder Eligibility Challenge
A Spanish club is challenging the NBA eligibility of Thunder rookie Aday Mara.
Warriors Ties
Jimmy Butler says he feels he let the Warriors down and is working toward a return to Golden State, which views his return as its best option.
League Notes
Hall of Famer and Kentucky legend Cliff Hagan died at 94, the five-time All-Star who spent his entire NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks. Steve Lacy delighted a concert crowd with a viral "LeBron, LeBron, LeBron" version of his hit "Oh Yeah?" And ESPN's Brian Windhorst shared intel on Karl-Anthony Towns' next contract, expansion plans, and why rival teams are watching Orlando.
Coming Up
The Knicks open their season with Wiseman on the roster, and the 76ers prepare for their opener after the preseason finale.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Injuries & Roster Moves
The Eagles placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve, though sources later indicated the team is not planning an IR move and that the quarterback is out indefinitely with a blood clot. Saquon Barkley has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, further thinning a beat-up Philadelphia backfield, while WR Smith is likely to return. Pittsburgh placed Roman Wilson on injured reserve, and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is quizzing his young receivers to sharpen their preparation.
Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is out against the 49ers with a groin injury. San Francisco will also be without Nick Bosa for Monday night, with the team still hopeful about Evans and Juszczyk. In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson has been ruled out for a second straight week, elevating Huntley to start against the Browns. Patriots receiver A.J. Brown was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets, and Caleb Williams is set to play while Hurts and Jackson are ruled out.
Week 6 Previews & Picks
The full slate of Week 6 games features 13 matchups with previews and predictions. Our analysts make their calls on upsets and touchdown scorers, while the experts break down odds and player props for Sunday's games.
Teams & Front Offices
Titans CEO Burke Nihill apologized to fans and said the organization believes coach Robert Saleh and GM Borgonzi can turn things around. The Jaguars are unlikely to play three international home games in 2027, while Jaguars fans took over a London pub ahead of the game. The NFL community also marked the passing of John Beake, the former Broncos executive who was instrumental in the John Elway trade, at.
Discipline & Investigations
Packers running back Josh Jacobs will be removed from the commissioner exempt list Monday and is eligible to return next week amid an ongoing investigation. Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper was also removed from the exempt list, though he could still face league discipline.
Fantasy Football
With QB issues mounting, one analyst says it's time to drop your struggling passer and offers six replacements to target. For last-minute help, Matt Bowen highlights Winston and Tucker among the top options. On the Chargers side, coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Mike McDaniel explained why Omarion Hampton's snap count is decreasing.
Coming Up
The Seahawks are sticking with Sam Darnold at quarterback despite seven interceptions in four games, with Mike Macdonald standing behind him. The Steelers and Buccaneers game is on the schedule with Metcalf cleared to play.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
ALCS
The Rays evened the American League Championship Series at 2-2 with a 7-3 win over the Guardians, as Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda combined to go 6-for-14. Cleveland's defense cost it dearly, with Chase DeLauter's miscue in right field opening the door for Tampa Bay in the pivotal inning. Rain then postponed Game 4 late Friday night, with the series resuming Saturday and Sunday becoming an off-day before Game.
World Series
The Brewers clinched their first World Series berth since 1982 after dethroning the Dodgers, a celebration the club framed as "44 years of heartbreak, 44 years of believing." In Los Angeles, the Dodgers' bid for a three-peat ended with a sweep, and the franchise now faces questions about what comes next after the team said, "We just fell short."
Phillies
Dave Dombrowski put Trea Turner on notice, telling the shortstop he must improve his play or risk losing the position.
Coming Up
Game 4 of the ALCS resumes Saturday, with Game 5 following Sunday's off-day.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Panthers Make History
The Florida Panthers became the first team in NHL history to post natural hat tricks in three straight games, with Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett each finding three goals during the surge. Brady Tkachuk added to the spectacle, becoming the third player in NHL history with back-to-back natural hat tricks.
Records and Milestones
Patrick Kane set a record for assists by a U.S.-born player, collecting his 895th career helper on Connor Bedard's opening goal.
Trades and Roster Moves
The Maple Leafs acquired Aatu Räty after he cleared waivers, with Toronto sending Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr to Vancouver. Winnipeg remains in limbo as it awaits a trade for Connor Hellebuyck, whose suspension is nearing its end and could clear the way for his return to the Jets.
League Rankings
The Hurricanes returned to the top of ESPN's 1-32 power rankings, which also identify each team's biggest surprise of the 2026-27 season.
Coming Up
The day's 14-game slate is previewed here, with storylines and betting information for every matchup.
General Sports
Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
College Football Upsets
Week 7 delivered chaos, with five top-seven teams losing on a day that reshaped the playoff picture. The committee's shuffle is already the central question as Miami, Ohio State and others jockey for position. Historic scenes from across the country captured the madness, while Jon Sumrall's cowboy hat celebration after Auburn's win became the day's best moment.
Auburn stunned No. 1 Georgia after Stockton's fumble doomed the Bulldogs, ending a 195-game streak of top-ranked teams never being toppled by unranked opposition. BYU upset No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24, with a final-play defensive stop sealing it. Miami survived two Hail Marys in a double-overtime win over FSU, with Darian Mensah throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Texas was upset by Florida, and Steve Sarkisian said the program will "evaluate everything."
Big Ten Battles
Ohio State survived Indiana after a fourth-down misstep on a late score that appeared to be the go-ahead touchdown. Indiana, however, ended a 22-game losing streak against the Buckeyes, showing it is no longer a team content with moral victories. Ohio State also lost quarterback Julian Sayin for several weeks with a shoulder injury.
Pro Basketball & WNBA
Golden State took a 1-0 lead over Atlanta in the WNBA Finals with a 68-64 win, as Gabby Williams came up clutch in the closing minutes. ESPN ranked the top 15 players in the Finals, debating whether Reese or Williams deserves the top spot.
Boxing
Daniel Dubois retained his WBO title with a brutal second-round TKO of Fabio Wardley, his second win over the Briton in five months. The heavyweight outlook now turns to what comes next for the division.
Rugby
Munster held on to beat Racing 92 33-25 in a tribute-laden Champions Cup opener. Leinster beat Clermont 48-23, Connacht scored seven tries to beat Saracens, and Glasgow won bonus-point at Sale 47-27. Bath fell 32-14 to Montpellier, and Bristol lost 49-12 to the Stormers. Scarlets thrashed Newcastle 47-14, though fly-half Sam Costelow was injured, a worry for Wales. Ulster claimed a bonus point against Zebre, and Ospreys eased past Black Lion in the Challenge Cup. Lions and Sale Sharks paid tribute to Hyron Andrews before their matches.
Rugby League
New Zealand edged past Fiji in the Women's World Cup, a result that serves as a "wake-up call." England crushed Wales 70-6 on debut, while the men's side under Brian McDermott must fix errors after a Tonga loss that threatens their tournament.
Tennis, Golf & Other
Sonay Kartal beat Jelena Ostapenko to reach the Wuhan Open final. Alexander Zverev said he overachieved in reaching the Shanghai semi-finals despite fatigue. Eugenio Chacarra leads the India Championship as Rory McIlroy fades before play was halted. Billy Loughnane became the youngest champion jockey since 1923. Anna Morris completed a hat-trick of golds at the track worlds. The U.S. gymnastics team lost Rivera to an ankle injury ahead of the worlds. A service member was injured in a fall from the rafters during a UTSA pregame rappel. AFC Rushden Diamonds reached the FA Cup first round for the first time.
Realignment & Playoff Format
ESPN reached a handshake agreement to broadcast a 24-team College Football Playoff, a step toward expansion. Critics argue the expansion raises concerns, with bigger not necessarily better.
Coming Up
Ohio State's Julian Sayin will miss "several weeks," with the Buckeyes adjusting at quarterback. Florida starts Tramell Jones Jr. against Texas, tasked with ending a two-game slide.