Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Formula 1
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Verstappen and Red Bull
Max Verstappen secured his tenth podium autosport.com of the 2026 season at the US Grand Prix, though recurring issues again hampered Red Bull. Verstappen also criticised the track surface autosport.com at COTA, calling the bumps unacceptable and proposing major fixes in response to remarks from the circuit boss.
Mercedes
George Russell is searching for answers autosport.com after admitting he was "not being quick enough" in Austin.
Title Race
Kimi Antonelli dominated from pole autosport.com at the United States Grand Prix, taking another step towards an inevitable championship, though he must still wait for the title to be confirmed. Red Bull, meanwhile, showed progress autosport.com in qualifying, no longer falling away on difficult days.
Circuit of the Americas
COTA plans to build autosport.com a second track, with its Turn 1 clubhouse offering spectators and viewers a closer look at the venue's future development.
Football/Soccer
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
La Liga
Mourinho espn.com has primed Real Madrid for a statement win over Barcelona, a result that could blow the title race wide open. Madrid have not looked convincing this season, but Mourinho's game plan has been built around a sharp, disciplined performance. Afterwards he insisted espn.com Madrid are playing to win La Liga, not just to win at Camp Nou. Mbappe's two goals have opened the league up, and the Clásico has offered a window into Mourinho's bbc.co.uk enduring knack for big occasions. Barcelona, meanwhile, are feeling the sting: Pedri blamed espn.com "stupid mistakes" for the defeat, and the Euro Debrief skysports.com column argues Mbappe exposed a clear weakness in the Catalan side. Real Madrid will be without Courtois espn.com, who misses the Clásico with flu, while Julián Álvarez apologized espn.com to Atlético fans over his attempt to force a move to Barcelona.
Premier League
Manchester United are in turmoil. Sources espn.com say the club are weighing Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann as replacements for under-fire Michael Carrick, while Carrick himself admitted espn.com he is in the dark about his future. Howe is reportedly open bbc.co.uk to talks. ESPN's analysis argues espn.com that whoever takes over will face the same underperforming squad, while the club are reportedly eyeing Everton's Branthwaite espn.com as part of a defensive rebuild. Fans at Old Trafford backed bbc.co.uk Carrick during a 3-0 defeat, a sign of how the mood has shifted. Elsewhere, Liverpool's new era under Iraola is gaining espn.com momentum thanks to big-money forwards, while Brighton boss Hürzeler took a swipe espn.com at Liverpool after their win. Man City's perfect start in the women's game was ended skysports.com by a late Terland equaliser in a derby draw.
Serie A & Europe
AC Milan bounced back espn.com from their Bournemouth humbling, overcoming Udinese 2-0 with Pulisic scoring. Juventus earned a much-needed 2-0 win over Lecce as Weston McKennie ended espn.com a long goal drought. Bayern Munich held off espn.com Freiburg 3-1 in their first game without Kompany, returning to the top of the Bundesliga. PSG boss Luis Enrique says espn.com Kvaratskhelia will return stronger from his ACL injury. Neymar was furious espn.com after a red card under the "Vinícius Júnior rule" for covering his mouth.
MLS & NWSL
LAFC clinched espn.com a playoff spot with a 2-2 derby draw against the Galaxy, Leo Walta netting the equaliser, while the Galaxy remain clinging to the last place. In the NWSL, KC Current's Croix Bethune set espn.com a new single-season assist record with her 11th of the campaign. ESPN also asks espn.com whether an American woman can again be the world's best player, as USWNT stars no longer feature among finalists.
Ballon d'Or
Debate is heating up ahead of the men's award, with Harry Kane the odds-on favourite skysports.com, though Mbappe and Lamine Yamal remain in contention. On the women's side, Spain have dominated for five years, and the BBC asks bbc.co.uk whether anyone can stop them. Caroline Weir reflected bbc.co.uk on her nomination while eyeing a World Cup spot.
Scotland & Other
Celtic extended bbc.co.uk their lead to four points, while Hearts responded after a difficult week. Scottish FA chief executive Craig Mulholland is reportedly rethinking bbc.co.uk youth football plans. Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant needed more than 50 stitches bbc.co.uk after a dog attack.
Coming Up
England face a must-win clash with Samoa, as coach Stuart Barrow insists skysports.com the side remain positive about reaching the next stage. Crystal Palace are reportedly eyeing skysports.com Sean Dyche should Oliver Glasner's successor Sage depart.
NBA Basketball
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
Injuries Mount Across the League
The Thunder received a scare when Jalen Williams espn.com was stretchered off with a significant leg injury, with no immediate diagnosis yet from the team. In Detroit, Jalen Duren espn.com is expected to miss at least two weeks with a hamstring strain, a costly blow for a center who recently signed a five-year extension. Orlando also lost Jalen Suggs espn.com, who had to be helped off the floor late in a win over the Knicks.
Philadelphia's Makeshift Lineup
With the 76ers short-handed, LeBron James espn.com started at center on Sunday against Pistons. Philadelphia then decided to sit Joel Embiid espn.com to manage plantar fasciitis, overruling his public push to play.
Knicks Searching for Answers
New York dropped its third straight game to start 0-3, and Jalen Brunson espn.com admitted the offense has been falling on his shoulders.
Standout Performances
Luka Doncic espn.com poured in 52 points, including eight 3-pointers, as the Lakers beat the Jazz 132-123 to reach 3-0, the season's first 50-point game. In Denver, Nikola Jokic espn.com recorded his 199th career triple-double with 35 points and 15 rebounds, rallying the Nuggets from 23 down against New Orleans before criticizing booing fans.
Player Development
Payton Pritchard espn.com has grown into a reliable isolation scorer for Boston through punishing summer work, while ESPN's breakout tiers project 30 players espn.com poised to ascend to new levels in 2026-27.
Coming Up
The Pistons will be without Duren for at least two weeks espn.com while he recovers from his hamstring strain.
NFL Football
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
Sunday Night and Weekend Results
Jaxon Smith-Njigba espn.com continued his torrid start, leading the Seahawks to a 20-3 win over the Chiefs on Sunday night, while the Seattle defense smothered espn.com Kansas City's offense. Kenneth Walker III managed a season-low 36 rushing yards in his return to Seattle. Elsewhere, the Bengals rallied espn.com to a 35-13 win over the Ravens after Ja'Marr Chase delivered a fiery halftime speech, and the Buccaneers routed espn.com the Panthers 43-13 with Baker Mayfield needing only 11 passing attempts. The Falcons beat espn.com the 49ers after Kendal Daniels sealed it with an interception, handing San Francisco its first loss of the season. The Dolphins snapped espn.com a five-game losing streak with a 28-25 win over the Jets, and the Giants won espn.com in overtime as their backfield answered Brian Daboll's call for more production.
Standouts and Milestones
Matthew Stafford became espn.com the first player to hold the Rams franchise record for passing touchdowns with two different teams. Bo Nix ran espn.com for a 62-yard gain as the Broncos beat the Cardinals, and Sean Payton publicly backed him. In fantasy terms, Tony Pollard, Joe Burrow and Zay Flowers led espn.com the Week 7 winners, while Brock Purdy and Derrick Henry struggled. Rookie Fernando Mendoza spoke espn.com about carrying forward the legacy of Hispanic quarterbacks before him.
Coaching and Quarterback Questions
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said espn.com the team is weighing every option, including a quarterback change, after a four-game losing streak. Colts coach Shane Steichen insisted espn.com he has not considered a quarterback change despite Anthony Richardson's struggles. In New Orleans, the Saints' run game hit espn.com a new low with just 18 yards rushing in a loss to Pittsburgh. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said espn.com his team is close offensively even as Minnesota reached 6-0 with a historically weak attack.
Officiating, Injuries and Front Office
Several Packers players criticized espn.com the officiating crew after roughing penalties proved costly in a loss in Detroit. Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton suffered espn.com a fractured fibula and will be out for a while. The NFL and NFLPA are reviewing espn.com how the handling of Jalen Hurts' blood clot diagnosis was managed. Sources say Peyton Manning is not expected espn.com to be a candidate for the Colts' vacant general manager job. The Browns agreed espn.com to a two-year, $30M extension with defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and Josh Simmons was reportedly espn.com removed from a Chiefs team meeting by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
Coming Up
The Cowboys and Eagles meet Monday espn.com in a pivotal NFC East matchup, both entering 2-4. Puka Nacua's status remains uncertain espn.com ahead of his next game.
MLB Baseball
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
World Series
The Brewers rallied from a 4-0 first-inning deficit espn.com to beat the Rays 5-4 and take a 2-0 lead in the Fall Classic. Milwaukee's comeback resilience espn.com now stands out as a postseason pattern, with the club's Game 2 rally adding to a growing list of late-inning turnarounds.
Rays Outlook
Tampa Bay's hopes rest heavily on Junior Caminero espn.com, with the 23-year-old star emerging as a clubhouse leader alongside his production at the plate. Early observers have also flagged uncharacteristic errors espn.com and offensive struggles as the key issues facing the Rays as the series shifts to Tampa Bay.
Brewers Travel and Notes
Milwaukee's travel to Florida featured a personal touch espn.com, as the uncle of pitcher Quinn Priester piloted the team's flight, a detail manager Pat Murphy acknowledged with a light remark about Priester's knuckleball.
Young Stars
Jackson Chourio and Junior Caminero are headlining the Fall Classic espn.com, with both players shining as two of the sport's brightest young talents.
Coming Up
The series continues with the Rays hosting the next games in Tampa Bay, as the shift to Florida espn.com puts the Rays' home-field advantage in play.
NHL Hockey
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
Trades & Signings
Goaltender Hellebuyck espn.com said that sitting at home for so long was getting to him, as he settled in with his new team, the Devils. The Hurricanes agreed to terms espn.com with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin on a one-year, $3M contract.
Games & Performances
Leo Carlsson espn.com scored and assisted as the Ducks edged the Flyers 5-4, a result that underlined what Philadelphia gave up after its offer sheet drama. Nikita Kucherov espn.com recorded an assist to become the Lightning's career points leader, passing Steven Stamkos.
Quinn Hughes espn.com heard boos at Rogers Arena in his return to Vancouver as a member of the Wild, the former Canucks captain's first visit since leaving the club.
Coming Up
Kings and Rangers, along with Maple Leafs-Flames and Red Wings-Oilers, headline Monday's slate espn.com. A five-game Sunday card espn.com features several revenge matchups.
General Sports
Last updated: October 26, 2026, 3:50 PM ET
College Football
Ohio State espn.com moved into the No. 2 spot in the AP Top 25 after top-10 losses reshuffled the rankings again, with No. 1 Miami the only team to hold its position. The selection committee's view of the field is taking shape, as bowl and CFP projections espn.com show how top-15 defeats are reshaping the playoff picture. Utah salvaged a rough day espn.com for the Big, keeping the conference's playoff hopes alive. Our Week 8 power rankings espn.com were overhauled after another round of upsets, and Week 8 chaos espn.com left few top teams untouched. Bill Connelly questioned espn.com what can be trusted in the sport after the latest results, from Texas's defense to the Big Ten and SEC. Texas lost star left tackle Trevor Goosby espn.com for the season to a knee injury. Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy espn.com, a consensus All-American, returned to practice for the first time since being shot at a concert in May. Baylor fired Dave Aranda espn.com, and the search for a replacement is underway. In recruiting, quarterback Bo Bryan espn.com, the son of country star Luke Bryan, committed to Georgia.
Formula 1
Kimi Antonelli espn.com won the United States Grand Prix in Austin from pole position and is close to the championship, with the race described as the race of a champion who is not yet champion. BBC's driver ratings bbc.co.uk praised Antonelli's performance and rated Charles Leclerc close to perfect. Antonelli's win was called the best he has delivered, according to race analysis bbc.co.uk. Live coverage espn.com followed the race from start to finish.
NASCAR
Kyle Larson espn.com won at Talladega after a last-lap scramble, a rebound from his worst finish of the Chase, and extended his points lead.
WNBA
The Valkyries forced a Game 6 espn.com in the WNBA Finals, but the venue for that game is uncertain as the Dream work through scheduling issues. Golden State's arena, Ballhalla espn.com, has become known for the best atmosphere in the league.
Mixed Martial Arts
Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan espn.com proved their all-time greatness at UFC, with both champions facing tough tests.
Rugby
Scotland called up bbc.co.uk uncapped Newcastle Falcons back row Ollie Leatherbarrow for the Nations Championship. Leicester won a tribute match bbc.co.uk in the Premiership, and Steve Borthwick's autumn selection questions bbc.co.uk loom large ahead of the World Cup. Prince William knighted Kevin Sinfield bbc.co.uk in a ceremony that drew praise for the rugby league star.
Golf and Snooker
Yuri Yoshida won her first LPGA Tour title espn.com in South Korea after overturning a four-shot deficit. Kyren Wilson claimed the Northern Ireland Open bbc.co.uk title, his second in three years.
Gaelic Games and Other Sports
Magherafelt ended a five-year wait bbc.co.uk to win the Derry Senior Football Championship. Neil Kilpatrick made a 7,160-mile round trip bbc.co.uk from Qatar to Omagh to help Edendork win its first Tyrone title. In Wales, Yousef Salech praised his partnership bbc.co.uk with Jack Moylan at Cardiff City.
Basketball Previews
Women's college basketball conference predictions espn.com cover all 32 conferences, and the men's March Madness outlook espn.com ranks 75 teams in 11 tiers, from contenders to Cinderellas.
Football (NFL)
The Vikings remain the last unbeaten team bbc.co.uk after the Chiefs lost to the Seahawks in Week, while the 49ers also fell.
Coming Up
The Valkyries and Dream still have to settle the venue for a Game 6 in the WNBA Finals, as the scheduling question remains open espn.com. England's Nations Championship matches are next on Borthwick's calendar, with his selection dilemmas bbc.co.uk set to shape the World Cup squad.