General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 1:42 PM ET
College Basketball
Miami (Ohio) suffered its first defeat with an 87-83 loss to UMass in the Mid-American Conference tournament, shocking No. 20 Miami after a perfect season. Meanwhile, Kansas State is set to hire Belmont's Casey Alexander as its new head coach, according to sources, bringing in a coach with three consecutive 20-win seasons. The Big 12 will transition back to hardwood for the remainder of its conference tournament at T-Mobile Center after the innovative LED glass court led to slipping incidents, including a muscle strain for Texas Tech's Christian Anderson during Iowa State's 75-53 win over the Red Raiders.
College Football
The NFL Players Association is set to vote on leadership as representatives prepare to select a successor to disgraced former leader Lloyd Howell. In quarterback news, Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed Tua Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job, bringing in the veteran to challenge the rookie first-round pick.
Rugby Union
France will wear light blue against England to mark 120 years of rivalry between the nations in Saturday's Six Nations clash. Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu said his team has been "to hell and back" to transform into Six Nations title contenders, while England's campaign has been plagued by errors and ill-discipline heading into their final match against France. Ireland wing Rob Baloucoune has emerged as a Six Nations star after a rapid rise from being a "forgotten man" earlier in his career. Wales record-breaking flanker Alex Mann will step up for the final Six Nations match against Italy in Cardiff.
Horse Racing
Gaelic Warrior won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in supreme fashion, while Ben Jones aims for Gold Cup glory aboard The Jukebox Man, the horse owned by former soccer manager Harry Redknapp that finished eighth. Trainer Willie Mullins complained about Cheltenham ground conditions after withdrawing Fact To File, threatening not to bring horses to future festivals over quality concerns.
Boxing
James 'Jazza' Dickens faces a two-day journey from Dubai to Dublin for his first world title defense on Saturday, describing it as an "elongated road" in his professional career. Meanwhile, the boxing world awaits potential matchups including Haney vs. Garcia 2 and whether Mayweather vs. Tyson is still happening, with analysts working to clarify the most intriguing storylines.
UFC
Khamzat Chimaev will defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in May, while former champion Michael Bisping confirms his return to action after injury layoff. The matchup sets up a high-stakes title fight between two of the division's most dominant forces.
Golf
Graeme McDowell created LIV Golf history by becoming the first player to hit a second hole-in-one on the tour, following up his previous ace with another remarkable shot. The Northern Irishman's achievement marks a milestone in the controversial golf league's relatively short history.
Darts
Jonny Clayton overcame gout to win night six of the Premier League in Nottingham, crushing world champion Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final despite struggling with the painful condition. The Welsh player's victory came against the odds as he battled through physical discomfort to claim the tournament title.
Motorsports
Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari is losing "a lot of time" to Mercedes primarily due to power unit performance deficits after qualifying fourth for Saturday's Chinese Grand Prix sprint race. The seven-time world champion's assessment highlights the technical challenges facing the Italian team as they chase their first drivers' championship since 2007.
Winter Sports
Sixteen years after losing his leg in Haiti's devastating earthquake, Ralf Etienne became his nation's first Winter Paralympian, completing an extraordinary journey "from earthquake rubble to top of the Dolomites." Meanwhile, British skier Neil Simpson was left bitterly disappointed after failing to finish his opening giant slalom run in the men's visually impaired event at the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina alongside guide Rob Poth.
Tennis
World number one Aryna Sabalenka beat "future champion" Victoria Mboko at Indian Wells, with the Canadian teenager being tipped for Grand Slam success. However, Iga Swiatek was eliminated from the tournament, creating an upset in the women's draw at the prestigious event.
Figure Skating
Olympic champion Alysa Liu received a key to her hometown during a rally in California that included performances from Bay Area artists, celebrating her achievements and connection to her community. The honor recognizes Liu's impact both as an athlete and as a role model for young skaters.
College Coaching Changes
Kim English's three-year tenure at Providence ended with his firing following a loss to St. John's, marking another coaching change in the volatile college basketball landscape. The decision comes as programs across the country evaluate their basketball leadership following the regular season.
Betting and Gaming
Approximately $3.3 billion is expected to be bet on the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments with U.S. sportsbooks, representing a slight year-over-year increase according to a gaming association's estimate. The figure underscores the growing popularity and normalization of sports betting across college athletics.
Miscellaneous
England captain Maro Itoje and teammate Fin Smith brushed off their on-pitch disagreement, with Smith saying the exchange shows the "depth of their relationship" rather than any team disunity. The incident highlights the passion and intensity that characterizes top-level rugby competition.