General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: March 26, 2026, 11:31 PM ET

NCAA Men's Tournament Drama & Coaching Carousel

The NCAA Men's Tournament continued its dramatic run as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight following a nail-biting 79-77 victory over Texas, sealed by a game-winning tip-in from Trey Kaufman-Renn with only 0.7 seconds remaining on the clock. Elsewhere in the bracket, the status of Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson remains uncertain for Friday's Sweet 16 clash against Tennessee, as he awaits a game-time assessment based on his ankle injury recovery, hoping to play through "a little bit of pain." Meanwhile, speculation surrounding prominent coaching vacancies saw Alabama coach Nate Oats confirm his commitment to the Crimson Tide, stating he has "absolutely no reason to leave" his current post despite reported interest and initial discussions regarding a contract extension.

In coaching movements across the NCAA, Boston College officially announced the hiring of UConn assistant Luke Murray as its new head coach on Thursday, signaling a significant hire for the ACC program. This movement contrasts with the stability expressed by Oats, though the broader collegiate coaching environment is facing scrutiny; UCLA women's coach Cori Close pleaded for changes to the NCAA regarding the exhausting pace required for success, while UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma sharply criticized the current state of Title IX legislation, calling it "pretty much out the window" in practice. Furthermore, former LSU coach Will Wade confirmed his return to Baton Rouge from his NC State role, a decision that prompted the NC State Athletic Director to express feeling "lied to" following Wade’s departure.

NCAA Women's Basketball & College Football

The women’s tournament slate features several key decisions, as Duke guard Caleb Foster is a game-time decision for the Blue Devils’ Sweet 16 contest against St. John's, per coach Jon Scheyer. The competitive field includes Notre Dame's star Hannah Hidalgo, who acknowledged the difficulty in defending Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, labeling her a "Caitlin-type of level" scorer. the NCAA landscape faces new directives from the International Olympic Committee, which stated that beginning in 2028, the women's category in Olympic sports will be exclusively limited to biological females. In college football, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti publicly criticized transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh for wearing gold cleats on the first day of spring practice for the defending national champions, illustrating early culture-setting mandates.

Professional Sports & International Competition

In international cycling, British teenager Carys Lloyd secured her first World Tour victory at the Tour of Brugge, narrowly defeating former world champion Elisa Balsamo in a sprint finish. On the track, Britain's Ethan Vernon claimed a shortened stage win in stage four of the Volta a Catalunya, with teammate Tom Pidcock finishing third. Meanwhile, figure skater Ilia Malinin rebounded strongly from a disappointing showing at the Milan Cortina Olympics to lead the short program standings at the World Figure Skating Championships. In Formula, reigning champion Max Verstappen ejected a journalist from his post-race news conference in Japan due to an ongoing dispute stemming from the 2021 Abu Dhabi race, though his competitor Lewis Hamilton stated that the current F1 season feels "much more fun" than previous years.

Global Rugby & Soccer Player/League Updates

The professional soccer world saw Premier League clubs agreeing to a £5.4 million minimum spend on player wages starting next season, an attempt to establish a salary floor to maintain competitive balance in the top flight. In rugby union, Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm expressed her disappointment regarding the struggles some players faced during last year's Women's Rugby World Cup, noting the BBC Sport report was a "hard read." Welsh captain Jac Morgan, however, voiced encouragement over Wales' performance in the recent Six Nations despite their loss to Italy. Furthermore, Australia's Tom Hooper indicated he is open to extending his tenure with Exeter if his development as a player continues favorably with the club.

Betting, Legal Issues, and Other Sports Notes

Legal challenges are mounting in the sports betting sector, as a new lawsuit filed against operators Draft Kings and Fan Duel alleges the use of intentionally addictive technology designed to maximize customer engagement and time spent wagering. In other legal news, a professional cornhole player who is a quadruple amputee waived his right to an extradition hearing as authorities move to transfer him from Virginia to Maryland to face charges related to a fatal shooting. In anticipation of the upcoming football season, NFL reporters finalized their assessments, identifying the biggest positional needs for all 32 teams ahead of April’s draft, while analysts also projected which top playmakers might become available during the 2027 free agency period next March. Finally, coverage of the World Series of Poker returns to ESPN this July, beginning with the main event from Las Vegas on July 2nd.