General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: August 8, 2026, 12:28 AM ET

College Basketball and Football

Dan Hurley sounded an alarm on late additions to rosters, arguing that coaches exploiting recent court rulings are harming the sport. Meanwhile, Purdue's athletic director offered a mea culpa over a failed one-liner aimed at rival Indiana. Offensive lineman Cole Hutson returned to Texas after NFL tryouts, regaining a fifth year of eligibility. a deep analysis of the Big Ten projects every team's ceiling and floor for the upcoming season, from winning a national title to missing the tournament entirely. In college football's history of heated rivalries, ESPN ranked the sport's most hated villains, while also identifying the biggest villain for every Power 4 fanbase.

WNBA

The WNBPA rejected "hate and abuse" in a statement regarding the focus on transgender athletes, declaring the organization will not be used as "political pawns." On the court, Caitlin Clark is playing the best basketball of her career in Year, already holding the record for the most 20-point, 10-assist games in WNBA history. In a thrilling contest, Chelsea Gray made two buzzer-beating 3-pointers after Clark's uncharacteristic miscues, lifting the Aces to an overtime victory over the Fever. During that game, two fans were escorted from their courtside seats in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

MLB and NFL Analysis

A comprehensive look at how the fates of all 30 MLB teams have changed since the trade deadline evaluates each roster's completeness and playoff hopes. Baseball insiders, including execs and scouts, shared their grades on the biggest trade deadline deals, with one quipping, "I'm glad we're not in the NL." In the NFL, ESPN ranked the 10 most interesting contract extensions, with Jahmyr Gibbs' $67.5M deal leading the list of recent moves shaping the 2026 preseason. A deep dive into the 2027 NFL draft also identified 16 players in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick.

Cricket and International Sports

Tom Lammonby helped revive Somerset's One-Day Cup hopes with a brilliant century in a thumping victory over Surrey. Scotland beat Canada by nine runs in a tense tri-series match to secure a place at next year's World Cup Qualifier. Rashid Khan took six wickets as Afghanistan thrashed Ireland by 92 runs. A brilliant 140 from Luc Benkenstein led Essex to a narrow win over Glamorgan. England opener Emilio Gay suffered a shoulder injury scare while playing for Durham. Andrew Flintoff stepped down as head coach of England Lions. Jos Buttler credited a conversation with England batting coach Marcus Trescothick for helping him find form and break the all-time T20 run-scoring record. In hockey, Hannah French praised medical staff for her recovery ahead of the World Cup. The BBC secured a new three-year deal to remain the home of Irish Premiership coverage.

Other Sports

The PLL's Week 12 preview for Throwback Weekend details four games and one WLL contest in Boston. The Mascot Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026, including Mrs. Met and Goldy. In cycling, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney produced a thrilling solo ride to the summit of Mont Ventoux to win a Tour de France Femmes stage and take the overall lead. Conor McGregor said his comeback starts now after knee surgery. The 2026 WSOP final table delivered great play, but the Hall of Fame process was criticized for inducting only one player. A feature story explored the rise and falls of the iconic Ocho event "Slippery Stairs." In boxing, Claressa Shields said a fight with Lauren Price is now likely to take place in 2027. Finally, the story of how being fired helped a former ball boy reach the Hall of Fame was profiled, recalling his time with the Vikings.

Fantasy Football

For fantasy managers, the annual Do Not Draft list is back, highlighting players Eric Karabell believes are going earlier than they should in summer drafts, including a trio of Giants.