General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: September 22, 2026, 2:05 PM ET

Tatjana Smith's Comeback

South Africa's most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith, has returned from retirement, revealing she had lost her love for the sport before stepping away. Smith, who won gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke at Paris 2024, said the decision to come back was driven by a rediscovered passion rather than external pressure.

Cricket Retirements and Contracts

England fast bowler Mark Wood has called time on his international career, ending a spell that saw him consistently clock speeds above 90mph despite recurring injury troubles. In county news, Henry Pollock has signed a new deal at Northampton worth in excess of £400K, running until 2028 and resolving a lengthy contract stand-off. Glamorgan's Colin Ingram will retire at 41 after 11 seasons with the club to take up a coaching role. Meanwhile, Lancashire face unwanted Championship history, set to finish 2026 in the bottom two of Division Two — their lowest-ever position.

Formula 1

Monaco will host a sprint race in 2027, a decision that has raised questions given the circuit's limited overtaking opportunities. BBC Sport's Andrew Benson addressed the rationale, weighing the commercial appeal against the sporting spectacle on the principality's narrow streets.

Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin

Ole Miss delivered a cathartic win in Lane Kiffin's return to The Grove, capping 293 days of buildup with an epic scene and a result that eased mounting pressure. The victory reshaped the early SEC narrative and gave the Rebels a statement result in front of a raucous home crowd.

College Football Playoff Picture

The latest CFP top-12 projection shows the SEC consolidating its grip on the field after Week, with the committee's likely seeding favoring the conference's depth. Updated bowl projections reflect big shifts following a wild week of upsets and thrilling finishes across the postseason picture.

Power Rankings

Week 3 brought Ole Miss rising in the Top 25 while Miami dropped, as several contenders absorbed wake-up calls. The rankings underscore how quickly the national hierarchy can shift when ranked teams stumble early.

Coaching and Program News

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb apologized for fan comments he made Monday calling out portions of the Crimson Tide faithful, walking back remarks that drew immediate backlash. First-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall was surprised to be favored against Ole Miss, joking that there are "a lot of good drugs out there" given his 21st-ranked Gators' underdog self-image. Washington State assistant JaMarcus Shephard paid tribute to Mike Leach and other former coaches through his game-day ensembles, honoring the late coach he worked under in 2016.

MMA and UFC

Jon Jones took responsibility for Gable Steveson's quick exit from the octagon following a historic upset, attributing the early departure to guidance he provided. UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland said he is "OK" but called himself an "idiot" after surviving an off-road crash while not wearing a helmet.

Darts

There is real fear Luke Littler could walk away from the sport entirely amid an ongoing booing row, with insiders warning that darts would be the biggest loser if the teenage star chose to step back from the circuit.