General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: July 20, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

College Football Contenders and Recruiting

The SEC is looking to reclaim its dominance in college football after three seasons without a national championship, with several teams poised to contend for the title SEC contenders. Meanwhile, the recruiting landscape is heating up, with Indiana landing its highest-rated recruit ever in five-star receiver Monshun Sales for the 2027 cycle IU lands. Bill Belichick expressed optimism about North Carolina's football program, stating they are "way ahead" of where they were a year ago. ESPN has also ranked the top 25 college football recruits, including underclassmen and rising seniors.

Golf's Major Championships and Player Performances

At the Open Championship, Ryan Fox tied a major championship record with a second-round 62. Sam Burns held the lead after two rounds, with Fox and Kim two shots back. Rory McIlroy made the cut but needs a strong finish to contend for his second Claret Jug. Jon Rahm received a code-of-conduct warning for throwing his club Rahm gets. Tommy Fleetwood expressed his continued pursuit of an Open title after a strong performance at Royal Birkdale. Bryson DeChambeau's penalty situation at the Open was overshadowed by Ryan Fox's victory How fast. Rory McIlroy, admitting he was "stuck in neutral" during the Open, plans to use a summer break to celebrate his Masters win. McIlroy also suggested that Bryson DeChambeau playing in the Irish Open in September "would be great for the tournament". Robert Mac Intyre credited patience for his strong showing at the Open Championship.

Formula 1 and Motorsports

The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps encapsulated the season for Mercedes and Ferrari. George Russell is reportedly "infuriated" by a straight-line performance issue in his Mercedes that makes his title fight with Kimi Antonelli "impossible". Russell also suffered a "bitter blow" to his title hopes after crashing out at Spa and falling 50 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli. In a significant driver movement, Mercedes driver scout Lagrue is joining rivals Red Bull. Joey Logano secured his first Cup Series victory of the season at North Carolina's North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Tennis and Individual Sports

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is considering requiring genetic sex testing for all players to compete on the tour. Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova will miss the Canadian Open after undergoing "small surgery" and is expected to be sidelined for a "few weeks". Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed his first ATP title in 16 months, defeating Raphael Collignon in the Swiss Open final.

Rugby and Rugby League

Wales experienced another significant defeat against South Africa in the Nations Championship, with Jac Morgan confident they are closing the gap to the world's best. However, Wales was held scoreless again by a dominant seven-try South African performance. England's discipline was described as "comical" by Matt Dawson after receiving four yellow cards in their win over Argentina. England secured a thrilling, though ill-disciplined, victory against Argentina following a controversial late TMO call. Argentina wore a replica of their 1986 World Cup kit for the match against England. Scotland secured a hard-fought bonus-point victory against Fiji in a pulsating Nations Championship encounter. Gregor Townsend, Scotland's coach, indicated he wouldn't be overly concerned about another high-scoring game against Fiji, provided Scotland secured the win. Ireland's losing streak against top southern hemisphere nations continued with a six-try defeat to New Zealand. Castleford Tigers staged an extraordinary comeback to defeat league leaders Leeds Rhinos 36-34 in a thrilling derby. Warrington Wolves bounced back with a convincing win over Hull KR, with Matty Ashton scoring a brace to pass 100 tries for the club. Scotland flanker Hamish Watson has signed for French club Castres after leaving Edinburgh.

Cycling and Athletics

Remco Evenepoel criticized "inhuman" middle-of-the-night doping tests at the Tour de France after winning stage, which also saw two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard crash out. Tadej Pogacar extended his overall lead in the Tour de France with another dominant victory on a mountainous stage. Tom Pidcock moved up to fourth place overall in the Tour de France standings after Switzerland's Mauro Schmid won stage 13 from a breakaway. Welsh rider Zoe Backstedt retained her Baloise Ladies Tour title. Welsh 1,500m runner Jake Heyward is set to compete in the Commonwealth Games after recovering from double Achilles surgery. Keely Hodgkinson returned to winning ways at the London Diamond League after a challenging period. Josh Kerr is aiming for a mile record, while Hodgkinson is downplaying her 800m bid at the Diamond League meeting. Beth Shriever became the first BMX racer to win four elite world titles as extreme weather curtailed the UCI BMX Racing World Championships.

UFC and Combat Sports

Dricus Du Plessis positioned himself for another title shot with a unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night. Ben Askren returned to the wrestling mat after double lung transplant surgery, losing to Belal Muhammad. UFC is anticipating several exciting matchups in the second half of the year, including Van vs. Kape and Topuria vs. Pimblett UFC fights. Conor McGregor detailed his ACL and meniscus injury sustained during his UFC return, expressing confidence in his ability to fight again.

Other Sports News and Events

The FIFA president completed an extensive tour for the 2026 World Cup, traveling the equivalent of 2.5 times around the Earth. World Cup winners will receive championship rings in addition to the trophy and gold medals. Experts are offering their best bets for the 2026 World Cup final, with Spain and Argentina mentioned as strong contenders Best bets. The ESPYS 2026 award winners have been announced, with athletes like Jalen Brunson and A'ja Wilson taking home honors Full list. Angel Reese appreciated Sandy Brondello's apology for referring to her as a "protected species" and was grateful for the WNBA's one-game suspension of Brondello. Caitlin Clark made WNBA history with a 45-point, 10-assist performance in the Indiana Fever's win over the Seattle Storm. Paige Bueckers scored 25 points before exiting the Wings' victory after a collision, while Arike Ogunbowale's late points secured the win for the Wings over the Sparks. A'ja Wilson is recognized among the WNBA's top rim protectors, alongside Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart. ESPN and Make-A-Wish are celebrating 20 years of fulfilling sports dreams for children with critical illnesses My Wish. Manchester Super Giants seamer Grace Ballinger is looking at the revamped Hundred competition. BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team examined the changes for this year's edition of The Hundred What has. Salford has re-signed half-back Marc Sneyd from 2027. Rugby league teams are preparing for the upcoming season, with a live NHL free agency tracker available for veteran additions Live NHL. Northamptonshire Steelbacks defeated Somerset by 17 runs to reach the T20 Blast final. Two riders died in separate British eventing competitions on Saturday. Boxer Hannah Rapp, died after being struck by a car while cycling in Texas. The Stanley Cup's inclusion of an owner's family has been criticized as devaluing the trophy. Fantasy baseball players can find pitcher rankings, hitter ratings, and schedule observations in the Week 16 preview. Fantasy hockey players can consult the top 250 rankings for the 2026-27 season, featuring Nathan Mac Kinnon and Connor McDavid. Limerick secured their first All-Ireland title since 2023. Former Antrim hurler Neil McManus analyzed key matchups that could decide the All-Ireland hurling final Where the. The Premier Lacrosse League and Women's Professional Lacrosse League Week 9 preview includes schedules, stats, and injury notes. One collector believes Cooper Flagg's latest 1-of-1 rookie card could fetch $5 million. Sir Garfield Sobers, who died at, is remembered as arguably the best all-rounder in cricket history. J.J. Watt called out Real Salt Lake for failing to meet certain standards J.J. Watt.