General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 10, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

College Football

The 2026 season is rapidly approaching, and our reporters have provided insider intel on 43 of the top college quarterbacks, breaking down which will be stars and which players opposing coaches fear. Meanwhile, a deep dive into the sport's most hated villains of all time explores whether Lane Kiffin is the best pot-stirrer of them all, while a separate list identifies the biggest villain for every Power 4 team. Shifting to the future, Ohio State landed a commitment from four-star quarterback Christopher Vargas, the top-ranked pocket passer in the 2028 class, and we have identified 51 freshmen poised to make an impact on the season. In other roster news, offensive lineman Cole Hutson has returned to Texas after NFL tryouts, and UConn's Dan Hurley sounded the alarm on coaches taking advantage of court rulings to make late roster additions. Off the field, the Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a vote in the Senate before recess, delaying the college sports reform bill to September.

NFL

Training camps are in full swing, and Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins for a TD as the Bengals' offense looked sharp in the latest buzz from around the league. Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said that 2026 is "probably my last year," while a ranking of the most interesting contract extensions highlights Jahmyr Gibbs' $67.5M deal among the flurry of moves shaping the preseason. to the 2027 draft, we examine who will be the No. 1 pick, with 16 players in the mix including quarterbacks Dante Moore and Arch Manning. The annual fantasy football hit is back, and the full 'Do Not Draft' list for 2026 warns managers about players going too early in drafts. Finally, the story of how getting fired helped a former ball boy reach the Hall of Fame features a remarkable journey, and former New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth of County Down says he is adjusting to being a player rather than a fan.

WNBA & NBA

The Minnesota Lynx, powered by guard Kayla McBride who set a WNBA single-game record with 10 three-pointers in a 103-90 win, clinched a playoff berth with their 26th victory. The Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark is playing the best basketball of her career, but the WNBA quickly rescinded her eighth technical foul to avoid a suspension. The Las Vegas Aces sat stars A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young for a back-to-back in New York, while Chelsea Gray hit two buzzer-beating 3-pointers to lift the Aces past the Fever. The WNBPA released a statement rejecting "hate, abuse" in the focus on transgender athletes. In the NBA, the death of Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was ruled accidental due to the effects of drugs, and top high school prospect Ahmed Nur earned an exclusive ticket to the NBA's offseason retreat, "The Sanctuary." Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington posted "white privilege" after being ejected for a hard foul, and two fans were escorted from their seats during a game in Indiana.

MLB & Golf

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and we have full reactions from executives and scouts grading the biggest blockbusters. We also assess how the fates of all 30 teams have changed, and the fantasy baseball fallout from all the key deals. Tommy John, the namesake for the elbow surgery, bid farewell with a vague message about his health, and Mrs. Met and Goldy are among the Mascot Hall of Fame Class of 2026. In golf, Jackson Koivun, with just six starts, booked the final spot in the Fed ExCup Playoffs after winning the 3M Open. On the Ladies European Tour, England's Charley Hull let slip a late lead as 17-year-old Anna Huang won her fourth event.

Racing, Combat Sports & Cycling

In NASCAR, Ty Gibbs outlasted Christopher Bell with a late pit strategy to win the Cup Series race in Iowa. At Silverstone, Trackhouse Racing's Raul Fernandez won the British Moto GP ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin. In combat sports, Callum Simpson avenged his only loss in a rematch against Troy Williamson, reclaiming the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles. MMA fighter Dakota Ditcheva says she broke both hands again during a recent win, and Conor McGregor says his comeback starts now after knee surgery. In cycling, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney produced a thrilling solo ride to the summit of Mont Ventoux to take the Tour de France Femmes lead, while a feature explores why it is so hard to run a cycling team, using the Hess women's team as a case study.

Cricket & Rugby

Cricket boards for Scotland and the Netherlands criticised the ICC for structural changes to the men's 50-over World Cup. On the field, Scotland scraped past the UAE by one wicket with one ball left, and then beat Canada to reach the World Cup Qualifier. Afghanistan's Rashid Khan took six wickets as his side thrashed Ireland by 92 runs. In The Hundred, Sunrisers Leeds thumped Welsh Fire to close in on qualification, while Middlesex advanced in the One-Day Cup as the group stage nears a tense finale. Jos Buttler credited a chat with Marcus Trescothick for rediscovering the form that took him past the all-time T20 run-scoring record. England Lions head coach Andrew Flintoff stepped down, and England opener Emilio Gay suffered a shoulder injury scare.

In rugby union, Wales named 14 uncapped players in a 46-strong WXV training squad, and Swansea fear a serious Achilles injury to Cameron Burgess. Proud of his Welsh roots, Argentine defender Jeremias James hopes for a rule change to help his international ambitions. In the interprovincials, a dominant second-half from Connacht inflicted a painful 15-10 defeat on Ulster, and Ulster's Fiona Tuite said her side "need to execute more." Tragically, Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi died from suspected heatstroke after a training session in Japan.

Rugby League, Football & Other Sports

In rugby league, eight-try Wigan thumped Toulouse to move into second in Super League, while Huddersfield celebrated their move to Dewsbury by thrashing Catalans Dragons. Warrington kept alive their top-two hopes with a ruthless 42-4 victory over Bradford Bulls. In football, much-changed Ballymena shocked Linfield 3-0 at Windsor Park, and Matthias Jaissle prepares to take charge of his first friendly as Newcastle United head coach. In athletics, the team behind Keely Hodgkinson's golden rise is detailed, and the European Athletics Championships timetable and BBC coverage times are set for Birmingham from 10-16 August. A defiant Hodgkinson says a home European title would mean as much as Olympic gold. In tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise defeat at the Canadian Open, and Ben Pritchard eyes a world title defence after a European win.

Other Sports & Culture

Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera won her second straight U.S. gymnastics national title. Grand Slam Track's bankrupt league has now paid its athletes, according to Michael Johnson. The 2026 WSOP final table delivered great play, but the Hall of Fame process needs addressing. Purdue's AD offered a mea culpa over an ill-advised Indiana one-liner. The iconic Ocho event, Slippery Stairs, has its rise and falls told, while the rise of hacky sack is profiled. A quiz asks "Who am I?" to guess The Hundred cricket star, and Ian Rush says reaching Euro 2028 is a must for Wales. World number one Judd Trump lost at the China Open, while Shaun Murphy broke a scoring record. Finally, a preview for PLL Week 12 and a look back at Chepstow Racecourse's centenary.