General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 11:41 PM ET

College Football Preview & Rankings

The 2026 college football season is on the horizon, and ESPN has released its preseason All-America team, highlighting the nation's top players at each position. Additionally, Bill Connelly's final preseason SP+ rankings offer insights into team projections. The SEC landscape for 2026-27 is also being dissected, with projections suggesting three possible champions and three teams unlikely to make the NCAA tournament. Discussions are also underway regarding the financial value of college football positions, with insights from general managers and agents estimating how much a Power 4 starter earns. The debate about quarterback physiques continues, with Oklahoma's Mateer turning heads, raising questions about whether QBs are getting too swole. Meanwhile, a surprising incident occurred in Arkansas, where a high school football player found a venomous snake in his helmet during practice.

Basketball Tournaments & Player News

The 2026 NBA Cup schedule and format have been revealed, detailing the upcoming in-season tournament. In the WNBA, the power rankings show teams jockeying for playoff positioning as time runs out. Fever coach Stephanie White defended her players against criticism, receiving support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham after being booed in Indiana, as detailed in the latest WNBA news. For fantasy basketball players, a playoff strategy guide offers expert picks and advice. The NBA also announced its opening week schedule, featuring a tripleheader on October 20th, including the Knicks facing LeBron and the 76ers on opening night.

Golf and Racing Updates

LIV Golf players have been informed that the season-ending Team Championship is likely to be cancelled. In PGA Tour news, Rory McIlroy expressed confidence in maintaining his Tour status, despite planning to play only 14 events, and hopes to reach a compromise to fulfill the minimum of 15 starts for PGA Tour status. The FedEx Cup playoffs are set to begin with the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, with tee times for the first two rounds now available. Meanwhile, an amateur golfer has resigned from his club following a viral cheating scandal where he faked a hole-in-one. In racing news, a horse racing integrity firm is investigating five races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park due to unusual betting patterns.

Athletics and Swimming Championships

Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith made history by winning the men's 400m gold at the European Championships in Birmingham, becoming the joint-most decorated man of all time at the event. Hudson-Smith's historic win was a highlight for the home crowd. In the men's 200m breaststroke, British teenager Filip Nowacki secured a dramatic European gold medal. Great Britain's Angharad Evans also claimed her first European Championship gold in the 100m breaststroke final. Evans' victory adds to the team's success. Keely Hodgkinson advanced to the women's 800m final, moments after rival Audrey Werro suffered a fall. Hodgkinson and her gold medal rivals, Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol, have all progressed, setting up a potential showdown in the European 800m final. However, there has been criticism regarding empty seats and ticket prices at the Birmingham venue. In swimming, Adam Ramsay-Peaty finished fifth in the men's 100m breaststroke final, his first defeat at a European Aquatics Championships. Ramsay-Peaty's performance saw him beaten by competitors in Paris.

Cricket and Rugby News

Scotland secured a commanding 170-run victory over Canada in the World Cup League, with captain Richie Berrington and debutant Lyle Robertson starring in the dominant win. Afghanistan comfortably clinched their ODI series against Ireland with a game to spare, achieving a record tally in the one-day format. Moises Henriques expressed his ambition to help Portugal qualify for their first T20 World Cup, describing it as "cricket nirvana" at the end of his career. In The Hundred, Welsh Fire and MI London have been eliminated from the competition after losing their final group matches. Welsh Fire's elimination came after a six-run loss. Birmingham Phoenix, led by Ellyse Perry's unbeaten, achieved a five-wicket victory over MI London. Perry's performance secured the win for Phoenix. England has scrapped its midnight curfew, with only wins now expected to repair the team's reputation. England's cricket team faces pressure to perform. In rugby, Ulster captain Iain Henderson will miss the start of the season following hip surgery, impacting the team for several months. The Ospreys have publicly rejected the WRU's plan to cut a professional team, advocating for the continuation of four Welsh sides. England's Red Roses are preparing for the WXV Global Series, incorporating smaller balls and a tough schedule into their training. England's WXV campaign is underway.

Soccer and Other Sports News

Manchester United defeated Leeds in a historic pre-season encounter at Croke Park, marking the first time the stadium has hosted an association football match between two English teams. Man Utd vs. Leeds was a significant event. Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy aims to prove doubters wrong and avoid relegation in the upcoming 2026-27 season. Cardiff's aspirations are focused on exceeding expectations. Swansea City has been dealt a significant blow with centre-back Cameron Burgess rupturing his Achilles, likely ruling him out for the entire season. Brennan Johnson is expected to thrive under David Moyes at Everton following his transfer from Crystal Palace. Johnson's move signals a new chapter. In MMA, Islam Makhachev indicated he has limited time left in the UFC as he prepares for his title defense at UFC. Makhachev's UFC future is a topic of discussion, with a preview and picks for UFC 330 highlighting Ian Machado Garry as a threat to Makhachev. Hockey Canada has maintained suspensions for four players following their acquittal in a sexual assault case, though a fifth has been reinstated. Canadian hockey stars remain suspended despite the acquittal. The Great Britain dressage team has qualified for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles by winning silver at the FEI World Championships. GB dressage qualification marks a significant achievement. Efe Obada has retired from the NFL to pursue his "true calling" and has launched a foundation. Obada's retirement marks a new phase.

Tennis and Other Individual Sports

Iga Swiatek will face Elena Rybakina in the Canadian Open final after both players navigated challenging three-set semi-finals. Swiatek reaches the final in what she describes as her "toughest season." Rybakina previously staged a comeback to defeat Naomi Osaka in their quarter-final match. Rybakina's comeback against Osaka was a highlight of the tournament. In NASCAR, Ty Gibbs will honor former driver Kyle Busch by racing with an M&M's paint scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gibbs' tribute to Busch will be a notable moment. British gymnast Ruby Evans is focusing on her training ahead of the 2026 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, discussing how she handles fame. Evans' focus remains on her performance. Jakob Ingebrigtsen expressed disappointment over Josh Kerr's absence from the European Championships, stating it is "ruining the sport." Ingebrigtsen's disappointment highlights a rivalry.

Fantasy Sports and Player Rankings

ESPN MLB experts have updated their rankings, providing a top 50 list of the best players as the 2026 regular season winds down. For fantasy football enthusiasts, Matt Bowen has identified his favorite draft targets across all levels of drafts. ESPN's Dan Orlovsky has ranked the league's quarterbacks by skill, posing questions about who possesses the strongest arm and best pocket presence. Orlovsky's QB rankings delve into specific attributes. In fantasy baseball, Tristan H. Cockcroft suggests looking towards the Bronx for potential late-season trade targets as the trade deadline approaches.

Other Sports News

A judge has ruled that the Tulsa Little League team, previously disqualified due to an ineligible player, can compete for a spot in the Little League World Series after being granted a temporary restraining order. Tulsa team's bid for the LLBWS is back on. The Irish League's hopes for long-term European qualification now rest significantly with Larne, following Northern Ireland's drop outside the top 50 of Uefa's coefficient ranking. Larne's role is crucial for the league's standing. A solar eclipse has caused a schedule change for the horse racing meeting at Ffos Las in South Wales, which will now begin approximately two hours earlier. Eclipse affects racing at Ffos Las. Former All Blacks star Ma'a Nonu performed a solo haka in South Africa as a response to the haka performed by the opposing team. Nonu's solo haka was a unique pre-match ritual. Eddie Jones revealed an unusual coaching technique for Japan: watching videos of geese flying in formation to inspire the team before their second Test against Australia. Jones' goose inspiration is a novel approach. Scotland's Summer Shaw, who won a Commonwealth Games judo bronze, returned to working at McDonald's a week later, highlighting the financial realities for some athletes. Shaw's post-medal job showcases a different side of sports. The weekly sports quiz tests knowledge on recent events, including tattoos, transfers, and photo finishes. Weekly sports quiz covers diverse sports topics.