General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: September 3, 2026, 11:18 PM ET

College Football

The legal battle over LSU's decision to field professional players took a dramatic turn Thursday evening when a Louisiana judge cleared the way for Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to return to the Tigers' roster. The injunction directly challenges the SEC's lawsuit against LSU, which accused the school of an "unequivocal intent" to use players who recently participated in NFL training camps. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin's arrival in Baton Rouge has brought a new era of unconventional tactics,with critics ready to pounce if he falls short of a national title. The season's opening weekend also features a marquee matchup between Clemson and LSU, with Kiffin facing Dabo Swinney in a game that could define both programs' trajectories.

Heisman Campaigns

Ole Miss is taking its Heisman Trophy promotions to unprecedented venues, launching creative campaign strategiesthat include Times Square billboards and a Sphere spectacle in Las Vegas. The school is betting that its star players' visibility will translate into hardware by December, mixing tried-and-true methods with modern flash.

College Football Bets & Practice

For bettors, Week 1 presents a slate of intriguing opportunities, as analysts Pamela Maldonado and Mark Zinno have identified value picks on Notre Dame, Texas, and Michigan State among others. Elsewhere, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti's ultra-efficient practice methodsare turning heads—his sessions finish an hour sooner than most programs, yet leave no detail unaddressed.

UNC Football

Michael Lombardi has resigned as UNC's general manager amid an ongoing investigation, according to sources. He had joined the program when Bill Belichick was hired in late 2024, making this departure a significant shakeup for the Tar Heels' football operations.

Gambling & Discipline

Former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsbyis speaking out about his history of sports betting addiction, expressing"a ton of remorse" in a new documentary series that chronicles the Red Raiders' turbulent offseason. His candid admission sheds light on the pressures facing college athletes.

Tennis

The US Open has delivered its share of drama, with third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime suffering a stunning second-round exit at the hands of Karen Khachanov. Auger-Aliassime admitted he was dizzy and seeing spots during the match, raising questions about his condition. Britain's Harriet Dart also bowed out, citing illnessin the heatas she fell to Marie Bouzkova in straight sets. On a brighter note, Naomi Osaka recovered from a second-set blipto defeat Katerina Siniakova, while Iga Swiatek also advanced comfortably. In other news, Nick Kyrgios has been cleared to return to tennisafter accepting a one-month ban for testing positive for cocaine—a suspension that has now been served.

Boxing & Snooker

London Mayor Sadiq Khanis making a public push to host the proposed Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua fight at Wembley Stadium, urging promoters to get in touchand calling it a"really keen" prospect for the city. Meanwhile, in snooker, teenager Stan Moody has knocked four-time champion John Higginsout of the British Open with a 4-2 victory in the last-16—a stunning result for the 19-year-old.

Rugby Union & League

England prop Beno Obano will put his Test career on holdafter agreeing to join French side Pau at the end of the forthcoming season, becoming the latest player to prioritize club rugby. In rugby league, Bradford Bulls have ended a seven-match losing streakwith a 32-22 victory over Castleford Tigers, giving themselves a lifelinein the battle to avoid the Super League wooden spoon. Meanwhile, England centre Benhard Janse van Rensburghas denied claimsfrom Rassie Erasmusthat he was in talks over a Springboks call-up, though he admitted he"probably would have loved to" play for his native South Africa.

Cricket

The County Championship produced a remarkable spectacle at The Oval, where 23 wickets fell on day twobetween Surrey and Yorkshire,with Surrey chasing 185 for victory. Sussex paceman Henry Crocombehas taken a second hat-trick in eight daysas Essex lost their last seven wickets for just six runs. In women's cricket, Issy Wong's first international five-wicket haulled England to a six-wicket win over Ireland, sealingthe three-match series with a game to spare. Former England captain Michael Vaughanhas warnedthat Ashes ticket prices are pricing fans outof the game, calling for action to make the sport more accessible.

Cycling & Motor Racing

Enric Mashas extended his overall leadin the Vuelta a Espanawith a late attack on stage, while Slovenia's Jakob Omrzel won the stage to Calar Alto. In Formula, Lewis Hamiltonhas described Ferrari's upgraded enginefor this weekend's Italian Grand Prixas a"step forwardbut not the whole amount we need," signalingthat more work lies ahead. The race itself has been declared a heat-hazard eventby the FIA,as high temperatures continue to grip Italy followingthe summer heatwave.

Basketball & Other Sports

Team USA's young core—featuring Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark,and Angel Reese—is set for a bigger World Cup stageas they make their major tournament debuts. A full preview of all 16 teamsatthe tournament in Berlin,which starts Friday,has the U.S. women as favorites,with France also among the front-runners. In college basketball, projections for the 2026-27 Big East seasonhave UConn reigning supreme,though St. John's loomsas a challenger. Elsewhere, Swansea City's Vitor Matosbelieves his side is reviving the possession gamethat definedthe club's golden Premier League era. Finally, a trial in Nigeriahas heardthat Anthony Joshua's driver attempted an overtake before the fatal crashthat led to charges including causing death by dangerous driving. And American brand Good Goodhas sacked three senior executivesfollowinga backlash over an advert showing a woman being pushed tothe ground. For those testing their knowledge,the weekly sports quizaskswhich tennis star suffered a first-round US Open upset—a questionwith several possible answers this year.