General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
College Football Upsets
Week 7 delivered chaos, with five top-seven teams losing on a day that reshaped the playoff picture espn.com. The committee's shuffle is already the central question espn.com as Miami, Ohio State and others jockey for position. Historic scenes espn.com from across the country captured the madness, while Jon Sumrall's cowboy hat espn.com celebration after Auburn's win became the day's best moment.
Auburn stunned No. 1 Georgia espn.com after Stockton's fumble doomed the Bulldogs, ending a 195-game streak espn.com of top-ranked teams never being toppled by unranked opposition. BYU upset No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 espn.com, with a final-play defensive stop sealing it. Miami survived two Hail Marys espn.com in a double-overtime win over FSU, with Darian Mensah throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Texas was upset by Florida espn.com, and Steve Sarkisian said the program will "evaluate everything."
Big Ten Battles
Ohio State survived Indiana espn.com after a fourth-down misstep on a late score that appeared to be the go-ahead touchdown. Indiana, however, ended a 22-game losing streak espn.com against the Buckeyes, showing it is no longer a team content with moral victories. Ohio State also lost quarterback Julian Sayin espn.com for several weeks with a shoulder injury.
Pro Basketball & WNBA
Golden State took a 1-0 lead espn.com over Atlanta in the WNBA Finals with a 68-64 win, as Gabby Williams came up clutch espn.com in the closing minutes. ESPN ranked the top 15 players espn.com in the Finals, debating whether Reese or Williams deserves the top spot.
Boxing
Daniel Dubois retained his WBO title espn.com with a brutal second-round TKO of Fabio Wardley, his second win over the Briton in five months. The heavyweight outlook bbc.co.uk now turns to what comes next for the division.
Rugby
Munster held on bbc.co.uk to beat Racing 92 33-25 in a tribute-laden Champions Cup opener. Leinster beat Clermont 48-23 bbc.co.uk, Connacht scored seven tries bbc.co.uk to beat Saracens, and Glasgow won bonus-point bbc.co.uk at Sale 47-27. Bath fell 32-14 bbc.co.uk to Montpellier, and Bristol lost bbc.co.uk 49-12 to the Stormers. Scarlets thrashed Newcastle 47-14 bbc.co.uk, though fly-half Sam Costelow was injured, a worry for Wales. Ulster claimed a bonus point bbc.co.uk against Zebre, and Ospreys eased past Black Lion bbc.co.uk in the Challenge Cup. Lions and Sale Sharks paid tribute bbc.co.uk to Hyron Andrews before their matches.
Rugby League
New Zealand edged past Fiji bbc.co.uk in the Women's World Cup, a result that serves as a "wake-up call." England crushed Wales 70-6 bbc.co.uk on debut, while the men's side under Brian McDermott must fix errors bbc.co.uk after a Tonga loss that threatens their tournament.
Tennis, Golf & Other
Sonay Kartal beat Jelena Ostapenko bbc.co.uk to reach the Wuhan Open final. Alexander Zverev said he overachieved bbc.co.uk in reaching the Shanghai semi-finals despite fatigue. Eugenio Chacarra leads the India Championship bbc.co.uk as Rory McIlroy fades before play was halted. Billy Loughnane became the youngest champion jockey bbc.co.uk since 1923. Anna Morris completed a hat-trick bbc.co.uk of golds at the track worlds. The U.S. gymnastics team lost Rivera espn.com to an ankle injury ahead of the worlds. A service member was injured espn.com in a fall from the rafters during a UTSA pregame rappel. AFC Rushden Diamonds reached the FA Cup first round bbc.co.uk for the first time.
Realignment & Playoff Format
ESPN reached a handshake agreement espn.com to broadcast a 24-team College Football Playoff, a step toward expansion. Critics argue the expansion raises concerns espn.com, with bigger not necessarily better.
Coming Up
Ohio State's Julian Sayin will miss espn.com "several weeks," with the Buckeyes adjusting at quarterback. Florida starts Tramell Jones Jr. espn.com against Texas, tasked with ending a two-game slide.