General Sports 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 24, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Combat Sports
Volkanovski bbc.co.uk chases featherweight immortality as a record beckons, while Merab Dvalishvili bbc.co.uk says he has regained 19lb in five hours before his title bout. Yan and Dvalishvili's third meeting turns on decision-making espn.com, and Dalton Smith bbc.co.uk is being urged toward a bigger stage after his world title win.
Football
Jude Bellingham bbc.co.uk is holding positive talks over a new Real Madrid contract. Northern Ireland's loss of a European spot bbc.co.uk is described as a significant setback by the league's chief executive.
Motorsport
Charles Leclerc topped Friday practice bbc.co.uk at the US Grand Prix, ahead of Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes.
WNBA
The Valkyries face a must-win Game 4 espn.com against the Dream in the Finals. Atlanta's Allisha Gray says her hand is still not fully healed espn.com. The Fever fired general manager Amber Cox espn.com and president Kelly Krauskopf stepped down espn.com in a front-office shake-up. ESPN also ranked the 30 greatest WNBA players espn.com in the league's history.
Rugby
Christian Wade equalled the Premiership try-scoring record bbc.co.uk with a score for Newcastle against Sale. Gloucester beat Bath bbc.co.uk at Kingsholm, while Connacht secured a bonus-point win bbc.co.uk over Zebre. Edinburgh beat the Lions bbc.co.uk, and the Sharks scored six tries bbc.co.uk to beat Cardiff at the Arms Park. England suffered back-to-back defeats bbc.co.uk to Canada, and Samoa ran in 14 tries bbc.co.uk to thrash Wales at the Rugby League World Cup.
College Football
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte clarified reports espn.com about the use of AI on a key play that failed in the loss to Florida. Appalachian State stunned James Madison espn.com 34-31 in overtime. Miami's 2001 throwback uniforms espn.com led the week's best looks, and Michigan QB Tommy Carr's composure has drawn praise espn.com. Utah's Morgan Scalley is on track for the playoff espn.com, and Oregon State's Jesse Legree re-signed espn.com with the Beavers.
NFL and Other Sports
Baker Mayfield returns to the Buccaneers espn.com after a three-game absence. The Bears paid tribute espn.com to Mike Ditka at Soldier Field, and Luke Littler reached the second round bbc.co.uk of the European Championship. Peres Jepchirchir was provisionally suspended bbc.co.uk over an EPO positive test. LSU's Dale Brown espn.com died at.
Coming Up
Dvalishvili and Yan meet in their third fight espn.com at UFC, with Volkanovski defending his featherweight belt bbc.co.uk on the same card. The Valkyries need to win Game 4 espn.com to keep their Finals hopes alive.