Recent seasons have brought notable highs and lows for Lazio, which become clearer when reviewing more than just scores or headlines. Fans and football betting enthusiasts often study long-term trends, such as league position consistency, scoring stats, and defensive markers, to understand where the club excels or faces challenges. This article summarizes those patterns and fluctuations, drawing out areas of strength and inconsistency.
Lazio's final league positions over recent seasons display a mix of promising campaigns and tough stretches. Reviewing points totals and table standing each year marks out when the team achieved stability or experienced setbacks. Seasons with a stable squad typically brought better finishes, while years with major management changes or player turnover saw drops in points and position.
A settled core often correlated with higher league placements, while instability in the roster or tactics could result in a slide down the table. These shifts indicate the importance of squad cohesion and leadership continuity for Lazio's consistency.
The gap between Lazio's best and worst finishes in recent years demonstrates how volatile their campaigns can be. In their stronger seasons, the team managed to secure European qualification spots, sometimes even challenging for Champions League positions with point totals exceeding 70. Conversely, mid-table finishes around 6th to 8th place reflected campaigns where early promise faded due to poor form in the second half of the season. ****** yzing the points-per-game average across different phases of each campaign reveals that Lazio often starts strongly but struggles to maintain momentum after the winter break, suggesting potential issues with squad depth or physical conditioning during the demanding latter stages of the season.
Lazio's effectiveness in attack varies between seasons. Their goals per game ratio reveals when the team was most capable of breaking down defences, while instances of multi-goal matches point to notable offensive spells. However, some campaigns featured high shot counts but low conversion rates, underlining occasional struggles to turn opportunities into goals.

#seasons #league #often

The Chicago Bears received brutal news on Tuesday afternoon when it was announced that safety Coby Bryant underwent knee surgery that will sideline him four to six months.
Bryant was signed to a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason and was widely expected to play a major role in Chicago's secondary in Dennis Allen's defense. Bryant was injured back on Aug. 3 during a 1-on-1 rep against tight end Cole Kmet, where he landed awkwardly on his left leg and was later carted off the field.
The team will now likely shift to veteran Cam Lewis and recently-signed veteran Xavier Woods to replace Bryant at the position while also giving more opportunity to rookie first-round pick Dillon Thieneman in the secondary.
Here's how the NFL world reacted to the news of Bryant's long-term diagnosis that will cause him to miss majority of the season.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL world reacts to Bears safety Coby Bryant sidelined for 4-6 months

#veteran

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever hope to record their second consecutive win against the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Indiana (20-12) is coming off a 90–86 win over the Chicago Sky on Aug. 8, a messy contest that featured technical fouls for both teams — including what would have been Clark's eighth of the season before it was rescinded — and the ejection of Chicago guard DiJonai Carrington after a hard foul on Indiana's Sophie Cunningham.
Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting, setting the WNBA record of 16 consecutive games with at least 20 points. Clark added 26 points, 11 ****** ists and two steals.
Here's how to watch the Fever's 33rd regular-season game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information.
Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. CT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, and fans can watch on ESPN.

#Chicago #record #guard

The second Matchday of the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership season is in the books, so let's take a look through the results of this weekend.
The weekend got underway at Dens Park, as Dundee picked up their first win of the new season thanks to goals from Joe Westley and Joe Bevan.
Westley gave the hosts an early lead after just nine minutes, when his right-footed strike from close range found the back of the net. Aberdeen came close to an equaliser before the break, but Owen Goodman pulled off a show-stopping save to deny Daniel Happe's header.
Dundee doubled their lead early in the second half, when Bevan fired into the top corner from a tight angle, continuing his strong start to the season so far, having now reached six goal involvements in as many games across the Premier Sports Cup and the league.
Having eased past Falkirk in their opening game, St. Mirren's perfect start continued on Saturday afternoon when they ran out 1-0 winners at home to newly promoted St. Johnstone.

#westley #weekend #lead

The semifinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur will carry into Sunday after another weather suspension halted play for roughly three hours on Saturday.
No. 1-ranked junior Asterisk Talley leads No. 5-ranked Lily Peng, 3 up through nine holes. Anna Iwanaga, this week's co-medalist, is also 3 up through nine over Samford senior Gabriella Nicastro.
Play will resume at 7 a.m. ET, followed by a 36-hole championship match.
Multiple weather suspensions this week at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, led to the Round of 16 spilling into Saturday morning. The quarterfinals went off without a hitch, but dangerous conditions against forced players off the course early in the semis.
Golf Channel will carry live coverage of the final, beginning at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

#saturday #play #weather #ranked

Welcome to Day 8 of Denver Broncos training camp.
It was great to see the Broncos running game finally get going in Friday's padded practice, but with the caveat that Malcolm Roach, Alex Singleton, and Brandon Jones were all on vet days. That might have played a factor in opening up the run game for the offense yesterday. Even so, both JK Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman had big runs during the session. It has been a grueling week of practice, so I am sure the players will be looking forward to Sunday's day of rest after Saturday's practice.
Scotty Payne will update this post from the live camp practice session today.

#denver

PHOENIX (AP) — Jade Carey doesn't need to be at the U.S. gymnastics championships. At least, not like this.
That's part of what makes it all so sweet.
The 26-year-old knows she could have walked away following her final season at Oregon State in the spring of 2025, with a resume stuffed with Olympic and world championship medals and her place in the history of the storied U.S. women's program secure.
She tried, kind of. The athlete who had been going nonstop for the better part of 20 years gave her body a bit of a break after her NCAA career ended. It lasted a handful of weeks.
Then one day, she popped into the gym and, in the words of her father and longtime coach Brian, "started playing again."

#part #brian

Benfica manager Marco Silva admits he watched on as Hearts came within minutes of a first top-flight **** le in more than 60 years so is aware of the dangers posed by the Tynecastle club.
The sides meet in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie in Lisbon on Thursday night after Hearts dropped down from the Champions League following a thumping 6-0 by Sturm Graz.
Silva, who left Fulham to replace Jose Mourinho as Benfica boss this summer, said: "I've been in the Premier League so many years and the Scottish league is something that we followed last season.
"I even remember watching the last game and the amazing story about the last game and the chances for Hearts to become champions after so many years.
"Of course, it's going to be dangerous. The atmosphere, when you arrive at the second game, it's going to be there for sure. But it's important to be strong, to show our quality, but also respect for the quality they have, quality in the last season as well.

#last #quality #silva

Chelsea have now emerged as serious contenders in the growing race for Jhon Lucumi, with Quotidiano Sports reporting that Bologna's defender is attracting renewed and increasingly forceful attention from the Premier League.
The situation is developing quickly. Juventus have already seen an opening proposal rejected and, despite returning with an improved package, they remain short of Bologna's asking price. That has created **** e for English clubs to test the waters, and Chelsea are understood to be among those doing exactly that.
The numbers outlined are clear. Juventus opened with an offer worth £15 million plus £3 million in bonuses, before raising that to £18 million plus add-ons. Bologna's position, though, has barely shifted. Their valuation remains £25 million plus £3 million, a figure they were prepared to accept elsewhere and one they now appear determined to protect.
Photo IMAGO
From Chelsea's perspective, the interest makes sense. Bologna's Colombian centre-back fits a profile that has become increasingly relevant in the market, a left-sided central defender with top-level experience and a reputation for composure in possession. With movement around Chelsea's defensive options continuing, Lucumi has clearly entered the club's thinking.

#defender #increasingly #jhon #sports

The Seattle Seahawks are the subject of this season's Hard Knocks series, with a sneak peek to the very first episode being shared online.
Mike Macdonald has only completed two seasons as Pete Carroll's replacement, but the 39-year-old has already been able to guide the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win.
There is no better team to go behind the scenes of as preparations are now in full swing ahead of the new season.
Hard Knocks has now been filming up in the Pacific Northwest during training camp and even in Macdonald's office at the VMAC.
Having secured his first ring as a head coach, Macdonald has shared insight on some of the receipts he has kept over the years after being doubted by the likes of Rex Ryan.

#first #Seattle

Ever since he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Jaylen Brown has received some criticism from just about everywhere. The 5-time All-Star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 **** ists while shooting 47.7% from the floor and 34.7% from deep and led the Boston Celtics to a 56-26 record in what many was expecting a "gap year" amid the Jayson Tatum injury, but there are some who wonder if he can repeat it.
On his latest stream on Monday evening, Brown sported his Sixers jersey and had a message for those who are doubting him:
I'm more inspired to win than anything. I feel like I've been a little bit disrespected in this process from people that I thought valued me and everything I brought to the team and the city. I found out quickly that may or may not be the case. So, I want to win more than anything. So, I'm looking forward that journey, that approach, the leadership, that sacrifice, and whatever it's gonna take.
Brown will be joined by LeBron James as the two of them will look to help Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe push Philadelphia over the edge. Brown won a **** le with the Celtics in 2024, winning finals MVP in the process, and James, obviously, has the four **** les and four finals MVPs on his resume. They will look to help the Sixers get over the hump in the coming season and get past Round 2 for the first time since 2001.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Jaylen Brown sports Sixers jersey on latest stream, shares a message

#sixers #philadelphia #jaylen #since

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Mauricio Pochettino is staying with the U.S. soccer team, agreeing Monday to a four-year contract to coach the Americans through the 2030 World Cup.
A 54-year-old who took over in October 2024, Pochettino led the U.S. to the World Cup round of 16, where the tournament co-hosts were eliminated with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
Still, he helped the seeded U.S. to a pair of firsts in the expanded 48-nation tournament, clinching advancement from the group stage with a game to spare and winning three games in a single World Cup.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soc...

#pochettino #year #tournament #mauricio

Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski showcased a new look last week, as a recent photo revealed a new haircut for the former Illinois guard with a short hairstyle. The photo comes not long after his teammate, Jimmy Butler III, revealed a new hairdo as well.
In an injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign for the Warriors last season, Podziemski was the most durable player in Steve Kerr's rotation, playing in all 82 games, averaging 28.5 minutes per contest. In those minutes, Podziemski averaged a career-high 13.8 points to go along with 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 ***** ists and 1.1 steals while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range and 45.5% from the field.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors guard reveals shocking new haircut

#podziemski #revealed #minutes #brandin

On Thursday, Carolina Panthers star Derrick Brown was revealed as the highest-rated defensive tackle in EA Sports' Madden NFL 27. The Pro Bowl wrecking ball, who is fresh off a career-high 5.0 sacks and a share of the organization's first division ****** le in a decade, also leads the way for his team.
So, how do Brown's fellow cats stack up in this year's game?
Here are the all of the player ratings for the Panthers from Madden NFL 27:
Bryce Young: 78
Kenny Pickett: 67

#derrick

Last week, Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham kicked open the door to a very public discussion around transgender athlete participation in women's sports.
It's a conversation that has been happening in earnest across league social media, t-shirt slogans, and promotions. However, after Cunningham voiced a desire to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men," it was now an issue that the WNBA needed to face head-on, whether it wanted to or not.
Conservative media and provocateurs have seized the opportunity to highlight not only Cunningham's comments but also all the reactions (or non-reactions) to them. That includes an incident during the Fever's game against the Seattle Storm on July 28, in which a co-owner of the Storm approached two girls with signs supporting Cunningham and allegedly called them "f*cking insane."
While Cunningham has received pushback from others, including her podcast co-host, WNBA players and coaches' reactions had mostly been limited to well-timed t-shirts. That is, until Friday's press conferences before the Fever's game against the Portland Fire.
Both Fever coach Stephanie White and Fire coach Alex Sarama were asked for their thoughts on the situation ahead of Friday night's game.

#cunningham #Media #young

Uncrowned has PFL New York live results, round-by-round updates, highlights and start time for the Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Archie Colgan and Dakota Ditcheva vs. Denise Kielholtz fight card on Friday night at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. In the main event, PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defends his 155-pound ****** le against undefeated American challenger Archie Colgan in a five-round showdown.
Nurmagomedov (21-0, 1 NC) is widely considered one the top talents in the world outside of the UFC. The younger brother of UFC contender Umar Nurmagomedov and cousin of former UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, Nurmagomedov is competing on the final fight of his PFL contract. He's a perfect 3-0 since joining the promotion following PFL's acquisition of Bellator in 2024, a run highlighted by two wins over Paul Hughes.
Colgan (13-0) is also an undefeated Bellator export. The Colorado native has won back-to-back decisions over Mansour Barnaoui and Jay Jay Wilson since transitioning to the PFL brand, the most recent of which came in October.
Top PFL star Dakota Ditcheva (15-0) makes his long-awaited return against Denise Kielholtz (9-5) in the night's three-round co-main event.
PFL New York starts at 4:30 p.m. ET with a five-fight preliminary card on ESPN+. The main card kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

#round #card #dakota

Jersey's Evan Campbell has been disqualified from the 110m hurdles in the decathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 25-year-old clipped the first barrier and fell before rolling under the second hurdle.
He then ducked under a third barrier after getting back to his feet and was disqualified for not going over each hurdle.
Campbell finished in a time of more than 24 seconds, but was given a score of 0 points for the event meaning he will likely finish last in the standings.
But he will be allowed to carry on competing in the day's final four disciplines.

#year

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Representatives from the Trail Blazers met with Portland city councilors on Thursday to discuss a new lease and the commitment of public funds to renovate the aging Moda Center.
The public work session comes amid the contentious negotiations over the $600 million renovation project, part of striking a long-term lease agreement with the Blazers. A current bridge lease expires in 2030.
The state has already pledged $365 million toward the deal, provided Portland contributes $120 million and Multnomah County also provides funds.
New Blazers owner Tom Dundon has previously said in interviews that he would commit to a 20-year lease that would keep the team in Portland if the state, city and county agree to fund the renovation of the Moda Center, the oldest arena in the NBA that hasn't been upgraded.
An early draft term sheet included funding caps and said any cost overruns should be paid for by the team.

#portland #county #public

Sanford Stadium is widely regarded as one of the best environments to play in across all of college football. The Georgia Bulldogs have been dominant at home throughout history, and the stadium will be as loud as ever throughout the 2026 season.
Georgia will begin the year with one of the most talented rosters in the nation. Sanford Stadium's atmosphere will once again be an essential component to the Dawgs' success this season, as Georgia held an impressive 6-1 record at home in 2025. USA TODAY's Blake Toppmeyer, Paul Myerberg, Jordan Mendoza and Kevin Skiver recently listed their top 10 stadiums in college football, and Sanford Stadium was ranked No. 6.
"The environment 'Between the Hedges' has made the Bulldogs nearly unbeatable at home under coach Kirby Smart. While the literally barking from Georgia fans doesn't always rattle your eardrums, Sanford Stadium can rumble when challenged. Georgia's .918 home winning percentage during the Kirby Smart era is a credit to the program Smart built. It's also a credit to Bulldogs fans."
Georgia will face a handful of tough opponents at Sanford Stadium this fall. The Bulldogs first true test of the season will be against the Oklahoma Sooners in Athens, followed by a highly anticipated matchup against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Dawgs are set to face the Auburn Tigers and the Missouri Tigers at Sanford Stadium during SEC play as well, and Georgia will use the atmosphere to their advantage.
The Bulldogs have lost just one home game dating back to 2019. Georgia had a 33-game home winning streak snapped against the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2025, but UGA rebounded with ranked home wins over Ole Miss and Texas.

#home #smart #kirby

Mauricio Pochettino contract, salary with USMNT: What we know about coach's new deal through 2030 World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The United States men achieved a respectable but not exceptional result at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, eliminated in the Round of 16 at the hands of Belgium as they were pummeled 4-1 in Seattle.
At the tournament on home soil, the group was led by Mauricio Pochettino, whose coaching experience and leadership were expected to help elevate the profile of the USMNT throughout his time in charge, and he was paid handsomely for such talents.
While it didn't quite translate to tangible growth at the World Cup, the USMNT has still made strides under Pochettino from a federation standpoint.
It now appears likely that U.S. Soccer has convinced Pochettino to stay long-term, warding off interest from the club level and other national teams to keep him around as the focus turns to the next four-year cycle, finishing with the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

#usmnt #fifa #preferred #source

Tottenham Hotspur continue their pre-season schedule with a clash against Australian outfit Sydney FC on Wednesday at the Allianz Stadium.
Spurs head into this game in strong form under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, having secured two consecutive wins without conceding a goal. Their preparations began with a narrow 1-0 victory over Milton Keynes Dons before they travelled to Australia and New Zealand for their summer tour.
That positive start carried on into their next outing, where they recorded a 2-0 win over Auckland FC, with Dane Scarlett and Richarlison getting on the scoresheet.
Tottenham Hotspur team news
Roberto De Zerbi is expected to name a significantly stronger starting XI for this encounter at the Allianz Stadium.

#allianz #roberto #zerbi

Tony Romo has gone through several ups and downs as the lead NFL game **** yst at CBS Sports, and now he faces legal trouble as well.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback is a polarizing figure on the air in CBS' No. 1 broadcast booth, and his reputation inside the walls of the company has fluctuated in his near-decade in the seat as well. Previous leadership infamously met with him for an intervention of sorts in 2022, shortly after he signed a whopping 10-year, $180 million contract with the network.
In the years since, he called another Super Bowl — in a mostly strong performance that was partly overshadowed when he stepped on partner Jim Nantz's call of the game-winning touchdown — but has continually made high-profile mistakes and drawn the ire of NFL diehards.
Still, in the aftermath of Romo's OWI (operating while intoxicated) arrest in Wisconsin last week, CBS management is seemingly standing behind him. A new report from the Daily Mail contains several quotes from executives at the company who backed Romo, one of whom told the British outlet that Romo "isn't going anywhere."
Some in the industry have speculated that the arrest could be an ideal excuse for CBS to part ways with Romo, who had seemingly been on thin ice at the network in the past. And with the caveat that this report — and other follow-ups — are coming mostly from tabloids, Romo appears to be safe.

#company

The San Francisco 49ers, like most teams across the NFL, have started their training camp sessions ahead of the 2026 season, and while their players have decided to continue playing, others around the league are calling it a career.
Among those who have decided to retire is former 49ers linebacker Nick Bellore, who landed on the Washington Commanders' reserve/retired list on Monday.
Bellore played at Central Michigan from 2007-10, earning All-MAC honors twice. He went undrafted in 2011 before spending four years with the New York Jets. After that, he spent two seasons with the 49ers, appearing in 30 games and recording 100 tackles, five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one sack and one interceptions.
Since then, Bellore has had stints with the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks (where he made two Pro Bowls) and Commanders.
More 49ers: Early 49ers safety battle in training camp comes with surprising twist

#francisco #Monday

Xabi Alonso's Chelsea is set to begin their pre-season journey against Australia's Western Sydney on Tuesday at the Accor Stadium.
Date: Tuesday, 28th July.
Kick-off: 10:45am BST.
Venue: Accor Stadium.
Chelsea face a heavily depleted squad for their pre-season opener in Australia under new manager Xabi Alonso.

#western

GRAND RAPIDS – Tony Annese is the head coach of the successful Division II football program in decades ... and maybe ever.
Yet he still can't believe his Ferris State University team has won four of the past five national championships.
"It's hard to win even once," Annese said. "It's a once in a lifetime thing to win the national championship, and we've been able to do it four times. Everyone here wants to win the national championship. Sometimes I look back and I pinch myself because I'm shocked that we even did it once, let alone four times."
Not surprisingly, Ferris State was named as the No. 1 team in the preseason Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs were followed by Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech University, Davenport University and Saginaw Valley State University.
More: Grand Valley State releases 2026 football schedule with home Ferris State showdown

#state #ferris

We are just 44 days from Texas taking the field against Texas State and it's SEC media days week! Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns will take centerstage in Tampa today, but Arch Manning is already a topic of discussion. Jordan Rodgers, former Vanderbilt QB and ESPN **** yst, shared his thoughts about Manning heading into the season. While some have stamped Manning as a "sure thing," Rodgers is not as convinced.
Now, Rodger's full comments are much more nuanced than just doubting Arch Manning. He acknowledges Arch's ability to improve and how he fully expects him to become a first round pick next spring. Regardless, many Longhorn fans took exception with the comments, calling it unfair. Once watching the full comments, I'm not sure Rodgers is incorrect about Manning heading into the season.
The one thing we have to clarify to start the conversation: the word "generational" is often overused in sports, especially college football. Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson are examples of generational athleticism. Arch Manning is not as athletic as those guys. Patrick Mahomes and Caleb Williams have generational arm talent. Arch Manning's doesn't match those guys. That's not to say Manning doesn't have great athleticism and great arm talent, but it's not "generational".
Rodger's biggest point for Manning was he needs to be more efficient if he wants to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. I'm not sure I share that sentiment. However, that is based on what I believe Manning will be, not what he has been. That's the difference Rodgers is seemingly trying to highlight. That being said, there is no argument against the idea that Manning has to be more efficient.
Arch Manning finished the season on a tear. From the Mississippi State game forward, he totalled 19 TDs, 2 INTs and led Texas to a 5-1 record. However, during that time he also had just one game where he completed more than 63% of his passes. On the season, he completed just 61.4% of his passes, ranking 81st in the country. In the past three seasons, the national championship QB has finished in the top 10 in completion percentage in the country. It's not a requirement, but he has to get closer to 66% this season for the Texas offense to find their rhythm.

#manning

NASCAR is gearing up for the 24th race weekend of the 2026 season at Lucas Oil Raceway, and the Truck Series is bound to put on a show. In 2025, Layne Riggs beat Corey Day for his second win of the year. Now, the sport will head to Lucas Oil with a substantial amount of money on the line.
The purse for the Truck Series race at Lucas Oil will be $789,700 on Friday night. NASCAR doesn't release the earnings for the winning driver anymore, meaning it's impossible to tell how much of the $789,700 will go toward the team in victory lane. Last year, the purse for Lucas Oil sat at $782,900, which is a $6,800 increase.
It will be fascinating to see which NASCAR driver will earn the most money at Lucas Oil this weekend. Riggs is looking to go back-to-back in the race at Lucas Oil, but Grant Enfinger and Ty Majeski had good trucks in 2025. Lucas Oil always puts on a show, and this weekend should be no different.
More: How to watch NASCAR live at Indianapolis in July 2026, full schedule
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR purse for Truck Series race at Lucas Oil in July 2026

#race

The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end on Sunday with Spain reclaiming the ***** le. They won a gritty matchup against Argentina with a 1-0 victory after extra time, and the physicality in the contest led to the early departure of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.
The “Butcher” picked up the injury playing his game, an aggressive and fearless approach to defending that sees him cover a lot of ground and make a lot of crunching tackles. His efforts have made him a fan favorite at Old Trafford as one of the few transfer hits from the Erik ten Hag era. His tenure at Old Trafford has not come without ***** ps and bruises, though, and his absences with ***** ps and bruises have kept him from playing his best for extended stretches.
With his injury, even expected to be minor, there is some concern over Manchester United’s depth at the position. Matthijs De Ligt in particular was one fans were worried about after a lengthy absence and operation to fix a back injury. He is expected back in October, but has already had some injury problems hinder his career to this point. He and Martinez both missed a lot of time last season due to injury.
The notable absences are papered over somewhat by the enduring presence of Harry Maguire, who somehow rediscovered the confidence and ability that made him one of the club’s most expensive signings in 2019. He too has had his share of knocks and absences, though, and is turning 34 next March.
The presence of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven also papered over them. In fact, the immediate answer to the center back depth questions is this: That’s what Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are there for. That isn’t an answer that inspires a ton of confidence given the club experienced the reality of multiple injuries shattering the defensive unit in the last two seasons. But if the club is betting on a return to full health for De Ligt and a swift return for Martinez, there isn’t a pressing need for a center back.

#back

Tarik Skubal is one of the best pitchers in MLB, but that may not be enough to keep him in Detroit. With Skubal set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, the Tigers are approaching a critical crossroads. While Detroit remains within striking distance of a playoff spot, the front office must ask itself a difficult question: is a late postseason push worth risking the loss of its ace for nothing this winter? If the answer is no, then the Tigers should seriously consider making the biggest trade of the deadline.
MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadline
Aug 2, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Every organization hopes to keep a pitcher of Skubal's caliber, but free agency can quickly change those plans. Unless Detroit is confident it can sign him to a long-term extension, trading him now may be the smartest move for the franchise's future.
A deal involving Skubal wouldn't simply bring back prospects—it could reshape the Tigers' rotation and farm system for years to come.

#detroit

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — He's the dean of Southeastern Conference coaches who also has two national ****** les on his resume, so what Georgia's Kirby Smart says about the state of college football is bound to resonate far outside his own state.
On Tuesday at SEC media days, Smart made clear that to become dean of SEC coaches and win those national ****** les, he's had to focus on the little picture more than the big one — because it's the only thing he truly can control.
"I've had questions about expansion, more SEC games, portal, college and federal legislation to navigate the NIL era we're in. Players leaving, coaches leaving. That's all people want to talk about," Smart said. "What we focus on in Georgia is what wins football games, and that's my passion and energy."
At stake for the Bulldogs in 2026 is a chance to defend their SEC ****** le — Smart has four in 10 years between the hedges — and to make a run at another natty, where both Georgia and the SEC as a whole have been shut out for the last three seasons.
To reach either goal, the coach will need to find answers for an offensive line that lost two starters to the NFL draft and a receiving corps that got Isiah Canion from the transfer portal (Georgia Tech) but needs more to replenish a position missing four of last year's top five pass catchers.

#coaches