The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff has created more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship.
Programs that previously had almost no chance of making the playoffs now have a realistic path. That became clear over the past two seasons, as Indiana, SMU, Boise State, Tulane and James Madison all reached the CFP for the first time. Their success showed that winning games, capturing a conference ***** le and building a strong resume can now be enough to earn a playoff spot.
Even with those first-time teams making the field, several well-known programs are still waiting for their CFP debut. Few came very close in 2025, while others have built talented rosters that could help them break through in 2026. Strong recruiting, experienced coaching staffs and favorable conference situations have put these teams in a good position.
MORE: 9 best transfers in college football for 2026
A few of these programs finished just outside the playoffs last season and may only need one or two more wins to qualify. Others play in conferences that are expected to receive multiple CFP bids, giving them another path into the field. With the 2026 season around the corner, these six teams have the best chance to make their first-ever CFP appearance.

#programs #college #strong #making

Peyton Watson is nearing a big payday after his breakout season. The Denver Nuggets are offering the UCLA product a five-year, $70 million deal, according to The Athletic's Tony Jones.
It's a tricky financial situation for Denver, which recently matched the Oklahoma City Thunder's two-year, $12 million offer sheet for sharpshooter Spencer Jones. The Jones move brought the Nuggets into the second apron, so they'll reportedly have to do some roster shuffling to be able to extend Watson.
If Watson and the Nuggets can't make it work, he'll have plenty of suitors. The only holdup is apparently the Nuggets' asking price. Denver is reportedly requesting two first-round picks in exchange for Watson, who took a massive leap in Year 4 but is still relatively unproven.
Watson averaged 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 41.1% from 3 last season. The 23-year-old has steadily improved each year, becoming a trusted NBA role player after hardly playing as a freshman at UCLA in 2021-22.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly expressed interest in a sign-and-trade for Watson. Los Angeles has long been a rumored destination for the 6-foot-8 guard, as the Clippers are undergoing somewhat of a youth movement following Kawhi Leonard's (likely) departure.

#ucla

England international? Tick. Premier League winner? Tick. At least 35 years old? Erm, tick that too. Chelsea's transfer policy has taken a surprising turn this summer, ripped up and rewritten, and it's led the club to the doors of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck.
Chelsea are working on deals to add both to Xabi Alonso's squad in time for the start of the new season. They have also missed out on other experienced targets such as John Stones, 32, who is set for a move to Inter Milan, and Granit Xhaka, 33, who Sunderland are determined to keep as captain.
It is a stunning departure from one of the most aggressive youth-focused transfer strategies in Premier League history, which has brought waves of potential to Stamford Bridge replete with lavish decade-long contracts. BlueCo have been dogmatic, signing only one player over 25 – defender Tosin Adarabioyo – since the summer of 2023. Last season, Chelsea signed 10 players ranging in age from 18 (Estevao, Kendry Paez) to 23 (Joao Pedro).
Danny Welbeck could be heading to Stamford Bridge (Getty)
It would be wrong to say the transfer policy has been completely flawed. Nurturing young talent and investing in sellable ******* ets is the modus operandi of many well-run clubs. Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo were youthful signings, as were Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana. Estevao and Joao Pedro had excellent debut seasons in an underwhelming Chelsea team.

#transfer #danny #bridge #estevao

As the league enters the second half of the season, ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI) gives Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever the highest chances of winning the 2026 WNBA ******* le.
According to ESPN ******* ytics, the Fever have a 24.1% chance of securing their second all-time league crown, holding a narrow advantage over the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. The Aces own a 22.6% chance to win the WNBA ******* le according to ESPN's BPI.
Rounding out the top five are the Minnesota Lynx (15.5%), New York Liberty (15.1%), and Atlanta Dream (13.3%).
Fueled by the All-Star trio of Kelsey Mitchell (23.3 points per game), Caitlin Clark (21.0), and Aliyah Boston (17.3), Indiana owns the WNBA's No. 1 scoring offense (95.5 points per game).
In her last four contests leading into the All-Star break, Clark averaged 25.5 points, 8.5 ******* ists and 1.5 steals per game on 47.5% shooting and 40% 3-point accuracy.

#points #game #indiana #star

The people familiar with the search didn't say where the devices are currently or what information was being sought, but seizing the electronics from a high-profile business leader like Walter is a significant investigative step. Probes by prosecutors can end without charges being brought. The search warrant was one of several executed last September, according to other people with knowledge of the probe, who asked not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have been investigating potential financial improprieties at two of Walter's insurance companies and at Guggenheim Partners, the financial firm Walter leads, Bloomberg News has reported.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The people familiar with the search didn't say where …

#financial #probes #september #federal

Federal agents seized the mobile phone and computer of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter last September in a wide-ranging probe into the financial dealings of the billionaire's businesses, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out a search warrant aboard a private plane at a Chicago airport where Walter was traveling, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The FBI's Chicago field office confirmed that it executed a court-authorized search for a mobile phone and laptop on an aircraft at Midway International Airport on Sept. 18 but declined to comment further.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: FBI seized Lakers owner Mark Walter's phone and computer in federal probe

#walter #mobile #computer

Grimsby Town have signed midfielder Cian Doyle on a two-year contract from Bray Wanderers.
Doyle has joined for an undisclosed fee from the League of Ireland First Division side for whom he has played 53 league games, scoring five times.
"Cian is a bright, energetic and young midfielder who we feel has a high ceiling," said Grimsby head coach David Artell.
The 21-year-old is the Mariners' fifth signing of the summer as they try to improve on last year's seventh place in League Two.

#league #year #bray

Unicaja has secured Willy Hernangómez's commitment. The Madrid-born center has accepted the offer from the club to play in Málaga next season after rejecting two other offers, one of them from PAOK Thessaloniki. The Spanish international will thus replace Olek Balcerowski, who signed for Barcelona a few days ago. Unicaja managed to convince Hernangómez after several days of negotiations and by improving their initial offer. This is a top-level signing, provided he improves upon the performances he has shown at times in recent seasons with Barcelona, his last team, where he played for the past three seasons.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Unicaja has secured Willy Hernangómez's commitment.

#unicaja #willy #madrid

An early focus of the inquiry was a deal TWG struck last year with Mubadala Capital, an arm of an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, according to people familiar with the matter. In April 2025 the companies announced Mubadala Capital would anchor a $10 billion syndicated investment in TWG. Prosecutors were looking into whether Mubadala Capital had been misled about valuations, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential matters. It's unclear whether prosecutors are still pursuing that line of inquiry.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: An early focus of the inquiry was a deal TWG struck …

#focus

Barcelona have completed two summer signings so far, bringing in Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.
The former is still away on holiday as he continues to recover after an impressive World Cup, but Adeyemi is already with Barça and training with the team.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the German attacker is expected to make his first appearance as a Barcelona player this Friday after Hansi Flick decided that he is ready for match action.
Adeyemi will debut against Birmingham City after completing another productive week of training during Barcelona's pre-season camp at St George's Park in England.
The 24-year-old was named on the bench for Barcelona's friendly against CE Europa last week after arriving with limited training behind him.

#gordon #united #borussia

One of the best French soccer players of all time will lead the country's men's national team moving forward. Zinedine Zidane was named the new head coach of the club Tuesday.
Zidane, 54, signed a four-year deal with the team.
Zidane has a lot to live up to in the role. France has been one of the best performers in recent World Cups. Prior to finishing in fourth place this year, the team finished as runners-up in 2022 and won it all in 2018.
The team's head coach during that span, Didier Deschamps, announced prior to the 2026 World Cup that it would be his last one with the team, paving the way for Zidane to take over.
This story will be updated.

#prior #best #head

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has requested a trade from the team. Vea's agent, Collin Roberts, broke the news to ESPN on Monday.
Last month, Vea was a hold-in because of his contract situation during the Bucs mandatory mini-camp. At the time, head coach Todd Bowles said he was not concerned about it and that it was "part of the business." Now, after contract negotiations have stalled, Vea will look to end up elsewhere.
He will be entering his final year of a four-year, $71 million contract and is set to earn $17 million this season, with none of it guaranteed.
Last season, Vea appeared in all 17 games, finishing with 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 34 tackles. In his eight seasons with the Buccaneers, he has totaled 35 sacks. In the coming days, teams will be coming out of the woodwork wanting to sign Vea, who is considered a dominant run-stopping force on the interior line.
NFL veterans are scheduled to report to NFL training camps today.

#year #season #coming

Seahawks part ways with injury-plagued RB after roster moves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Seattle Seahawks have bulked up their running back room this offseason.
That's part of what led to them cutting Kenny McIntosh on Monday night.
The Seahawks announced the move as training camp gets underway, and it ends an injury-plagued tenure for McIntosh with Seattle.
They had put McIntosh on the active/PUP list to open training camp. It suggested he wasn't fully healed from last season's torn left ACL, which happened during camp.

#seahawks #sporting #injury #training

Kevin Durant has blunt response to LeBron James 'ring chaser' critics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a long wait, LeBron James finally signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24. The contract includes a player option and represents a massive pay cut from the nearly $53 million he made with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
At 41, James is joining a loaded Sixers roster that already features Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and the newly acquired Jaylen Brown. In the process, the shocking figure of his contractv contract is what set off the "ring chasing" talk. Critics online labeled the move as a desperate chase for a fifth ******* le rather than a genuine basketball fit.
James' long-time rival and friend, Kevin Durant, completely disagrees with the critics. Posting on Threads, Durant fired back at the ring-chasing narrative, arguing that fan criticism has turned toxic.
He pointed out that people are quick to judge a player they do not even know personally. His best point came when a fan asked him if joining a stacked team counts as ring chasing.

#critics #million

Rotherham United have signed Sheffield United full-back Jili Buyabu on a season-long loan deal.
The 22-year-old scored seven goals in 37 appearances during a loan spell with National League side Forest Green Rovers in the 2025-26 season.
He is the fifth player to join the Millers, who were relegated from League One last season, so far this summer.
Buyabu could make his competitive debut for Alex Bruce's side when they host West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Cup first round on Saturday, 8 August.
All done deals in July 2026

#league #national

West Bromwich Albion have signed French right-back Nolan Galves on a four-year contract from Ligue 2 side Rodez AF.
The 23-year-old moves to The Hawthorns for an undisclosed fee and becomes the club's fifth senior summer signing following forward Jimmy-Jay Morgan, defender Conor Townsend, goalkeeper Matt Ingram and striker Barney Stewart.
Galves helped Rodez reach the second-tier play-offs in France last season, where they lost on penalties to Saint-Etienne. He made 36 appearances in all competitions, with eight **** ists.
His contract will keep him with the Baggies until the summer of 2030.
All done deals in July 2026

#west

The LeBron James free agency cycle lasted a little less than a full month. Right before the pandemonium began, he informed the Los Angeles Lakers of his desire to play for a new team. Since then, rumors have continued to circulate about where the four-time MVP could end up.
Finally, the decision was announced on July 24, 2026. Joining his fourth franchise, he was going to the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, a veteran insider has gotten the inside scoop on how his new team found out about the decision.
With teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Golden State Warriors also in the hunt, there were a ton of options at James' disposal. With almost all of those organizations making major moves, the four-time NBA champion had a lot to ***** s.
Ultimately, though, the allure of playing alongside one of his favorite young players, Tyrese Maxey, alongside the complete roster the 76ers sported after trading for Jaylen Brown was enough to sway his decision.
However, Marc Stein on his Substack confirmed that the decision wasn't made in haste. Instead, James made up his mind just hours before it was revealed to the world at large.

#james #decision #four #right

Former ******* nal star Takehiro Tomiyasu is currently training with Crystal Palace as he plots a Premier League return, according to The Athletic. The ******* anese left the Gunners in July 2025 after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement at the North London club. Tomiyasu was a key player for ******* nal manager Mikel Arteta whenever he was fit, making 84 appearances for the Emirates Stadium club during his four seasons at the club. The Palace target joined Ajax last December on a six-month deal, leaving at the end of last season.
He is currently a free agent and a move to the Selhurst Park club could be on the cards. The former Gunners star could make an appearance for the Eagles in a friendly later this week. He has been training with the South London club as part of their pre-season preparations. The high-level training environment Palace is providing has come in handy for Tomiyasu as he looks to maintain and improve his fitness.
Tomiyasu made three appearances at the World Cup with ******* an and will fancy his chances of impressing in the Premier League again after overcoming his injury woes.
The Eagles are not the only ones keen on the full-back, with clubs in the Championship and other European leagues also looking to recruit his services.
He will not be short of suitors even if a move to Palace falls through, but a return to the English top-flight appeals to him.

#premier

Myles Garrett is obviously the headliner of the Los Angeles Rams' pass rush, but Byron Young is a crucial part of the defense, too. Entering a contract year, Young is looking to get even better in 2026 after making the Pro Bowl for the first time last season.
Unfortunately, he's not fully healthy, and it sounds like he hasn't been in quite some time.
After sitting out practice on Monday, the Rams' second session of training camp, Young told reporters that he's still nursing a knee injury that's bothered him "for years." Young says he's "feeling real good," but he spent his offseason managing his knee with the Rams' training staff.
"It's been good," Young said of his offseason. "I've just been nursing up my knee. That was a process. They've got a good plan for me in place."
Young was asked about the recovery plan for his knee, and he says he and the Rams are going to take it "day by day." He practiced on Sunday and then sat out Monday's practice, but he plans to be back on the field "in a couple of days."

#knee #plan

Just a few weeks ago, only a handful of members of the U.S. women's hockey team were expected to attend the ESPYs, the annual awards show honoring the year's biggest athletes, teams and moments in sports.
By Wednesday afternoon, many more of the reigning Olympic gold medalists were swapping jerseys for gowns inside a midtown Manhattan penthouse. Champagne was flowing. Hair and makeup artists buzzed around the room. Defenseman Mariah Keopple, who also works as a stylist, helped teammates put the finishing touches on their looks before they headed to the awards show, airing live Wednesday night from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
It wasn't exactly the typical pregame routine for one of the world's best hockey teams. And none of it would have happened without an unlikely benefactor: Flavor Flav.
The Public Enemy legend learned last week from U.S. captain Hilary Knight that only a handful of players had been invited to the ESPYs, where Team USA is nominated for Best Team following its dramatic gold-medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. For Flavor Flav, the solution was simple: "I got you."
That promise quickly snowballed.

#flav #awards

How much do his Seahawks teammates like and respect D'Anthony Bell?
How much does their unique locker-room brotherhood inside reach, even beyond actual Seahawks?
The team voted after winning Super Bowl 60 in February to make sure Bell got a Super Bowl ring. That was even though he played in the playoffs for another NFC team to end last season.
That's how Bell, a Carolina Panther to end last season, a former Division-II player at West Florida and two junior colleges who was out of football for all of 2017 working for his dad's construction company plus volunteering at his church back in Georgia, now has a Seahawks Super Bowl ring.
"They reached out to my agent and said I'll be getting a ring," Bell said this week.

#much

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso believes Morgan Rogers has all the qualities needed to make an immediate impact after completing his club-record move from Aston Villa.
The England international joined the Blues in a deal worth £117 million last week but has not travelled on the club's pre-season tour of Australia and South-East Asia after featuring at the World Cup. Rogers is instead expected to report for training at Cobham on 9 August, leaving him just under two weeks to prepare for Chelsea's Premier League opener against Fulham.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers, Alonso said Chelsea targeted Rogers because of his ability to settle quickly and raise the team's level.
"For sure, it's a great signing," Alonso said. "In that position we needed an important player and I'm sure there were not many better options than Morgan Rogers."
"You need players who can have that almost instant impact and I am sure Morgan won't need much time to adapt to the club, to the system, to his team-mates. That was the idea that we wanted, to get a top player and Morgan is one of them."

#morgan #rogers #alonso #impact

Newcastle United have added Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek to their list of summer targets as they continue the search for another senior option between the posts. According to Sky Sports, the Magpies are reassessing the market after missing out on James Trafford, with Hornicek now viewed as a genuine candidate.
The 24-year-old Czechia international appears to fit the profile Newcastle have been examining. He is young, has strong recent exposure in European competition and, crucially, has already shown the sort of consistency that tends to elevate a goalkeeper into a more competitive transfer bracket. A return of 24 clean sheets in 55 appearances last season underlines why interest is building, while seven shut-outs in 14 Europa League matches points to a player comfortable on a bigger stage.
Photo IMAGO
There is no suggestion yet that Newcastle have advanced to a formal bid, but enquiries have been made and the situation is clearly active. Hornicek's reported £30 million release clause gives this potential move a defined framework, even if competition from elsewhere in Europe could yet shape the pace of any negotiations. Benfica are also checking on his availability, while Hull City previously moved to trigger the clause before the player turned that opportunity down.
That context matters. It indicates Hornicek is in demand, and it also suggests he is being selective about the next step in his career. For Newcastle, that may be encouraging if they decide to move decisively.

#goalkeeper #lukas

The club will hopefully announce Bodø/Glimt striker Kasper Høgh on a multi-million pound deal, after the Bhoys struck a record-breaking £11m transfer fee with the Norwegian side for his services.
News last night, as reported on Celtic Shorts, was that the big centre-forward has completed a successful medical in London ahead of the club confirming his signing on a four-year deal later today.
Martin O'Neill is in the marketplace for several more major targets, as the squad is in desperate need of refreshment following a close shave in Scottish football last year.
Hearts and Derek McInnes gave the 5IAR Champions a good run for their money, after Tony Bloom's initial involvement at the Tynecastle club, which could have easily been avoided, had proper investment in the playing squad been achieved last summer, as Brendan Rodgers continually pleaded for.
Now reports from Spain have confirmed that the World Cup star will return to pre-season training with the rest of his Real Oviedo teammates this midweek, as the Hoops' hierarchy has yet to strike an agreement with the Segunda Division side for the transfer to proceed. That is another frustrating update for Celtic supporters, but one that we are well used to, unfortunately.

#last #celtic #transfer

The Bears had a knack for saving their best work for the latest portions of games while winning the NFC North and advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs last year, but quarterback Caleb Williams isn't looking for a repeat of that in 2026.
A big reason why Williams is on the cover of this year's Madden game is because of the stirring comebacks he led in the regular season and the playoff win over the Packers. Those comebacks were necessary because of how the Bears struggled to get into gear early in games and Williams said on Up & Adams on Monday that his plan for this season is for the Bears to stretch those late game fireworks over a longer stretch of this year's contests.
"It's gonna be really exciting," Williams said. "It's gonna be really fun to watch. It's going to be more entertaining than last year, hopefully not as much of a heart race. It's going to be a little more entertaining, entertaining throughout the whole game and what we're going to bring to the table as a team. You can feel it. You can see it. The confidence, it's not thinking, it's what goes on outside."
One way for the Bears can stay on course throughout games is by holding onto the ball for longer portions of them. Williams completed 58.1 percent of his passes in 2025 and pushing that number higher should allow for more bites at the apple over the first three quarters, so that should continue to be a focal point for the quarterback as the team hits the field at training camp this week.

#game #entertaining

Big news in the sports world this week as LeBron James finally made his decision about where he is going to play next year, and as you know he decided on the Philadelphia 76ers. So, what does that mean for his sports card and collectibles market?
Shrug emoji.
His cards were already starting to go up-up-up over the last few weeks or so in anticipation of not only his latest decision but in response to the massive Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant card market boom that has happened in the last few months. It seemed only right that the nostalgia and fomo would carry into the LeBron market.
And while many of his flagship Topps rookie cards are in the thousands of dollars, there are still some fun LeBron collectibles on the market that I think are worth grabbing and holding for the long run.
The Campioni di Futuro (mini) rookie card is maybe my all-time favorite. It's odd, it's adorable and it's under $100 for a raw. There's also numbered and different color variations, and while it may not bring you generational wealth, it certainly remains relatively rare for a LeBron rookie.

#market

FC Barcelona's pursuit of Julian Alvarez has reached a crucial stage after club president Joan Laporta confirmed that the offer made for the Atletico Madrid striker would not remain valid indefinitely.
Shortly after beginning his latest presidential term, Laporta made Barcelona's position clear.
"We have made an offer, but this offer is not unlimited in time."
Later, while in New York supporting the Spanish national team during the final stages of the World Cup, he narrowed the timeframe even further.
"The deadline for the offer is between the last week of July and the first week of August," he added.

#made #laporta #alvarez #atletico

The Top 25 Under 25 countdown continues with a rising University of Denver freshman who made himself a prospect to watch with a strong campaign in the WHL last season.
Catch up on the previous entries for this year:
Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
No. 25: Chase Pietila, D
Elite Prospects resume:
The Penguins selected Miller in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. At the time, he had just recorded a career-high 31 points in 50 games of his second WHL regular season before helping the Portland Winterhawks reach the second round of the playoffs.

#university #pensburgh #departed

Neither Guardiola, nor Ancelotti, nor Pirlo. The new coach of the Italian national team will be Roberto Mancini.
At 61, he returns to the role four years after being fired.
Mancini coached the Italy national team from 2018 to 2022. He won the Euro 2020 **** le (in 2021), but was fired a year later after the loss to North Macedonia in the 2022 World Cup playoff.
Mancini's last job was as coach of Al-Sadd of Qatar, which he recently left.
In addition to Mancini, Italy also appointed former coach Claudio Ranieri and Gabriele Oriali to replace Paolo Maldini and Leonardo.

#mancini #national #ancelotti

England international Hannah Hampton has signed a new two-year deal with Chelsea.
The goalkeeper's contract was set to expire this summer and it was key that Chelsea kept her as part of an effort to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
After joining from Aston Villa in 2023, Hampton has become one of the world's best goalkeepers and cemented her position as first choice for the Lionesses.
The 25-year-old has won five trophies during her time in west London and was a standout performer as England won Euro 2025.
She won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards last year and joins fellow England internationals Lucy Bronze and Aggie Beever-Jones in signing new Chelsea deals this summer.

#year #hannah