Roster cuts are beginning to fly left and right, but Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger believes one underrated running back deserves to make the 53-man squad.
On a new episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, Lew Nichols earned massive praise for his high level of play this past month, with Big Ben arguing that he should make a 53-man roster, whether it's with Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
"Nichols ran awesome last night," Roethlisberger said. "I think he, maybe, like said 'Hey hey, don't forget about me'. I think he did enough last night to get himself a job. If not here, somewhere, but I think here."
Nichols signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and was released by the team in September of his rookie year. After off-and-on stints with the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad from 2023 to 2025, Nichols joined the Steelers in July 2025.
While Nichols was ultimately waived by Pittsburgh as part of the final roster cuts, he was brought back via the Steelers' practice squad and even made his NFL debut in 2025 against the Indianapolis Colts.

#pittsburgh #think #cuts

While primary roster attention often centers on starting lineups, building a complete 53-man roster requires dependable depth. In the Pittsburgh Steelers' preseason finale, running backs Lew Nichols III and Eli Heidenreich delivered standout performances, demonstrating the complementary skill sets necessary to fortify the team's backfield depth.
With protection issues surfacing across the offensive line, running back pass protection has taken on heightened significance in Pittsburgh. Nichols distinguished himself not only by leading the ground attack with seven carries for 40 yards (5.7 yards per carry), but also by executing textbook blitz pickups in pass protection.
"Lew Nichols, seven carries, 40 yards, continues to run hard," noted host Christopher Carter on his "Locked On Steelers" podcast. "He's not just a runner. He's really good in pass protection. I've seen him put defenders down in the dirt and let them know. And that's a big thing that you need, especially what we just got done talking about with the offensive line."
Meanwhile, Heidenreich provided efficient groundwork and finished off a key drive with a touchdown run, carrying the ball nine times for 35 yards. He showed decisive vision when given operational ******* e, adding a scoring threat to the rotated backfield reps.
"Also, shout out Eli Heidenreich," Carter said. "Nine carries, 35 yards, and a tuddy. I thought that he did a pretty solid job when he got the ball in his hands and he had some ******* e to run."

#nichols #protection #steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers looked solid during the preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, but it sadly wasn't enough to secure a victory. Still, there were plenty of studs — and duds — deserving of praise, criticism, and everything in between following the Steelers' 28-27 loss to Buffalo.
Here's a look at every winner and loser from the Steelers' preseason finale against the Bills, including a running back who may be climbing the depth chart and one quarterback who may have put himself on the roster bubble.
Nichols, who has looked outstanding throughout training camp and the earlier preseason matchups, finished things off with a bang against the Bills. Nichols rushed for 40 yards on just seven attempts (5.7 YPA), while also recording 13 receiving yards on one catch. It remains to be seen if Nichols did enough to secure a roster spot, but it wouldn't be surprising if he earned the RB3 role following his impressive performance against Buffalo.
Bernard's impressive yards-after-catch ability was on full display in the preseason finale, as the rookie wide receiver turned a short pass into a broken tackle for a 13-yard touchdown. Bernard has been playing like a top-five rookie throughout the preseason and should continue to be a staple of Pittsburgh's offense throughout the 2026 season.
Wetjen has been hot and cold over the past month, but the rookie return specialist showed fans why the Steelers took him in the fourth round with his impressive 45-yard punt return touchdown. If Wetjen can keep the momentum rolling, the Steelers' special teams unit will be one to fear.

#yards

Everton started their cup play against Preston North End after the 40 mile drive down the M58 and up the M6. David Moyes ended his playing career at Preston and also started his managerial career before Everton came looking for someone to save them from the drop in 2002. A lot has happened since then but what has not changed is the fact that neither team have won silverware since then and today was another step in that journey. On a purely selfish note, I am heading home to Liverpool in September and would love to see a round three match with the Mighty Blues playing under the lights!
David Moyes went with a strong side to take on Preston. Jarrad Branthwaite and Hayden Hackney were given the night off with Michael Keane and James Garner taking their places. A big surprise to see O'Brien on the bench. Tyler Dibling was given another chance to shine on the right wing with Ndiaye moving to his favoured left.
Everton advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup following a dominant victory over Preston North End, highlighted by a clinical hat-trick from Thierno Barry. After a closely contested first half, Everton pushed forward and eventually forced Preston into submission.
The match began with a warm reception for former manager David Moyes, which set a lively atmosphere that energized the travelling Evertonians. While Preston looked to sit back in a resilient low block and strike on the counter-attack through Delano Burgzorg and Adam Armstrong, Everton safely neutralized those early threats. The Toffees dictated the tempo through key involvements from Iliman Ndiaye, Tyler Dibling, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, despite initially struggling to breach Preston's crowded defensive line.
The deadlock was finally broken when Dewsbury-Hall lobbed a precise ball over the top to Vitaliy Mykolenko, who slid a low cross into the middle for Thierno Barry to tap past goalkeeper Nichols. The Evertonians were in full voice. "Oh, Tierno Barry, oh, Tierno Barry!"

#everton

The American-Statesman takes a look at Class 6A districts around Central Texas as the high school football season gets underway.
1. Lake Travis (14-1 last year, DI state semifinalist): The Cavs graduated 18 starters, but there's never a lack of talent. DBs Luca Antoun and Jeremiah Strong and LB Owen Aird lead what should be one of the area's best defenses.
This video created with the ***** istance of AI.
2. Vandegrift (12-2, DII state semifinalist): New QB Gavin Koester paces an offense that should thrive running the ball, and the Vipers are deep with talent at all three levels on defense.
3. Westlake (7-4, DII area round): There are more question marks than in the past decade for the Chaps. But like Lake Travis, Westlake always has talent. Wylie Nichols is one of Central Texas' better defensive backs.

#texas

The Washington Commanders have less than a week to trim their roster from 90 to 53 players. The Commanders made one tough decision on Tuesday, releasing former starting safety Will Harris. Once it became clear that Washington wasn't keeping Harris, the team wanted to do right by him and give him a head start on finding a new team before hundreds of players hit free agency at the same time on Sunday.
With Harris off the bubble and no longer on the roster, which Washington players need to shine during Wednesday's joint practice with the Ravens, followed by Friday's preseason finale?
Here are five players to watch in Wednesday's joint practice with Baltimore:
With Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols battling injuries and Jerome Ford already gone, Henry has another chance to shine. After an impressive preseason opener against the Dolphins, Henry crashed back down to earth last week. As of now, Henry probably hasn't done quite enough to earn a spot on the 53. He must make it hard for the Commanders to cut him. He'll likely split time with Rachaad White and fellow rookie Kaytron Allen. Henry needs to make the most out of every touch.
Last week, head coach Dan Quinn said he wanted to see the rookie sixth-round pick get more work at guard after an impressive first performance. Quinn said that because whoever makes the roster as a backup offensive lineman must be able to play multiple spots. However, after seeing Julian Good-Jones' struggles last week in place of Nick Allegretti, Gulbin should handle every rep, regardless of who is playing quarterback. Gulbin got more work with starter Jayden Daniels during Tuesday's practice, and that should be the case on Wednesday.

#week #practice

The Washington Commanders trimmed their suddenly crowded running back room by one recently. Last week, Washington placed fifth-year veteran Jerome Ford on the reserve/injured list after he'd suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Once Ford was moved to IR, the Commanders and Ford were expected to reach an injury settlement, which would allow Ford to sign with another team once he's healthy. According to Martenzie Johnson of NOTUS, Washington recently released Ford, meaning he's no longer on the roster.
The move is not a surprise. Even if Ford had made it through the preseason healthy, he faced long odds at making the Commanders' 53-man roster. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White are locks, while rookie sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen is close.
With Washington likely keeping four backs, veteran Jeremy McNichols is the leading candidate for the final spot, but undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. is making a push. After a strong showing in the preseason opener, Henry had a rough outing in Saturday's loss to the Lions. McNichols is currently sidelined with a quad injury, but Washington knows him well and everything that he brings to the table.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders trim running back room with the release of one veteran

#washington #Commanders #veteran

The Washington Commanders sat almost all of their starters in Friday's 20-7 preseason win over the Miami Dolphins. That list included starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt and the player he'll share time with, Rachaad White. Veteran Jeremy McNichols also didn't play.
Their absences created an opportunity for rookie running backs, sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen and undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. The rookies took advantage, combining for 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Both were impressive, with Allen leading the way with 85 yards. However, Henry looked explosive and could force his way onto the 53-man roster.
Veteran Jerome Ford also played in Friday's game, carrying the ball one time.
Considering how well Washington's rookies looked, it was a bit surprising on Monday when it was revealed that the Commanders were signing veteran back Craig Reynolds. When head coach Dan Quinn met with the media on Sunday, he provided some clarity on McNichols.
"So, Jeremy, he'll be out for a few weeks," Quinn said. "He's got a pretty good quad injury, so he will not be back in for this week. You'll see him off to the side, working some rehab into that spot, but he's got a pretty good quad injury that'll take a few weeks, for sure."

#veteran #mcnichols #allen #he 'll

Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who's actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, let's shine the spotlight on some players available in the late rounds or even off the waiver wire who could surprise in 2026.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Over the next week, I'll revisit my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we're taking a look at running backs.
Expectations for seventh-round picks are normally very low, with their main goal being just to make the team. By that measure, Croskey-Merritt had a strong rookie season last year, though it felt like he didn't capitalize enough on his opportunities.
Brian Robinson Jr. being traded before Week 1 and Austin Ekeler suffering a season-ending injury left a three-man committee with JCM, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols — which limited everyone's fantasy ceiling.

#season #week

The Washington Commanders were off on Monday, but general manager Adam Peters remained busy. First, Washington made an addition at running back, signing veteran Craig Reynolds. Veteran Jeremy McNichols is currently dealing with a quad injury.
Secondly, Washington made a decision at kicker. Incumbent Jake Moody had been competing with undrafted rookie Drew Stevens, but on Monday, the Commanders released Moody. Stevens now has the kicking job.
Finally, Peters made yet another move, as Washington is expected to sign veteran linebacker Krys Barner, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Barnes, 28, entered the NFL in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. He initially signed with the Green Bay Packers and played there for three seasons. In 2023, Barnes signed with the Arizona Cardinals and played for two seasons. He played for the Carolina Panthers last season.
In six NFL seasons, Barnes has appeared in 75 games with 33 starts. He has 303 career tackles, 5.5 sacks and one interception.

#barnes #played #Monday

The clock is ticking loudly at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College, and second-year running back Kaleb Johnson may already be running out of time.
Selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Iowa, Johnson was once viewed as a potential future fixture in Pittsburgh's backfield. However, as training camp practice number 13 wrapped up on Sunday, the 23-year-old found himself buried on the depth chart, not just behind proven starters Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, but behind journeymen and practice-squad regulars.
In Pittsburgh's preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, Johnson saw minimal work, logging just two carries for three yards. Instead, backup snaps went to NFL veteran Travis Homer and second-year back Lew Nichols.
Steelers reporter Christopher Carter shared his hopes that the low volume was merely part of an early-preseason rotation on his "Locked on Steelers" podcast. However, he added that his hopes had quickly faded during team periods in Latrobe.
"Kaleb Johnson really didn't see any action. He saw I think what two, five snaps overall. He get two carries for three yards. He was out there after Travis Homer and after Lew Nichols," noted Carter.

#homer #carter

Once a destination for some of the world's most selective luxury shoppers, an iconic retailer is facing one of the biggest turning points in its nearly two-century history.
Years of financial losses and mounting challenges have put the business under serious pressure, with its owner warning that it could not survive much longer without new investment.
Now, after months of uncertainty, the retailer's future is once again hanging in the balance.
Founded in 1831, Harvey Nichols is a British luxury department store chain known for its upscale designer fashion, beauty products, fine wines, and gourmet food. The company operated 12 stores worldwide.
Harvey Nichols' financial challenges intensified this year, prompting its owner, Hong Kong luxury goods businessman ***** son Poon, to put the retailer up for sale in June 2026.

#founded

Frasers Group has acquired department store chain Harvey Nichols from FTI Consulting, the business consulting company that had been appointed administrator to oversee its sale.
Owned by billionaire Mike Ashley, the UK retail conglomerate has not confirmed the value of the transaction, though several media outlets have reported it to be £40m ($53.9m).
Harvey Nichols had been struggling with trading and operational pressures for some time before the sale.
Harvey Nichols CEO Julia Goddard said: "Today marks an important milestone for Harvey Nichols and provides a strong platform for the next phase of the business's evolution under the ownership of Frasers Group."
The acquisition brings six UK stores into Frasers' portfolio: the Knightsbridge flagship in London, which recently underwent refurbishment, together with outlets in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester.

#outlets

UK-listed Frasers Group has emerged as the leading contender to acquire department store chain Harvey Nichols, Sky News reported.
The takeover is expected to involve Harvey Nichols briefly entering administration, with FTI Consulting lined up to act as insolvency practitioner under a pre-pack administration arrangement.
Next, which has been vying with Frasers for control of Harvey Nichols over recent weeks, retains the option of raising its offer, although sources indicated this was seen as unlikely with a final decision now close at hand.
If the acquisition proceeds, it would end 35 years of ownership under Hong Kong billionaire ***** son Poon, who bought the retailer in 1991.
Harvey Nichols dates back to 1831, was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996, and subsequently returned to private ownership.

#harvey

For the first time since training camp opened on Wednesday, fans were in attendance for Day 3 of camp for the Washington Commanders. The day began with some injury news, as head coach Dan Quinn revealed tight end John Bates was dealing with a strained hamstring and would miss "a couple of weeks."
But there was some good injury news: after missing only one practice with a sore foot, wide receiver Treylon Burks was back.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels had his best practice of the week so far, making multiple excellent throws. Daniels and Burks connected for an impressive conversion during third-down drills. Overall, though, it was another day where the defense held the upper hand.
So, which players stood out on Day 3? We look at four standouts from the third day of Washington's training camp.
Every day, it seems like a running back is making this list. Rachaad White is off to a fast start, and so is Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Jeremy McNichols, the 30-year-old, 10-year veteran, said, "Don't forget about me."

#camp

Red Sox could make blockbuster move for Orioles All-Star Adley Rutschman before trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The trade deadline is almost here, and the Boston Red Sox need to make some moves if they want to be real contenders come October.
While shortstop seems to be their main concern, getting a better catcher should be their top priority, as their current platoon is one of the worst in the MLB. While a guy like Hunter Goodman may be a bit too pricey, Boston might be able to make a deal with a division rival who's also in the hunt.
Joe Nicholson - Imagn Images
According to NY Post's Joel Sherman, the Baltimore Orioles want to deal and are listening to offers on their three-time All-Star catcher, Adley Rustchman. They also aren't against trading in the division either, so Boston has a chance.

#star #adley #deadline #here

Three head coaches and three defensive coordinators in three seasons means Stanford won't be taking a lot of continuity into its 2026 opener against visiting Hawaii on Aug. 29.
But the Cardinal players are taking a change-can-be-good approach as they prepare for their first game under head coach Tavita Pritchard and defensive coordinator Kris Richard (pronounced Ri-shard).
"Obviously, it's not always ideal, learning a new scheme every single year," redshirt senior linebacker Matt Rose said after practice Thursday morning, "but I try to look at the positives out of it. I've learned so much about football.
"Everyone has their scheme, but at the end of the day, football is football."
Junior cornerback Brandon Nicholson said, "I think every year - no matter what the case is - our group comes in determined. And we come in receptive to whoever is our defensive coordinator and we listen."

#three #every #stanford

A federal appellate panel on Tuesday refused to block President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to restrict mail voting, a day after the administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the proposal in a separate case.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a May ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols that said an injunction against the order was premature. Nichols ruled that the Democrats and voting rights groups who challenged the order couldn't seek the injunction until the Trump administration issued formal regulations governing it. The administration started releasing those directives days later.
The circuit court panel, with two judges appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and one by Trump, found that was proper and there were no noted dissents. But the unsigned decision noted that if the administration truly tried to force such changes in the few months remaining before November's midterm election, it may well get halted by courts.
"The action the Order contemplates would involve the President, whom the Constitution vests with no express authority over the conduct of elections, undertaking a substantial and unfunded overhaul of election procedures — including the implementation of a nationwide reform to Postal Service mail-handling processes —on the threshold of the November election. Put differently, the Order 'may not prove feasible to implement in any manner whatsoever,'" said the ruling, quoting a prior legal opinion.
In a separate case filed by Democratic state officials, a federal judge in Massachusetts last month blocked the executive order from taking effect for this year's elections because it was already forcing states, which are granted the power under the U.S. Constitution to control their own elections, to revise their procedures on the fly. That ruling was upheld on Saturday by a Boston-based appeals court and then was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday by the Trump administration.

#order

Hey Commanders fans, what do you know about Robert Henry Jr?
With the Washington Commanders rookies having already reported for the 2026 training camp, let's learn about Henry. Initially, it is perfectly understandable if no one in the Commanders fan base knew of Henry in his first two years of college. You see, he played for Jones College in Ellisville, Mississippi, a junior college in 2021 and 2022. Henry then transferred, finding a new football home at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
Playing at UTSA from 2023-2025, Henry blossomed in his senior season, accumulating 1,045 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 151 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per attempt. One of the things that Commanders scouts no doubt noticed about Henry was his development in his ability to break off an explosive run for big yardage. Henry produced five rushes of 70-plus yards in 2025. This was not only the best, but was three more than any other FBS player. Henry was named a first-team All-American Athletic Conference and was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist.
Standing 5-foot-9, weighing 196 pounds, Henry is not exactly Derrick Henry in stature. This is another reason Henry went undrafted in April's 2026 NFL Draft. When the seventh and final draft rounds had concluded, there was Henry still available, and the Commanders ****** ed him, signing him to an undrafted free agent deal.
The Commanders' running back room has Jacory Croskey-Merritt "Bill" and Jeremy McNichols returning from the 2025 team. Chris Rodriguez departed, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent. Offseason additions have included signing free agents Rachaad White and Jerome Ford. The draft brought Kaytron Allen from Penn State in the sixth round.

#henry #utsa

Celtic player Camilo Duran poses for pictures at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Thursday 23rd July 2026. Photo Andy Buchanan/Shutterstock
That game will be packed but today's friendly against a lightweight AC Milan side that will be missing multiple top performers, will not be well attended due to the Celtic support once again being frustrated and angry with the club for creating another summer of discontent through their inactivity in transfer market, so far only getting one deal over the line with the £5m signing of Camilo Duran from Qarabag.
That transfer fee has been more than covered by the sale of Luis Palma to Lech Poznan for £3.5m and Maik Nawrocki to RC Lens for £2m. And with Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson in discussions to sign four new players, it looks like the delay could be caused by an instruction to wait for sales of key players like Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels before proceeding with the purchases Martin O'Neill needs this week.
Maeda should compete his move to Ipswich Town today and that could result in Kasper Hogh from Bodo Glimt coming to Celtic early next week, fingers crossed anyway.
Meanwhile Celtic are haggling over a few hundred grand which is frustrating the move for German midfielder Mika Baur with SC Paderborn resisting the latest Celtic lowballing attempt for their player who has already agreed personal terms with the Scottish Champions and wants the move to happen.

#week

Larry Williams' announcement of his retirement as track coach has echoes of the time he was hired.
Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, Hall of Fame coaches John McNichols and Marshall Goss ran Bloomington's boys track/cross country programs before turning them over to a pair of future Hall of Famers in Larry Williams and Charlie Warthan.
Some four decades later, Warthan is leaving North, and Williams, 64, is now 66.7% retired, deciding to give up teaching a few years back and now stepping away as South's head boys track coach after 44 years while retaining his spot in charge of the boys cross country team. It's time for the next generation to step up.
"I've been thinking all throughout the season," Williams said. "It was time. A lot of things with it, including going in more and more stressed than I wanted to be.
"I still love it, but we had nearly 100 boys, and there's only 16 events. I laughed that this year I was going to start using Medicare and Social Security and just became a grandfather. That put some things in perspective. Cross country also takes a lot of time, but you're coaching everyone to the same event instead of workouts for multiple events."

#time #larry

Mika Baur of Germany in action during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier between Germany U21 and Northern Ireland U21 at Eintracht Stadion on March 27, 2026 in Braunschweig, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
The reigning Scottish Premiership Champions are said to be locked in talks with the German U21 cap’s club SC Paderborn at present, in the hopes of finalising a deal for the midfielder.
In a bolt out of the blue earlier this week, Baur’s name hit the headlines in connection with Celtic when both Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg reported that Martin O’Neill’s side were in talks with the 22-year-old central midfield ace, having already agreed personal terms on a possible contract with the player. This meant that only a fee had to be agreed between Celtic and Paderborn.
Easier said than done, wherever Michael Nicholson is concerned many Celtic supporters immediately thought.
Nevertheless, it was a much needed update and shot in the arm for a support that has grown increasingly frustrated and even angry at the way the club slowly conducts it’s business in the transfer market for some time now.

#agreed #under21

Kentucky horse racing fans will have another chance to see some of the sport's biggest names next summer, as Kentucky Downs has unveiled its 2026 racing schedule, featuring the $3 million Nashville Derby and a record-setting $37 million purse.
The Mint Kentucky Downs announced July 21 that its 2026 meet will run for seven race days between Aug. 29 and Sept. 9 at the Franklin track, located about an hour north of Nashville.
The schedule includes several graded stakes races, Breeders' Cup qualifiers and the Nashville Derby.
Officials said the meet will offer a total purse of $37 million, with some of the largest individual race payouts in American horse racing.
"Last year, our racetrack attracted racing fans from all over the country and was viewed by millions globally. We had horses come from all over Europe to compete and set wagering records, making Franklin, KY, an important stop on the racing calendar," said Vice President of Racing at Kentucky Downs Ted Nicholson in a statement.

#million

Middle Tennessee horse racing fans will have another chance to see some of the sport's biggest names just across the state line next summer, as Kentucky Downs has unveiled its 2026 racing schedule featuring the $3 million Nashville Derby and a record-setting $37 million purse.
The Mint Kentucky Downs announced July 21 that its 2026 meet will run for seven race days between Aug. 29 and Sept. 9 at the Franklin, Kentucky track, located about an hour north of Nashville.
The schedule includes several graded stakes races, Breeders' Cup qualifiers and the Nashville Derby.
Officials said the meet will offer a total purse of $37 million, with some of the largest individual race payouts in American horse racing.
"Last year, our racetrack attracted racing fans from all over the country and was viewed by millions globally. We had horses come from all over Europe to compete and set wagering records, making Franklin, KY, an important stop on the racing calendar," said Vice President of Racing at Kentucky Downs Ted Nicholson in a statement.

#kentucky #million #franklin #fans

Middle Tennessee horse racing fans will have another chance to see some of the sport's biggest names just across the state line next summer, as Kentucky Downs has unveiled its 2026 racing schedule featuring the $3 million Nashville Derby and a record-setting $37 million purse.
The Mint Kentucky Downs announced July 21 that its 2026 meet will run for seven race days between Aug. 29 and Sept. 9 at the Franklin, Kentucky track, located about an hour north of Nashville.
The schedule includes several graded stakes races, Breeders' Cup qualifiers and the Nashville Derby.
Officials said the meet will offer a total purse of $37 million, with some of the largest individual race payouts in American horse racing.
"Last year, our racetrack attracted racing fans from all over the country and was viewed by millions globally. We had horses come from all over Europe to compete and set wagering records, making Franklin, KY, an important stop on the racing calendar," said Vice President of Racing at Kentucky Downs Ted Nicholson in a statement.

#kentucky #downs #million

Matty Healy and Gabbriette Bechtel have married, just two weeks after the singer's ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift tied the knot with Travis Kelce in New York.
The 1975 frontman, 37, and his model girlfriend, 28, exchanged vows during a glamorous ceremony at Castillo del Lago, a Spanish Colonial Revival Mansion in the Hollywood Hills, which was previously home to Madonna.
The groom wore a black tuxedo to his wedding while his wife slipped into a traditional white gown.Joining the couple in matrimony were many celebrity friends, including Charli XCX and her husband, George Daniel, who is the drummer in Matty's band.
Also among those star-studded guests were Anastasia Karanikolaou, Fai Khadra, Alex Consani, Devon Lee Carlson and her fiancé, Duke Nicholson, Sydney Lynn Carlson, Tyrell Hampton, Alex O'Connor and Quenlin Blackwell.
The couple have been together for three years, having first fallen head over heels in 2023. They enjoyed a nine-month whirlwind romance before Matty popped the question in 2024.

UNC baseball’s Jake Schaffner was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11.
Schaffner is the highest draft pick for the Tar Heels since pitcher J.B. Bukauskas went No. 15 overall to the Houston Astros in 2017.
A junior shortstop and North Dakota State transfer, Shaffner’s projected slot value at No. 20 is $4.37 million, meaning his one-and-done season in Chapel Hill led to a big payday. He started all but one game for UNC, thriving in the leadoff spot and as a consistent defender at short.
DREAM COME TRUE: College World Series giving UNC baseball's Cooper Nicholson, Jake Schaffner more Midwest memories
NEXT FOR UNC?: UNC basketball transfer portal tracker, who's in, who's out on 2026-27 roster

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt proved to be one of the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft. Croskey-Merritt, better known as Bill, was a seventh-round pick who led the Commanders with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns last season. Amazingly, 24 other running backs were selected ahead of him last year.
Bill also averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per attempt as a rookie and started only seven games. Even more impressive, Croskey-Merritt reached these numbers by only playing 38.5% of Washington's offensive snaps.
This offseason, ****** ysts and fans wanted to see Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in Washington. The Commanders were reportedly interested, but how interested, we will never know. Love went No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals, and Washington selected linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall.
The Commanders like Bill. They allowed Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr. to depart this offseason and didn't pursue top free-agent running backs such as Kenneth Walker Jr. or Travis Etienne. Washington did add veteran backfield help, signing Rachaad White and Jerome Ford. The Commanders also re-signed dependable and versatile veteran Jeremy McNichols and spent a sixth-round pick on Kaytron Allen.
White is expected to have a significant role in David Blough's new offense. But from all indications, Croskey-Merritt will be Washington's lead back. He bulked up this offseason in anticipation of an increased role. He's also worked on his receiving skills.

Could Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi be returning to Celtic? Elsewhere, Rangers are reportedly closing in on Cammy Devlin after his Hearts exit...
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says the club's chief executive Michael Nicholson "has spoken to" the agent of striker Kelechi Iheanacho, and "it's the same with" left-back Marcelo Saracchi, with both having been in Glasgow last season and linked with a return. (Daily Record)
Boca Juniors have put Uruguay international Saracchi, 28, up for sale. (Sun)
But O'Neill is not drawn on speculated Celtic interest in Reims midfielder Mory Gbane, 25. (Glasgow Times)
Aberdeen received more than £1m from Odense for winger Topi Keskinen, 23, and will make a sizeable profit on the Finland international. (Press and Journal - subscription required)

Hey Washington fans, what were the top five offensive plays for the 2025 Commanders?
Well, there was a top-plays list of highlights put together by the Commanders' internal media staff. It was a part of the NFL highlights packages they have the teams do each season. Although technically, the list was ***** led the top 5 Craziest Plays for 2025. The only problem is the word 'crazy' completely confuses what types of plays these were. Were they lucky bounces? Were they tipped ***** that were caught or intercepted? Not at all, so really a poor choice for an adjective there by the one entitling the plays. Looking at the plays, you will feel the adjective chosen should have been something like the top 5 excellent/outstanding plays or something like Big Play touchdowns.
Some of these you will certainly disagree with the order. I know I certainly did. For me, how is the Jeremy McNichols run not the play of the year for the Commanders? I mean, he breaks a tackle, runs over the guy, then takes off for the distance touchdown run. Treylon Burks, of course, made a nice catch, but how does anyone think he had to do as much on that play as McNichols did on his long touchdown run?
Let's look at those plays.
Okay, you've seen the five plays. Which did you feel was the craziest play of the five?