The Manchester City squad is "buying into the idea" of new manager Enzo Maresca, says new captain Ruben Dias.
City spent a Premier League record £458m during the recent transfer window, with incomings including midfield trio Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
But there weren't only major changes to the playing squad. Maresca replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of last season after 10 years in charge.
Maresca was previously ******* istant to the Spaniard at Etihad Stadium, before spells at Leicester City and Chelsea.
Dias said Guardiola's departure was not an "easy moment for the club", while Maresca was the "perfect person for the job" as he "knew the house so well".

#dias #ruben

Liverpool head into another Premier League test with momentum building, and Virgil van Dijk has made the message clear. Good performances matter, results matter more, but consistency is what separates serious sides from the rest.
After a comeback win over Atletico Madrid in midweek and a 2-0 league victory against Ipswich Town before that, Liverpool now have the chance to make it three wins on the bounce at Anfield against Fulham. The captain is not interested in noise or sentiment. He is focused on standards.
In his programme notes, Van Dijk said: "After an important and, in my opinion, well-deserved win over Atletico Madrid, it is great to be back at Anfield again this afternoon as we return to Premier League action against Fulham.
"I thought the atmosphere on Wednesday night was exceptional, particularly in the second half as we chased the victory.
"I have said many times that we are at our best when everyone is pushing together, and I hope you can see how hard we are all working to give you a team to be proud of."

#premier #dijk #fulham

Sophie Cunningham has become one of the most talked about figures in women's basketball, both on and off the court. The Indiana Fever guard has built a large following through her outspoken personality, and this week she added a new platform to that reach.
Cunningham launched a podcast called "No Hesitation" alongside trainer Drew Hanlen. The debut episode was released on Thursday. Cunningham touched on a question that has followed the WNBA all season, one tied to who will lead the league into its next chapter.
MORE: Indiana Fever endorses Sophie Cunningham for major award
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) at State Farm Arena. Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images.
Asked what she would do differently as commissioner, Cunningham did not hold back.

#sophie #hesitation #hanlen #thursday

To say Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a little outspoken would be like saying the Chernobyl disaster was a minor inconvenience. The four-time MVP isn't afraid to share his opinions, and he let loose in the most recent episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.
The episode wasted no time getting into Rodgers' thoughts on why he believes he's so polarizing, to which he called out "hypocrisy" in the media.
"Everybody loved hearing my takes on Colin Kaepernick when I said he was one of the top 64 quarterbacks in the league," Rodgers said. "They loved my takes when there was a shooting that occurred years and years ago during Obama's presidency. Somebody yelled out some anti-muslim rhetoric during the moment of silence, which I thought was so disrespectful. And I said after the game, the first thing I said was, 'There's no place for that kind of hate in this world. Regardless of what happened [or] what you think happened.'… I said something about that and President Obama sent me a hand-written note afterward. And everybody loved that part. They enjoyed my takes. Mina Kimes had me to her house for a feature I did. All of these people were my friends in the media. Until I came about against COVID."
It's not exactly disputable that Rodgers gets no benefit of the doubt from the media after being a genuine media favorite for a long time. To tie it back to his vaccination status is probably pretty on point.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

#Media #years #think

Oregon Ducks football coach Dan Lanning wasn't all that pleased following his team's 34-27 win over Boise State in the 2026 season opener. The Ducks were sloppy much of the time, and while some mistakes are expected in first games, others were compounded by miscues that just can't happen, first game or not.
The Ducks were flagged 10 times for 90 yards, and some of those were costly, directly leading to Boise State scoring just a couple of plays later.
There was a lot of bad in that game, but there was a lot of good also. Oregon managed to play through the adversity, erase a 10-point deficit, and eventually hang on to win against a determined Broncos team that showed why they are favorites to win the new Pac-12 this year.
Now the Ducks will face a different kind of adversity as they go on the road for the first time this season, a trip to Stillwater, Okla., to face a brand new Oklahoma State team. This isn't the team Oregon played just a year ago and pounded 69-3. The Cowboys have 91 new scholarship players, so film is limited. They did play at Tulsa last week, but OSU fell 24-10.
Here's everything Lanning had to say in his weekly Monday night press conference before preparing to face the Big 12 team.

#team #season

Jamie Vardy is back in English football, though he's not latched on to Premier League side Everton as speculated this week.
Vardy, who turns 40 in January, is back in the Championship, where he's signed a deal with Burnley through the end of this season.
"This club has a proper footballing history and passionate fans who deserve a team that represents them and their town," Vardy said. "I can't wait to get going on the pitch and help the team move in the right direction."
Vardy played from Cremonese in Serie A last season, scoring seven times with three ***** ists in 29 Serie A matches.
Burnley is about 50 miles from Vardy's childhood home of Sheffield.

#serie #jamie #english #league

India and Pakistan are about to face off in Dubai, in a Group A clash in the Women's Asian Cup, on Saturday evening.
India hasn't put a foot wrong so far in the tournament. They dismantled Thailand by 94 runs in their opener, then turned the screws even harder against Hong Kong, as they won by 137 runs to wrap up their semi-final spot ahead of schedule.
The top two in each group advance, and India has already made sure of that. But finishing as group leaders still matters, and they'll be going full throttle here.
Meanwhile, Pakistan put Thailand away convincingly, and, with a game against Hong Kong still to come, they also have the chance to emerge as group leaders.
That makes this match against India something of a golden chance: beat the group leaders and walk into the knockouts without a single loss on their record and as pool toppers.

#Pakistan

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Katin Houser threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score in his Illinois debut as the Illini defeated UAB 42-23 on Thursday night in a season opener.
Houser, who transferred from East Carolina, completed 13 of 17 passes for 182 yards. Collin Dixon caught six passes for 70 yards and two TDs, and Ca'Lil Valentine rushed 11 times for 88 yards and a score.
UAB's Ryder Burton completed 18 of 33 passes for 219 yards and a TD. He also rushed for a score. Jonah Delange kicked three field goals for the Blazers.
Illinois scored two TDs on its first six plays and led 21-13 at halftime.
A 65-yard punt return by Mac Resetich set up the first TD — an 18-yard pass from Houser to Dixon. Valentine scored on a 51-yard run.

#illinois #three #completed

Best college football names in 2026 Prayer Young-Blackgoat, Da'Realyst Clark among the most unique originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Our long national nightmare without college football is finally over. Week 1 is here, and the world's funniest sport is officially back.
Given that there are so many players on teams throughout the sport, there are some great college football player names out there that don't sound real when you hear them on a broadcast or see them flash across the screen.
Unfortunately, one of our favorite names in Squiriell White is no longer in college, now playing for the Chicago Bears. But fear not, as there are several players with great names who will suit up for teams across the country.
Presenting the 12 best names in all of college football for the 2026 season.

#Football #sporting #best

Nashville Predators general manager Chris MacFarland hasn't done himself any favors by trading Luke Evangelista.
A forward who just had a career season as a 24-year-old? A unanimous fan favorite, once named one of Nashville's 25 "Most Beautiful People"? A key piece of the top-six forward group and a supposed part of the team's future?
And you trade him for two draft picks?
"This decision was not made lightly," MacFarland said after news of the trade with the New Jersey Devils broke in the evening of Sept. 1.
"These are some of the toughest moves that you have to do," he said. "A good player that has a lot of cachet with the organization for a few years, a dang good person, and he's done a good job here playing hockey for the Predators."

#good #predators #forward #evangelista

Despite approaching Tropical Storm Edouard, diehard Houston Texans fans were lining up Tuesday morning outside Reliant Stadium to get their hands on the team's new rivalry uniform gear.
The Houston/Us uniform combines "Liberty White, H-Town Blue and Battle Red" with Houston's signature blue-and-white street tiles and draws inspiration from the iconic "Be Someone" bridge and custom car culture.
The rivalry uniform is a part of the NFL x Nike Rivalries Program, which gives clubs the opportunity to introduce a new uniform that celebrates their community and tells an authentic local story, according to a news release from the Houston Texans upon the announcement of the rivalry style last week.
RIVALRY LOOK:
Houston Texans' rivalry uniforms include white helmet, plenty of H-Town Blue and city's street tiles

#rivalry #uniform #blue #tiles

National League
Kidderminster Harriers 1 - 1 Barrow FT
Barrow remain winless in the National League after they were pegged back at Kidderminster.
Innes Cameron nodded the Bluebirds into the lead from Keaton Ward's 16th-minute free-kick.
But the hosts levelled two minutes before the break when Reece Devine's fine run and cross was headed home by Lewis Walker.

#harriers #bluebirds

Luke Altmyer's first NFL roster battle has officially come to an end.
The former Illinois quarterback is being waived by the Detroit Lions, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Sunday. It puts a pause on Altmyer's attempt to earn a spot on Detroit's 53-man roster.
Altmyer entered training camp with a legitimate opportunity to stick around as Jared Goff's backup, but the Lions are moving forward with veteran Josh Dobbs as their No. 2.
Altmyer got plenty of reps in the preseason, but he struggled against the Colts on Saturday. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 55 yards and threw an interception. He also lost a fumble.
And unfortunately for Altmyer, his final preseason performance didn't exactly help his case.

#jared

Barnsley have re-signed full-back Ziyad Larkeche on loan from Queens Park Rangers for the rest of the season.
Larkeche spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Oakwell when he was a Fulham player.
The Frenchman, 23, joined QPR in 2023 after he was released by Fulham and spent the 2024-25 season at Dundee.
"Ziyad adds real depth to our options at left-back, and he's someone who enjoyed his time with the club last time he was here, so we know he wants to be part of this," head coach Daniel Stendel told the club website.
All the latest Barnsley news

#ziyad #larkeche #loan #club

Royce White followed Enes Kanter's example and attended an Indiana Fever game. He took it one step further, turning up in a wig to watch the clash.
Royce White has been one of the former NBA players who have declared themselves for the 2027 WNBA Draft. The league has unequivocally denied the possibility of them being drafted.
Recently, Enes Kanter turned up at an Indiana Fever game and it didn't go well. Natasha Cloud got into a heated altercation with him. Royce White seems to have decided it was his turn to show up, too.
While no one fought with him this time, White turned up for the Fever game in a blonde wig with long hair. Naturally, the video went viral.
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

#white #fever #indiana

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is just eight days away, as the Aggies will begin in-season practice on Friday, completely focused on the task ahead after 16 preseason practices over the past three weeks. Overall, every position group had their moments, while redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed has improved every facet of his game, especially his accuracy, touch, and pocket presence.
Aided by one of the deepest wide receiver rotations in the country, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, Reed's improvement is based on eye witness accounts from every local beat writer and Texas A&M media member, while an anonymous source, who spoke with On3 insider Pete Nakos, confirmed that Reed has indeed taken the next step in his development, echoing coach Mike Elko's statement earlier this month.
You don't have to take it from me, but thanks to the Texas A&M media team for releasing several videos that featured Marcel Reed connecting with Isaiah Horton and star junior Mario Craver for 50-plus-yard passes with pinpoint accuracy, showcasing his poise in the pocket and improved footwork, which, if the revamped offensive line holds up, the sky is the limit for Texas A&M's passing game.
"Marcel is more accurate, has more of a presence and has another year of playing football for Mike Elko," a source stated to On3.
Texas A&M's loaded wide receiver corps also features former five-star prospect Terry Bussey, who Aggie fans have been waiting for to break out after two seasons, and through nearly every preseason practice, the 2026 season could be the year Bussey finally reaches his potential, with the same source agreeing.

#texas #reed #isaiah #bussey

The Las Vegas Raiders are set to play their final preseason game, facing off against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. Kickoff is at 5p.m. PT.
This will also mark the end of training camp, as the NFL's cutdown day is right around the corner on Sunday, raising the stakes for every player on the bubble to make the 53-man roster. So, this week's rookies to watch are heavily focused on the Raiders' undrafted free agents, with one third-round pick thrown in the mix.
As the 67th pick of the draft, it's highly unlikely that Crawford is in danger of getting cut. Also, the Auburn product was a project coming out of college and wasn't expected to have a big role this year after Las Vegas signed Kwity Paye, re-signed Malcolm and had the Maxx Crosby trade fall through during free agency. However, Crawford has generated just one pressure in the first two preseason games, per Pro Football Focus, and hasn't been a factor against the run, either.
Meanwhile, S&BP's Bill Williamson listed three other edges—UDFA Cian Slone and veterans Patrick Johnson and Jahfari Harvey—as players to watch against San Francisco, and all three have outperformed Crawford this month. Again, the third-rounder's roster spot should be safe, but he's looking at getting buried on the depth chart if he doesn't step up on Thursday night.
Klint Kubiak didn't mince words when talking about the team's wide receivers after last week's game, saying "they gotta get a lot better and fast". The coaching staff is clearly looking for someone to step up and provide some depth out wide, giving Williams an opportunity to earn a roster spot with a strong outing against the 49ers. He had a 41-yard catch a couple of weeks ago, but hauled in just one grab for six yards in Houston.

#roster

Florida State Seminoles transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos has committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, according to On3's Pete Nakos.
His addition shores up the depth at quarterback behind starter Will Hammond, who is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season. Castellanos was out of eligibility following the 2025 season but went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He then elected to try to return to college for a fifth season, after the NCAA changed the eligibility rules. He won his lawsuit against the NCAA, getting another year of eligibility when a court in Kentucky granted an injunction, which also allowed him to enter the transfer portal outside the normal window. He was invited to several NFL training camps as a wide receiver, but never signed with a team.
Castellanos started all 12 games for FSU last season, completing 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He finished as FSU's leading rusher, carrying the ball 137 times for 557 yards and nine touchdowns.
He has played in 38 games during his career, also spending time with the UCF Knights and Boston College Eagles. He has thrown for 6,449 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. He has also rushed for 1,984 yards and 24 touchdowns.

#castellanos #eligibility #ncaa #games

An embarrassing Champions League exit Tuesday for Celtic in the qualifying playoffs somehow was even worse than last year.
Meltdown. Implosion. Humiliation.
Celtic led 4-0 on aggregate score Tuesday after a half hour of the second leg in Austria, yet five unanswered goals by LASK — the fifth and decisive one coming in extra time of a 5-1 win — still felt like coach Martin O'Neill's team got off lightly with a 5-4 loss on aggregate score.
It is now two straight years the Scottish **** le holder has wasted clear chances to play on the lucrative biggest stage of European club soccer by losing in late-August to an unheralded team advancing for the very first time.
"We were far too passive. We don't have any excuses," said Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain whose 21st-minute goal Tuesday had seemed likely to secure the Champions League entry.

#tuesday

Reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka is a generational talent whose mastery inside the ring transcends eras.
The **** anese phenom stands as the archetype of a complete striker, seamlessly fusing speed, precision, and fight-ending power. Yet beyond his physical gifts, his elite fight IQ and mental fortitude separate him from his peers.
As the only non-Thai athlete in history to simultaneously hold the coveted Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium World **** les, the **** anese superstar boasts a 67-6 professional record.
Having not lost a bout in over six years, his five consecutive victories against the elite in ONE Championship have stretched that remarkable run to an astonishing 41 straight wins.
Nadaka now looks to conquer new territory when he steps into the world of kickboxing for the first time against Har Ling Om at ONE SAMURAI 3 on September 12, streamed live from Yokohama Buntai. Just a month later, the defending champion returns to defend his Muay Thai crown against Rifdean "Magic Boy" Masdor at ONE SAMURAI 4 on October 17 inside Tokyo's Ariake Arena.

#nadaka #samurai #elite

SIOUX CITY, IA (KCAU) - Next group up for Two-A-Days is the Pender Pendragons, after a huge 9-2 2025 season after back-to-back five-win seasons in 2023 and 2024.
The Dragons got themselves to the D1 state quarterfinals before falling to Shelby-Rising City 28-6.
The 8-man squad enters the new year without two of last season's biggest offensive weapons in the run game and passing game; however, there is a large group of returners, including quarterback Zander Welsh, who had over 1,700 total yards of offense and 31 touchdowns.
This team also brings back a familiar face to the head coach position, Andy Welsh, who has served as the head coach for the boys basketball team for the last several years. With his return, this group is very excited for the guys they are putting out on the field!
"We have 33 kids on the team. We are sitting here with 12 seniors on an 8-man football team, so we have a lot of depth. Our expectations are extremely high, and the kids have been working really hard to show what we can do," said Welsh.

#team #back

This is the UFC Sacramento live blog for Anthony Hernandez vs. Gregory Rodrigues, the middleweight main event Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif.
Hernandez is currently tied with Caio Borralho for the No. 5 spot at 185 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, while Rodrigues looks to rise from his No. 15 position
California's Hernandez (15-3, 1 NC) looks to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Sean Strickland that not only snapped an eight-fight win streak, it probably cost him a ****** le shot. "Fluffy" has made a habit of overwhelming the competition, scoring finishes against Roman Dolidze, Michel Pereira, Roman Kopylov, Edmen Shahbazyan, and Rodolfo Vieiera. An impressive performance Saturday places Hernandez back in the thick of the championship chase.
Rodrigues (19-6) is set to make a statement himself after winning his past three fights and six of his past seven. In his most recent outing, Rodrigues avenged one his few losses with a stunning first-round knockout of Brunno Ferreira. Though he was best known for his grappling exploits prior to signing with the UFC in 2021, "Robocop" has become one of the middleweight division's most respected knockout artists, with seven of his octagon victories coming by way of KO/TKO.
Check out the UFC Sacramento live blog for Anthony Hernandez vs. Gregory Rodrigues below.

#hernandez #gregory #roman

Bronny James has finally broken his silence on his father, LeBron James' departure from the Los Angeles Lakers. Bronny James was spotted giving autographs, taking photos, and talking with young basketball fans, and was asked about LeBron's move to the Philadelphia 76ers, to which Bronny had a hilarious response. "It's whatever, it's my Dad." Bronny James told the young kids.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "It's whatever, it's my Dad." Bronny James told the …

#bronny #james #Lakers #philadelphia

Little SC St. Tönis "paid the price" after Eintracht Frankfurt were beaten 7-0 by Brentford in a friendly last Saturday (15).
Without mercy, the Eagles steamrolled the team that plays in the Oberliga Niederrhein, the fifth tier of German football.
There were ten goals in the first half alone.
And just one in the second half to seal an 11-0 away win this Friday (21).
A match valid for the first round of the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup.

#half #saturday

Chelsea striker Joao Pedro is set to sign a new contract with the club until 2032, with the option of two further years.
When he signed for the club, his original contract was announced as running until 2033.
However, that deal actually ran until 2032 with an option for one further year.
Chelsea typically include those club options when stating the length of a player's contract in official announcements.
Therefore, when Joao Pedro's new contract is confirmed, it will likely announce him as being under contract until 2034, despite the deal itself running until 2032 with a further two-year option.

#contract #further #year

New Hampshire Motor Speedway does not look especially intimidating on paper.
It is not a superspeedway. It does not have towering banking. It does not stretch two miles around. Yet the 1.058-mile oval in Loudon has spent more than three decades building a reputation as one of the more distinctive stops on the NASCAR schedule.
There is a reason drivers treat the so-called "Magic Mile" with respect. Its relatively flat corners leave little margin for error, track position can become enormously important and a car that misses the setup by even a little can make for a very long afternoon.
NASCAR returns to New Hampshire this weekend, with the Cup Series scheduled to run the Dollar Tree 301 at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 23, on USA Network. The race is the penultimate event of the 2026 regular season before the field heads to Daytona for the finale.
Before the green flag, here are 10 things every NASCAR fan should know about New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

#nascar #speedway #dollar

Texas Rangers lineup for August 18, 2026 against the Washington Nationals: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Jackson Kent for the Nationals.
The Rangers return home after a disappointing, to say the least, West Coast road trip. They play the Washington Nationals today. The Nationals are starting a lefthanded pitcher named Jackson Kent, who I had definitely heard of and knew was a real person before two minutes ago. The newly activated Danny Jansen is behind the plate.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Seager — SS

#rangers #washington #lineup #quantrill

According to Sportitalia, RB Leipzig are keen on bringing Christopher Nkunku back, with Milan open to discussing a potential loan deal.
Bundesliga side RB Leipzig want to bring Nkunku back to the club, according to Sportitalia transfer expert Gianluigi Longari.
According to the report, Leipzig have been 'pushing' in recent hours, knowing that Nkunku is not part of Milan's plans.
The French striker moved to San Siro from Chelsea last summer in a deal worth over €30m.
According to the report, the Rossoneri are even open to letting the 28-year-old leave on loan this summer.

#back #open #loan

Rays stay put in the power rankings after an up-and-down week originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been a joy to watch this season. They have handled business all season long and sit comfortably in first place in the American League East.
They hold a 5.5-game lead over the New York Yankees as we get closer to September. They don't have the hardest schedule remaining, but it isn't the easiest either, so the club must keep up what they've been doing all year.
If they can avoid injuries from here on out, they're going to be a team that could be quite difficult to take down in a postseason series with the level of offense and pitching the club has gotten.
MORE: Why Freddy Peralta has reasonable excuse for brutal 9.31 ERA start with Rays

#down #tampa

Tennessee ***** ans finished off the third week of training camp, and the competition is heating up across the roster, making it easier to identify the players fighting for the final spots and those solidly on the bubble.
The physicality picked up, and the ***** ans finally got some live reps against the San Francisco 49ers in both practice and the first preseason game; some players who likely sit on that roster bubble did show up and flash. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for everyone, and some players struggled.
Here is a look at the bubble watch after three weeks of practice.
The wide receiver battle will definitely go down to the end of camp. The ***** ans have built a solid group, and the competition has been fierce for the final few spots behind the five who are locked in. Xavier Restrepo continues to flash, making it harder to keep him off the roster.
Running back appears to be becoming clearer by the day, although Julius Chestnut is taking advantage of Kalel Mullings missing time. Tennessee did add a running back to the roster on Saturday, so it will be fun to watch heading into the joint practice with Seattle.

#Titans #bubble #practice