Sports news summaries — Page 76
Essential facts and source links for recent sports stories.
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Windhorst expects Cooper Flagg to reach NBA's top five in year two
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst expects Dallas Mavericks player Cooper Flagg to become one of the NBA’s top five players in his second season, saying Flagg’s rookie-year flashes reminded him of LeBron James before James reached that level in year two. -
Match play and team pressure set the Presidents Cup apart from Tour stops
A preview argues match play, team pairings and partisan crowds make the Presidents Cup feel more consequential than a regular PGA Tour week; captains also shape lineups. The 2026 event is scheduled for Sept. 24–27 at Medinah near Chicago. -
Nicklaus cited Presidents Cup's rising profile; Player said it needed no US win
In 2003, as they discussed the Presidents Cup's growth since its 1994 launch, Jack Nicklaus said its focus and TV coverage had risen and it merited billing equal to or stronger than the Ryder Cup; Gary Player said it needed no US win to enhance the event. -
49ers lead seven Super Bowl LXI contenders entering NFL Week 3
San Francisco tops The Big Lead’s Super Bowl contender rankings entering NFL Week 3, with Buffalo second and Kansas City third. Seattle, the Rams, Cincinnati and Baltimore complete the seven; Philadelphia, Jacksonville and Minnesota miss the cut. -
FTD diagnosis leads Darrell Waltrip to pull back further from public life
Darrell Waltrip, 79, is stepping further away from public life after a frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) diagnosis, his family said. They said possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), likely from racing injuries, may also be involved; symptoms are currently minor. -
Netflix to stream Fury-Joshua bout from Cardiff on Dec. 11
Former British heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are scheduled to meet on Dec. 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Netflix will stream the fight exclusively, and a press conference to formally announce it is set for Sept. 30. -
Boston College opens ACC play against 3-0 Virginia Tech
The ACC’s Saturday, Sept. 26, slate lists 10 games involving conference teams, including Boston College’s conference opener against 3-0 Virginia Tech. The preview also highlights Wake Forest-Louisville and Georgia Tech-Stanford; ESPN lists Georgia Tech as favored. -
WVU column calls for fans to revive Morgantown’s night-game atmosphere
Coming off a win over Virginia in Charlotte, West Virginia can reach 4-0 for the first time since 2018 with a victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday. An SB Nation column calls on fans to wear gold and make noise; FanDuel lists WVU as a 1.5-point favorite. -
Wake Forest’s defensive front faces Louisville’s prolific offense
Wake Forest’s defense regrouped after a poor start against Miami and held the Hurricanes in check in the second half. Louisville’s offense is next; Wake’s front has impressed, but its defense gives up 235 passing yards per game and has yet to intercept a pass. -
JJ Watt backs Caleb Williams after tearful hamstring-injury exit
Former NFL star JJ Watt defended Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams after his tearful, gurney-assisted exit from a game against Minnesota, saying the Grade 1 hamstring strain could have felt much worse in the moment while acknowledging the reaction seemed over the top. -
Prudential Center’s new Devils-game rule bars bags over 4 × 6 × 1.5 inches
At Prudential Center, the Devils will bar bags larger than 4 × 6 × 1.5 inches at games this fall, drawing complaints from some fans. Parenting and medically necessary bags may be exempt from the size limit but must be screened by X-ray before entry. -
South Carolina brings a stronger rushing attack into its Alabama matchup
South Carolina averages 45 points per game under Kendal Briles, with Matt Fuller emerging as a rushing threat. After two games against Kent State and Towson, the Gamecocks scored 34 in a loss to Mississippi State; the preview projects 21–24 points against Alabama. -
Week 3 betting column backs four props in Falcons-Packers game
A Week 3 betting column recommends Bijan Robinson over 0.5 touchdowns, Drake London over 65.5 receiving yards, Matthew Golden over 55.5 receiving yards and Kyle Pitts over 3.5 receptions for Thursday's Falcons-Packers game. Michael Penix Jr. returns as Atlanta's starter. -
Fury-Joshua heavyweight bout set for Dec. 11 in Cardiff, live on Netflix
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will meet in a heavyweight bout on Dec. 11 at Cardiff’s 78,000-seat Principality Stadium; Netflix will stream it live. The bout was officially announced after months of public debate involving UFC CEO Dana White and Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn. -
Genk football chief says Liverpool’s £30m Brughmans deal was a surprise
Genk football director Dimitri de Conde said Liverpool’s £30m (€35m) offer for 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans, signed on a delayed deal, surprised the club two days before the English window closed. Brughmans is due to stay at Genk as first choice for 2026-27. -
Brad Underwood's Illinois reaches the Final Four after years out of the NCAA Tournament
Illinois basketball is coming off a Final Four appearance and has recently hosted several of the nation's top high school prospects. The writer says its talented incoming freshman class and returning players reflect the program's rise under Brad Underwood. -
Daniel Dubois says he can counter Fabio Wardley’s rematch adjustments
Daniel Dubois says Fabio Wardley’s planned adjustments will not work against him in their October 17 rematch, promising to have an answer for whatever Wardley does. Dubois is preparing for fight night and said he is finding a balance between anxiety and calm. -
Lions coach says coverage shifts could open more chances for Isaac TeSlaa
Detroit receiver Isaac TeSlaa has six targets and two catches in two games. Coach Scottie Montgomery says the Lions’ offensive depth leaves him fewer chances; he expects defenses to shift toward Amon-Ra St. Brown, which may open chances for TeSlaa against the Jets. -
WWE’s ‘Main Event’ shifts its weekly run to Rumble on Oct. 14
WWE’s weekly series “Main Event” will move from YouTube to Rumble on Oct. 14, after airing on YouTube since the start of 2026. Episodes will be available every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Rumble.com/WWE and Rumble’s mobile and TV apps. -
Justin Thomas says 2024 Presidents Cup absence deepened respect for Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy
Justin Thomas is back on the U.S. Presidents Cup team after missing the 2024 event in Montreal. He said sitting out made him value the consistency of players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and stressed that spots must be earned through strong play. -
No. 13 Penn State opens Big Ten play against Wisconsin at home
No. 13 Penn State (3-0) hosts Wisconsin (2-1) at Beaver Stadium at 5 p.m. in its Big Ten opener, with the game on Peacock. Receiver Koby Howard will miss an extended period with an injury, while Wisconsin running back Abu Sama III is expected back Saturday. -
At 17, Shin Ohashi wins Asian Games gold with 200m breaststroke world record
Japan’s Shin Ohashi, 17, won Asian Games gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke on Thursday in 2:04.83, becoming the first man to break 2:05 and lowering China’s Qin Haiyang’s world record of 2:05.48, set at the 2023 World Championships. -
Kanter Freedom challenges Durant over WNBA's transgender eligibility debate
Enes Kanter Freedom criticized Kevin Durant after he said he cared about WNBA basketball, not the “noise.” Kanter said the transgender-athlete debate concerned protecting women, not politics, and urged the league to limit eligibility to biological women. -
Amon-Ra St. Brown leads The Big Lead’s Week 3 fantasy wide receiver rankings
Amon-Ra St. Brown tops The Big Lead’s Week 3 fantasy football wide receiver rankings, with CeeDee Lamb second and Chris Olave third. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is fourth; Davante Adams ranks 12th after posting 195 receiving yards in Week 2. St. Brown’s Lions host the Jets in Week 3. -
Padres lead NL wild-card race as Cubs and Phillies stay tied
Entering Thursday, San Diego led the NL wild-card race by one game; the Cubs and Phillies were tied behind, and Arizona was three games back. Chicago held second on a tiebreaker. Thursday’s results shape the order; the top wild card hosts a best-of-three series starting Sept. 29. -
Liverpool’s Wirtz faces scrutiny after one assist in five Premier League games
Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz has one assist in five Premier League games this season, and the team has two wins and sits sixth. The article says the $156 million signing must make a more regular impact, but it is too early to write him off.
