By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
Sports
2026 Preseason Big 12 Football Previews and Projections
The Big 12 doesn’t get respect on the national stage.
In some ways, it’s deserved. Last year, Texas Tech’s ugly Playoff performance against Oregon damaged the league’s reputation.
But the national narrative misses what makes the league different: its competitiveness. Every game is a battle, and the margins are razor thin.
There’s a Playoff spot up for grabs and every season is wide open. A program can quickly rise or fall over a short span of years.
Here’s my preview for the 2026 Big 12 Season.
Projected Conference Champion, Runner-Up, and Contenders
Champion: BYU
Bear Bachmeier enters his sophomore year after leading BYU to 12 wins as a true freshman.
The Cougars are 15-3 in conference games over the last two seasons and are 23-4 overall. Translation: Kalani Sitake is cooking. The combination of the NIL era and the transition out of independence has supercharged the program.
Now, BYU is a powerhouse in the Big 12. Bachmeier’s development should be the catalyst that pushes the Cougars to the Playoff in 2026.
Runner Up: Texas Tech
The Brendan Sorsby situation has been a disaster for Texas Tech. Not only did they lose their expected starting quarterback, but the entire college football world has collectively turned against them.
Nobody was brought in as a late replacement, leaving a significant question at the quarterback position. Will Hammond might be the answer. But his injury history and lack of experience are concerning.
Still, the rest of the roster should be elite. There’s nobody that can pay the way Texas Tech does. Money talks. And builds a strong roster.
Contender: Houston
The Cougars won 10 games last year in Willie Fritz’s second season. And starting quarterback Conner Weigman is back. But nobody is talking about Houston.
The program was a dumpster fire before Fritz took over. It only took two seasons to get to double-digit wins. Imagine what Year Three will bring.
Before coming to Houston, he led Tulane to 12 wins in 2022 and 11 in 2023. The guy just wins games. Look for Houston to compete for a Big 12 Championship this season.
Contender: Utah
Morgan Scalley takes over as head coach after waiting in the wings for years. Since 2016, Scalley had been Utah’s defensive coordinator and helped shape the identity of the program.
Now, he’s the lead man and returns star quarterback Devon Dampier. Named the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Dampier led the Utes to 11 wins last season.
The transition from Kyle Whittingham wasn’t exactly clean-cut. But it’s water under the bridge. The expectations around Utah are real. The new era begins.
Contender: Arizona
Noah Fifita enters his redshirt senior season with momentum. The Wildcats won nine games last year and return coordinators on both sides of the ball. Wide receiver Tre Spivey is set for a productive year and could emerge as a star.
But there are questions on defense. The secondary lost several key players that must be replaced. Brent Brennan did his part by keeping defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales on the staff.
If contributors step up in the defensive backfield, Arizona could be competitive in the Big 12 title race.
The Rest of the Big 12
Arizona State
Kenny Dillingham hit the portal hard over the offseason. Arizona State’s transfer class is ranked No. 22 nationally, per 247Sports. But all eyes are on the quarterback.
Sam Leavitt left for LSU, and Dillingham brought in two transfers. Cutter Boley started 11 games for Kentucky and compiled a 4-7 record. Mikey Keene has 35 starts to his name after spending two years at UCF and two years at Fresno State.
Getting the quarterback battle resolved early in the season will be crucial. Because if the questions at quarterback are answered, ASU has the roster to be competitive in every Big 12 game it plays this year.
Baylor
Three. That’s the number of losing seasons Baylor has over the last four years. The program was once considered a power in the Big 12. One of the original founding members, the Bears have six 10-win seasons or better since 2011.
But expansion has put the program on the back foot. BU is 11-16 in conference games since the league started adding teams in 2023. This year, Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway was brought in to take over for the departing Sawyer Robertson.
His addition makes Baylor a dark horse in the Big 12. But with so many up-and-down years recently, there’s not much buzz around the Bears.
Central Florida
Scott Frost went 5-7 in his first year back in Orlando. It was an improvement over Guz Malzahn’s final four-win season. But Central Florida’s lack of growth in the Big 12 is concerning.
The program was a power in the American and has completely fallen off since joining in 2023. With three-straight losing seasons, it’s time for some progress to become apparent. Otherwise, UCF may be destined to be a perennial bottom dweller in the Big 12.
Fortunately, Frost knows how to get the job done there. There’s cautious optimism heading into the year. Anything less than a six-win season would be a failure.
Cincinnati
Forget the Brendan Sorsby noise. Cincinnati is on the rise. Scott Satterfield has improved the program each year since taking over in 2023.
The Bearcats had three wins that year, five in 2024, and seven last season. It’s a steady progression that’s been building up. But replacing a player like Sorsby won’t be easy.
Satterfield must not have a large enough war chest, either, because no splash transfer was brought in. The rest of the roster should be strong, though. Keep an eye on UC.
Colorado
The hype around Colorado has faded. The three wins last season were the fewest of Deion Sanders’ coaching career. But star offensive coordinator Brennan Marion was brought in to revamp the offense.
The former head coach of Sacramento State, Marion’s innovative system should result in a higher-scoring CU offense. Sophomore quarterback Julian Lewis figures to thrive within the scheme.
But there are questions on defense and the general trajectory of the program doesn’t inspire confidence. As far as preseason expectations go, there are none for Colorado.
Iowa State
Left to pick up the pieces after Matt Campbell left for Penn State, the Iowa State administration may have made a home run hire. Jimmy Rogers had great success at the FCS level, leading North Dakota State to a national championship in 2023.
Last year, Rogers patched together a roster on short notice, implemented his system, and led Washington State to a 6-6 record while playing an independent schedule.
The Cyclones might not have immediate success in Year One. But the future is bright in Ames with Rogers leading the program.
Kansas
After back-to-back five-win seasons, Kansas is in rebuild mode. Star quarterback Jalon Daniels ran out of eligibility, and KU has lost its identity.
Without Daniels in the mix, the Jayhawks might be near the bottom of the Big 12. But new stars could emerge, and the team may establish a new identity. If that happens, a bowl appearance is achievable.
It’s a critical year for Lance Leipold. Another underwhelming season would test the patience of the fanbase.
Kansas State
Collin Klein enters his first year as a head coach at the age of 36. He previously served as the offensive coordinator for Kansas State during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Most recently, Klein was the offensive coordinator for Texas A&M.
There are many unknowns around KSU, and expectations are non-existent. It’s a foundational year, though, and one that could set the tone for seasons to come.
Avery Johnson is a dangerous quarterback, if utilized correctly. Klein may have the skill to optimize Johnson’s talent and Kansas State’s season.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys were at rock bottom last season. Legendary coach Mike Gundy was let go, and Eric Morris was brought in from North Texas. Now, there is renewed hope.
Quarterback Drew Mastemaker threw 34 touchdowns for the Mean Green in 2025 and then followed his coach to Stillwater. OSU’s success could rise and fall based on Mastemaker’s performance.
From the conference-wide perspective, the Big 12 needs Ok State to get its program together. The Pokes were supposed to be the league’s marquee football brand after Texas and Oklahoma left. Instead, it’s been several years of irrelevancy.
This season is pivotal for Morris to begin the rebuild.
TCU
Sonny Dykes lost Josh Hoover to the portal over the offseason. The departure was a significant blow to TCU’s program.
Left to find a replacement, Dykes reeled in Harvard transfer Jaden Craig. The addition didn’t make any waves and limits the expectations for the Horned Frogs’ season. It could be a disappointing year and show how important Hoover was to the team.
Yet, the Big 12 is wide open. Perhaps Craig hits the ground running and makes TCU competitive. In that sense, the Horned Frogs are a bit of a wildcard.
West Virginia
Rich Rodriguez enters Year Two of his return to Morgantown. With a full season to teach his system, a bowl appearance in 2026 is a reasonable expectation.
When executed correctly, Rodriguez’s offense is borderline unstoppable. But depth is required, and the quarterback makes or breaks the season. This year, Rodriguez has options with Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. and sophomore Scotty Fox Jr.
Executing the right reads will be critical all season long. If Hawkins can’t get it going, look for Fox to get an opportunity to steal the starting job.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
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East Bengal run riot in extra time, stun Al Arabi 4-1 to reach AFC Champions League Two group stage
East Bengal FC supporters wave the Indian tricolours during the AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knock-out football match between East Bengal FC and Kuwait’s Al Arabi SC, in Kolkata, West Bengal. (PTI Photo)
East Bengal staged a late comeback to beat Kuwait’s Al Arabi SC 4-1 after extra time and qualify for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday.The home side appeared set to exit the competition after trailing 0-1 with only 14 minutes of regular time remaining.Jay Gupta then brought East Bengal level in the 90th minute, giving the hosts a chance to turn the match around.East Bengal carried that momentum into extra time and took control of the game.Captain Mohammed Rashid put the Kolkata side ahead in the 108th minute to make it 2-1.Substitute David Lalhlansanga then extended East Bengal’s lead in the 117th minute.Rohit Danu completed the comeback by scoring in the first minute of stoppage time in extra time, sealing a 4-1 win for East Bengal.The victory sends East Bengal into the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two.East Bengal, who won the Indian Super League last season, their first top-flight triumph in 22 years to qualify for the continental competition, will now enter the West Region group stage in the continent’s second tier club football.The group phase will feature 16 teams playing in a round-robin format with home-and-away fixtures.
Summer is one of the most exciting periods on the American horse racing calendar, bringing together historic venues, elite horses, and prestigious stakes races that attract nationwide attention.
Each festival offers distinctive racing conditions, competitive fields, and compelling storylines that keep enthusiasts engaged while helping shape the championship picture later in the season.
From Saratoga’s traditions to Del Mar’s coastal showcase, these events provide valuable opportunities to follow top-class racing while watching the sport’s leading horses progress toward the biggest races of the year. The following three racing festivals represent some of the most notable events to follow throughout the season and into the fall.
1. Saratoga Delivers Historic Summer Racing
July 3 – September 7
Few American racecourses carry the prestige of Saratoga Race Course. Opened in 1863, it remains one of the country’s most celebrated sporting venues, blending tradition with a summer schedule filled with elite competition. Racing fans return each year for its unique atmosphere, where history and modern championship racing meet on one of the sport’s most respected stages.
The lengthy Saratoga meet provides a steady stream of competitive racing across several weeks. Daily cards feature a balanced mix of maiden races, allowance contests, and graded stakes, giving followers countless opportunities to study evolving form. As horses continue progressing throughout the summer, fresh storylines emerge almost every racing day.
The biggest attractions are the Whitney Stakes and Travers Stakes, both drawing leading owners, trainers, and jockeys from across North America. Many horses arrive after strong spring campaigns, creating exceptionally deep fields. When reviewing 2026 Whitney Stakes picks, many racing enthusiasts compare recent Grade 1 performances, pace scenarios, and previous Saratoga form before assessing the race’s leading contenders.
Saratoga has also earned a reputation for producing memorable surprises. Heavy favorites have occasionally been denied by improving rivals capable of delivering career-best performances. That unpredictability adds another layer of intrigue, encouraging racing enthusiasts to examine every contender carefully as each summer festival unfolds.
Saratoga’s demanding schedule also rewards consistency from both horses and connections. Trainers who regularly target the meet often arrive with carefully planned campaigns, while experienced jockeys understand the track’s unique characteristics. Those familiar patterns provide additional context when evaluating contenders throughout the festival’s marquee races and daily cards.
2. Del Mar Anchors West Coast Action
July 17 – September 7
Set beside the Pacific Ocean, Del Mar offers one of the most distinctive settings in American racing. Its relaxed coastal atmosphere combines with high-quality competition to create a summer meeting that attracts fans from across the United States. The venue has become synonymous with premier West Coast racing and continues to host some of the season’s biggest events.
The meeting regularly welcomes accomplished horses from California, Kentucky, New York, and other major racing regions. These cross-country shippers introduce new form lines while creating fascinating matchups between horses that rarely meet elsewhere. Their arrival strengthens both stakes races and supporting cards throughout the festival.
The Pacific Classic stands as Del Mar’s signature event and one of the country’s leading Grade 1 dirt races. Many participants use it as an important stepping stone toward the Breeders’ Cup, making the race an early indication of autumn championship contenders. Elite older horses frequently arrive with impressive credentials earned throughout the first half of the season.
Del Mar’s relatively consistent racing surface also assists handicappers evaluating previous performances. Horses that have already demonstrated success under similar conditions often bring previous success under similar conditions into the meeting. Combined with established pace patterns and quality competition, that consistency makes Del Mar one of the summer’s most closely followed racing festivals.
3. The Breeders’ Cup Crowns the Racing Season
October 30 – 31
The Breeders’ Cup stands as the defining championship event in North American thoroughbred racing, bringing together many of the world’s best horses for two days of elite competition. Held at a different host venue each year, the festival features championship races across multiple divisions, from turf and dirt specialists to top-class sprinters, juveniles, and older horses. Success on this stage often shapes year-end Eclipse Award voting and can significantly influence a horse’s legacy within the sport.
What makes the Breeders’ Cup particularly compelling is the diversity of its fields. Champions from major American circuits regularly face accomplished international runners from Europe, Asia, and beyond, creating matchups rarely seen elsewhere during the season. Differences in racing styles, preferred surfaces, and tactical approaches often produce fascinating contests that reward adaptability as much as outright ability.
Preparation for the Breeders’ Cup begins months before the starting gates open. Horses typically qualify through the international “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series or arrive after strong performances in prestigious Grade 1 races throughout the year. Their form, recent competition, distance preferences, and experience on similar tracks all become important talking points as anticipation builds toward championship weekend.
The event also serves as the culmination of the racing calendar, with standout performances frequently defining careers and influencing future breeding value. Whether an established champion reinforces an already impressive résumé or an emerging contender announces itself on the biggest stage, the Breeders’ Cup consistently delivers races that resonate well beyond the final finish line, making it one of the sport’s most anticipated annual spectacles.
A Summer Calendar Worth Following
America’s leading racing festivals each contribute something unique to the season. Saratoga celebrates tradition with its historic Whitney and Travers Stakes, Del Mar showcases elite West Coast competition capped by the Pacific Classic, and the Breeders’ Cup brings the year to its championship climax with the sport’s best horses from around the world.
Together, these events showcase the depth, history, and variety that make American horse racing one of the sport’s most engaging calendars to follow. As horses continue building toward the year’s biggest championship races, these festivals remain key moments for fans to follow the stories, rivalries, and performances shaping the season.
The NBA released its schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup. The league’s annual in-season tournament will begin on Friday, Oct. 30.
The tournament is divided into six groups of five teams each. Each team will play four group-stage games.
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The knockout games begin on Friday, Dec. 4. The championship will be played Friday, Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The title game moved to Hinkle from Las Vegas for the first time.
The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Cup championship game — in what also was a preview of that season’s NBA Finals.
East Group A: Pistons | Raptors | Magic | Bucks | Nets
East Group B: Knicks | Cavaliers | 76ers | Heat | Pacers
East Group C: Celtics | Hawks | Hornets | Bulls | Wizards
West Group A: Nuggets | Rockets | Suns | Mavericks | Jazz
West Group B: Thunder | Timberwolves | Clippers | Pelicans | Grizzlies
West Group C: Spurs | Lakers | Trail Blazers | Warriors | Kings
EAST GROUP A
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Tuesday, Nov. 24: at Orlando, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 24: vs Detroit, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Toronto, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: at Orlando, 7 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Brooklyn, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Nets
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
EAST GROUP B
New York Knicks
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 13: at Indiana, 7 p.m. (Prime)
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Miami, 7 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 13: at Miami, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs New York, 7:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Miami, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Indiana, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Cleveland, 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Philadelphia, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
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Friday, Nov. 27: at New York, 7 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Miami, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs New York, 7 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
EAST GROUP C
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 24: at Washington, 8 p.m. (NBC)
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Atlanta, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Washington, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: at Chicago, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Charlotte, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Boston, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Washington, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Boston, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Chicago, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Atlanta, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Washington, 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Charlotte, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Chicago, 8 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 24: vs Boston, 8 p.m. (NBC)
WEST GROUP A
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Houston, 10 p.m. (Prime)
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Tuesday, Nov. 24: vs Dallas, 10 p.m. (NBC)
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Utah, 9:30 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Dallas, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Utah, 8:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Denver, 10 p.m. (Prime)
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Denver, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Utah, 9:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Dallas, 9 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs Houston, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Utah, 8 p.m.
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Tuesday, Nov. 24: at Denver, 10 p.m. (NBC)
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Dallas, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Phoenix, 9:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Denver, 9:30 p.m.
WEST GROUP B
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Memphis, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: at LA Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs New Orleans, 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs LA Clippers, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Memphis, 8:30 p.m.
LA Clippers
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Oklahoma City, 10:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Memphis, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs New Orleans, 9:30 p.m.
New Orleans Pelicans
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Minnesota, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Memphis, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs LA Clippers, 8 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.
WEST GROUP C
San Antonio Spurs
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Friday, Nov. 6: at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Golden State, 9:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Portland, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs LA Lakers, 9:30 p.m. (Prime)
Los Angeles Lakers
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Friday, Oct. 30: at Golden State, 10 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs Portland, 10 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 20: vs Sacramento, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 6: at LA Lakers, 10 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 13: at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs San Antonio, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
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Friday, Nov. 27: vs Golden State, 9:30 p.m.
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Friday, Oct. 30: vs LA Lakers, 10 p.m. (Prime)
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Friday, Nov. 13: at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. (Prime)
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: vs Sacramento, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 27: at Portland, 9:30 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 6: vs San Antonio, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 13: vs Portland, 10 p.m.
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Friday, Nov. 20: at LA Lakers, 10 p.m.
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Wednesday, Nov. 25: at Golden State, 10 p.m.
KNOCKOUT ROUNDS
All knockout games will be televised on Amazon Prime.
• Quarterfinals: Friday, Dec. 4; Saturday, Dec. 5
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• Semifinals: Tuesday, Dec. 8 and/or Wednesday, Dec. 9
• Championship: Friday, Dec. 11 (Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
Rodri could be on his way out of Manchester City this summer with Barcelona keen to sign the World Cup winner.
Barcelona have been told to stump up at least £70million if they want to sign Manchester City superstar Rodri.
Barca are said to be plotting an improved bid of £55m plus add-ons, which would take the offer to £60m. But this is still £10m short of what Etihad bosses are demanding for the World Cup winner, having originally stated they wanted at least £60m for the midfielder. City know the pressure is now on Barca to meet the asking price for someone the Spanish giants have promised to sign.
Rodri snubbed a move to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the belief he would be joining the La Liga champions. But unless Barca president Joan Laporta is willing to pay what City want, the deal will not happen.
Rodri, 30, has entered the final 12 months of his deal at the Etihad. And while he could leave City for nothing next summer, club chiefs believe £70m is a fair valuation of someone who remains one of the world’s best players.
Rodri has now won the World Cup, the Euros, a Ballon d’Or and 13 trophies with City, including the Treble, to become one of the most decorated players on the planet.
City are said to be comfortable with the situation and are happy to keep Rodri at the Etihad for at least one more season, even if it means he leaves for nothing next summer. In the meantime, Rodri is expected to report back to pre-season training on Friday.
He has been recovering from a back operation he underwent after the World Cup. Should City strike a deal with Barca to sell Rodri, the Spaniard will be replaced at the Etihad, despite City having already shelled out £116m on Elliot Anderson.
The club are in talks with Lille over the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi, but have made clear they will replace any midfield outgoings in addition to bringing in Bouaddi.
Rory McIlroy hopes to be able to see “where my game is” when he returns to action at the FedEx St Jude Championship aiming to deliver a strong finish to the season.
The successful defence of his Masters title in April has been followed by a run of disappointing results, which saw McIlroy seventh at the US PGA before placing joint 32nd at the US Open and then tied for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale.
The Northern Irishman, currently 12th in the FedExCup standings, skipped the St Jude Championship last year, but feels given his current situation the trip to Memphis – where he will play in a marquee pairing alongside Scottie Scheffler – will prove time well spent back out on the course.
“I think having four weeks off going into the last two events of the year was probably going to be a little too much for me in terms of wanting to be competitive,” McIlroy said at a press conference.
“So this is a good week – obviously I want to play well, but it’s also a good week to just see where my game is, do a lot of practice, or as much as I can in the heat.
“I think it is important to be here. It’s the PGA Tour’s play-offs, and I think it’s important for all the players to be here.”
McIlroy is also set to play at the Irish Open next month, as well as the BMW Championship at Wentworth and the DP World India Championship before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Before that, though, the world number two remains fully focussed on the challenges ahead in the United States.
“I almost try to view the (FedExCup) play-offs as one big, long tournament, like a 12-round event. You have got to pace yourself. It is three long weeks,” he said.
“We are going from here to St Louis (BMW Championship) to Atlanta (Tour Championship) – every week is going to feel a bit like this. It is going to be hot and sweaty, so you want to be able to conserve energy as well.
“I have always tried to treat it like one big, long golf tournament and sort of get into the rhythm of it and go from there. I have been lucky enough to do pretty well on these things over the years, so I will try to add another one to the list.”
Scheffler is returning to action for the first time since finishing runner-up at the 3M Open.
“I am excited,” the American world number one said. “I have three tournaments, three good starts to kind of end the year.”
Justin Rose is the defending champion at TPC Southwind, where he will play the opening two rounds alongside American Michael Brennan. Tommy Fleetwood has been paired with Jordan Spieth and Matt Fitzpatrick with Wyndham Clark.
Everton forward Martin Sherif has been charged with breaching Football Association betting rules.
The 20-year-old, who moved from the Netherlands to join the Toffees academy at the age of 13, is accused of placing 61 bets over a 16-month period.
“It’s alleged that the player breached FA Rule E1.2 in respect of 61 bets placed on football matches between 20 November, 2024 and 12 February, 2026,” said an FA statement.
The Liberian-born Everton U21 player has until Monday 17 August to respond to the charges.
A former Netherlands youth international who played in the 2023 European Under-17 Championship, Sherif spent last season on loan at League One sides Rotherham and then Port Vale, his first spells away since arriving at the Everton setup in 2019.
He scored twice in each respective spells for the two clubs, and was part of the team that suffered relegation at Port Vale.
Sherif has never made a senior appearance for Everton but spent time in the first-team under David Moyes in February 2025 after much of his front line went down with injuries.
A brief beneficiary of other players’ fitness problems then, Sherif struggled with injuries himself last year, with his time at the New York Stadium ending prematurely as a result of hamstring issues, which caused three prolonged absences and resulted in Everton recalling him ahead of the January transfer window.
Additional reporting from PA
What has long been rumored has now been reported as reality: LIV Golf’s team championship in Michigan has been canceled.
The season finale, which was scheduled for the end of August in Michigan, was already believed to be on the chopping block as early as July. Various reports suggested no on-site buildout at The Cardinal at Saint John’s, even as recently as this weekend. And now LIV is moving on, according to a report from The Telegraph, which said the league finally told its players it would not be held.
In recent weeks, most LIV players had little to say about the event, although Martin Kaymer told Today’s Golfer in late July that the team championship had about a 5% chance of happening. Now that reality finally arrived. Staffers were told to book travel home from next week’s event in Indianapolis rather than to Michigan, just a few hours up the road. And despite the dark clouds over its team championship, LIV itself has refused to announce it publicly. (When contacted by GOLF, the league declined to comment.) The event is scheduled to begin in two weeks.
The final LIV event of the season is now set for the greater Indianapolis area and will likely fold-in elements to finalize the season-long team competition with it. LIV Indy was a rambunctious scene just 12 months ago, setting record-breaking attendance figures in the U.S. But in 2026, it will be the 12th and final event of what was scheduled to be a 14-event season. LIV’s New Orleans tournament, originally scheduled for June, was postponed and not rescheduled. The multi-million arrangement between the league and Louisiana saw LIV receive $1.2 million from the state. As of late July, that amount had not been repaid.
This all comes amid a rollercoaster time for the league. In late April, it was confirmed that the Saudi Public Investment Fund would be pulling its funding at the end of the season. LIV executives have scrambled to create a plan they’re calling “LIV 2.0”, which would feature a trimmed down schedule —10 events instead of 14 — with “Team Majors” and half of its schedule located abroad.
Importantly, the purse sizes for LIV 2.0 are expected to decrease by a significant margin. The league, which once pulled in talent via hundred-million-dollar contracts, could see its $30 million purses from 2026 shrink to half of that for 2027.
The runway for LIV remains incredibly murky. Last week, CEO Scott O’Neil held a press conference from the league’s New Jersey event, sharing that LIV had come to an agreement with a “lead investor” that would help the league sustain its business into next year. According to various reports, that investor is BC Partners’ credit division, and the investment is not for equity of the league, but is rather a lending mechanism. When asked for comment, BC Partners declined, but the head of its credit team, Ted Goldthorpe, was on-site at the LIV event Sunday, meeting with LIV’s previous boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan and walking inside the ropes with O’Neil.
The agreement, to this point, is simply a signed term sheet — in essence, an agreement to try and come to an agreement. Various reports marked a finalized agreement contingent upon LIV’s biggest names returning to the league for 2027. The hope internally is that a definitive agreement would be settled sometime in September.
New Test captain Joe Root has abolished the midnight curfew imposed on the England teams – only seven months after it was introduced.
The removal is the latest update to rules surrounding the behaviour of their players – regulations that have come under scrutiny across this year.
The curfew was introduced in January after a number of late-night incidents on the tours of New Zealand and Australia.
Following the first Test of the home summer – a win against New Zealand – former Test captain Ben Stokes broke the curfew in a nightclub in London, sparking a series of events that eventually led to his retirement from international cricket.
In the aftermath of the nightclub incident, director of cricket Rob Key considered imposing a total alcohol ban on the England players.
Then-Test coach Brendon McCullum admitted to “ambiguity” surrounding the communication of the curfew, with new guidelines on it and the consumption of alcohol issued to the England players last month.
But before Root’s first Test back in charge, against Pakistan at Headingley next week, he has relaxed the rules and said: “Let’s be adults.”
The curfew has also been lifted for the white-ball team, despite no change in the leadership of the one-day and T20 sides.
Led by coach McCullum and captain Harry Brook, the limited-overs sides will also no longer have to abide by the midnight rule.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said: “There’s not going to be a curfew. I don’t think this needs to be a big deal, to be honest.”
A curfew was first put in place during Root’s first spell as Test captain, between 2017 and 2022, and introduced after drinking incidents on the Ashes tour of 2017-18.
It was abolished when Stokes took over as captain in 2022, only to then be reintroduced earlier this year.
Now it has been scrapped again as Root begins his second spell as captain.
McCullum has been replaced as Test coach by fellow New Zealander Stephen Fleming, although he will not be in place for the three matches against Pakistan, with Marcus Trescothick acting as the interim coach.
“My view on curfews is that I don’t think they work and if you want guys to take responsibility on the field, they’ve got to feel like they can be grown adults off it and make good, strong decisions off it,” added Root.
“And that’s for us as a team to manage well, and self-police well, for me and Flem to manage well in many ways.”
The curfew was first imposed on the white-ball team in January for their tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that followed.
It came after Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington and opener Ben Duckett was filmed, apparently drunk, on England’s mid-Ashes holiday in Noosa.
The curfew remained in place for the Test team in the home summer, although there was confusion surrounding the terms and how it was communicated.
Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were out past midnight following the victory over New Zealand at Lord’s, when a member of the England security staff was punched by a Saracens rugby player.
The pair missed the second Test against the Black Caps while the incident was investigated, and were ultimately cleared of wrongdoing. After he returned for the third Test, Stokes announced midway through the match at Trent Bridge it would be his last for England.
Root said: “Ultimately, you’re grown adults, you know what it takes to play for England, you know what your responsibilities are off the field and we need to make sure we don’t find ourselves with any of those situations, off the field, to manage.
“We should be known for how we play our cricket and what we do on the field. We should be on the back page of the papers, and people reading about that sort of stuff. So, that’s as much as I’ve got to say on it.
“Let’s be adults. Look after yourselves, look after each other, create a good, strong culture where you know the right time is to celebrate and enjoy a win, or to have a sensible beer or whatever. And remember you’re playing for England.”
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board added: “We have a Test captain and coach, who are looking at how they set team standards and culture.
“As part of this, the curfew will no longer be in place. We will ensure all players have a clear understanding of expectations when they come together for the upcoming Test series.”
The removal of the curfew is a partial U-turn on behavioural guidelines that were issued last month and also recommended no alcohol be consumed on the day immediately before, during or on the day immediately after a match.
If players do choose to drink in the period before, during or after matches, it should not be in public.
They have also been strongly discouraged from drinking in private, in order to aid preparation, recovery and professionalism.
The guidelines apply only to the England senior men’s teams. All other England sides – the women, Lions and age-group teams – have their own rules. England women do not have formal rules on alcohol.
Last week, Stokes denied the England team has a problem with alcohol, but instead said “cricket has a drinking culture and that has not changed”.
Sports
Ex-Disney head Bob Iger partners with Josh Kushner to buy Los Angeles Lakers for a staggering $12.5 billion
Billionaire Mark Walter is reportedly selling the Los Angeles Lakers to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner for a record-breaking $12.5 billion.
“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss,” Kushner and Iger told ESPN in a statement Wednesday. “Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”
The shocking sale comes just one year after Walker acquired a controlling stake in the Lakers from the Buss family.
“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter, who purchased the franchise just last year, said in a statement to ESPN. “I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”
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