Bye weeks give a college football team a chance to regroup, get healthy, and refine its game plan.

Ideally, the extra time increases the odds of winning the next contest. Historically, it has for about half of the teams in the West.

The table below shows the wins, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs after a bye week over the last 20 seasons.

Boise State leads the way, followed by Oregon, USC, Utah, and BYU.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino‘s re-election bid, becoming the first football association to do so.

The decision follows his controversial, bungled attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

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Infantino, whose decade-long reign faces increasing scrutiny, announced on Friday night that he was shelving the widely-denounced plan, which had been rejected by three confederations after first being revealed earlier in the week.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has since stated Infantino is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa, while the Football Association (FA) called for a “full and robust review” into his leadership.

In a statement, the FAW confirmed: “The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, for re-election as Fifa president for the 2027–2031 term.”

The association cited “recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement” as reasons.

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It added: “Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football. Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”

Wales withdrawing its support for Infantino comes after Uefa, European football’s governing body, declared a loss of confidence in the Fifa boss on Saturday.

A statement read: “The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” it said.

Uefa quoted a speech Infantino made when he came to power a decade ago in a lengthy statement outlining its position. The statement “welcomed” the decision to cancel the scheme, adding: “The proposal was unanimously rejected by Uefa’s national associations and by many other federations and confederations of all sizes around the world, whose job it is to protect football.

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“Uefa thanks all the fans, leagues, clubs, players, individuals, associations and confederations that opposed the scheme, alongside the many Prime Ministers, Heads of State and commentators who have demonstrated to the Fifa President that football is not for sale.”

Concacaf and the AFC also criticised the proposals, pitting a significant number of Fifa’s member associations in direct opposition to the governing body.

The English FA released a statement later on Saturday that also questioned Fifa’s leadership, writing: “We fully support Uefa’s position. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart.”

Infantino is due to stand for re-election in March next year.

Nash Rawiller put on a front-running clinic, guiding Run Harry Run to a determined win in the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The champion jockey masterfully controlled the pace of the Lindsay Park galloper, extracting crucial efforts from the gelding to hold off a late challenge from Narbold.

After leading throughout, Run Harry Run, the $3 favourite, faced a stern test when Williamsburg ($16) drew alongside in the straight. The favourite responded admirably under Rawiller’s guidance, finding another length to deny the closing Narbold ($6) by a half-head. Williamsburg finished a further three-quarters of a length behind in third.

Rawiller expressed his confidence in the horse’s finishing ability, despite some pre-race concerns about the 1500-metre distance.

“I knew I still had a kick,” Rawiller said.

“They (connections) were a touch worried with the 1500 that he could be a touch vulnerable. I just tried to travel in a beautiful rhythm. I wanted to go for him flat out when I wanted to, and thankfully he dug deep when he needed to.

“He came up in great order. The way the track is racing probably helped me a touch. Apart from jumping on his Melbourne leg on the corner post, he did everything spot-on.”

Lindsay Park racing manager Anthony Feroce attributed the victory to Rawiller’s exceptional ride.

“He’s a horse that has never run a really strong 1500, and I mentioned that to him before the race. I think he kept that in mind. It was a great ride,” Feroce commented.

The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Run Harry Run added another metropolitan success to his record, while providing Rawiller with a riding double at the Rosehill meeting.

The accomplished hoop had earlier partnered Matthew Dunn-trained Wayburn to victory in the Highway Handicap (1200m).

Bet on the upcoming races with the best racing betting markets available.

Tony Bellew has outlined the distinction between “world-class” and “elite-level”, believing just two British legends fall into the latter category.

While winning a major title should, in theory, mean guaranteed world-class status, it often depends on whether that particular fighter has crafted a world-class resume.

Likewise, an elite-level fighter must consistently prove themselves against top-class opposition in order to be immortalised as one of the all-time greats.

With that in mind, Bellew has named Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk and Canelo Alvarez as three of boxing’s elite-level operators in recent years, providing an idea of what it takes to reach such a lofty standard.

In terms of British fighters, meanwhile, the former world cruiserweight champion believes that only Lennox Lewis and Joe Calzaghe qualify for this exclusive club.

By dethroning Evander Holyfield in 1999, Lewis became the undisputed heavyweight champion and ultimately defeated every man he fought.

Similarly, Calzaghe ended his career as an unbeaten former world champion, having made a super-middleweight record of 21 consecutive title defences.

Bellew has therefore told Fight Your Corner that these two Hall of Famers deserve to be regarded as elite-level icons.

“There’s world-class fighters and then there’s elite-level fighters. There’s very few elite-level fighters. I think this country’s produced two in Calzaghe and Lennox Lewis.

“Naseem Hamed is possibly [elite-level], but his resume doesn’t really stack up. I’m talking elite-level fighters – fighters who’ve got the chin, who can adapt in fights.”

While not quite joining Bellew’s group of elite-level fighters, Hamed nonetheless made 15 consecutive featherweight title defences before losing to fellow Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera.

Jamshedpur FC players, including two senior India footballers, made an emotional appeal to club owners Tata Group to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the Indian Super League (ISL) and dismantle the senior team. Jamshedpur FC announced on Friday that it was pulling out of the ISL, just hours after missing the deadline to pay the participation fee for the upcoming season, which begins September 4. It also decided to wind up the first team. “It was a shocking news for me. I didn’t expect the Tata Group to make such a decision. It is my humble request that they change their decision and participate in the ISL. Because this is a huge platform for an entire generation,” midfielder Pronay Halder told PTI on Monday.

“I have many memories (of the club). For me, Jamshedpur FC is honestly an emotion. I hope that the heads of Tata Steel and Tata Group will reconsider and change their decision,” said Halder, who has played for India in more than 20 matches.

The 33-year-old Halder said he has been associated with JFC as a player since the club won the League Winner’s Shield Trophy in the 2021-22 ISL season. Before spending six years at JFC, he was playing for the Tata Football Academy.

“For example, Nikhil Barla, Puya, Albino Gomes, Mohamed Sanan, they have recently made the national senior team in London (for Unity Cup). You can see that a lot of young players, under-19s, under-22s, step-by-step, this is a huge opportunity for the senior level. This is my hope, my 100% belief,” he observed.

Goalkeeper Albino Gomes, who has played for India in one match, fully agreed with Halder.

“Shutting down this club means, I can’t digest it. I just want to appeal to the Tata group to reconsider their decision. Because this isn’t about one year or two years, it’s about the future of Indian football,” said the 32-year-old who came in as substitute for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in an international friendly against Tajikistan in June.

“Because a lot of young players are looking forward to this group, to this club. And everyone dreams of playing for Jamshedpur because they have good facilities. They have everything. They are one of the best in India. You just have to come and play. That’s it,” he said.

“I never thought that Jamshedpur FC would shut down so easily. All the players were completely shocked.” Gomes was also in the India squad for the Unity Cup in London in May.

“I came at JFC two years ago. This club gave me an opportunity to return to Indian football. I was recovering from an injury, and they helped me a lot. And they gave me this opportunity and I made my debut for India. I am really grateful to this club,” he pointed out.

Joining the chorus, young JFC midfielder Nikhil Barla, who graduated to the ranks from TFA, said: “Personally and emotionally, I am feeling very disturbed. I would like to appeal to the Tata Group, the head of Tata Steel, to think about the decisions they have taken and the future of the young players.

“Whatever I am, it is because of Jamshedpur FC and TFA. I am a local player. This is my request and I believe the Tata Group to do something good.

“The club you are watching and supporting from the beginning and playing for it, to see a dream club (winding up) is a heart-breaking moment for me,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Spain’s Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace

Wales have become the first nation to publicly withdraw backing for Gianni Infantino’s bid to continue his leadership of Fifa.

It follows the loss of confidence in the Fifa president following his scrapped plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private investment firms.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has confirmed “its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino for re-election as Fifa president for the 2027-2031 term”.

Infantino’s lucrative plan sparked a global outcry, with European football’s governing body Uefa threatening to boycott all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup.

Uefa and Concacaf – which which oversees football in North, Central America and the Caribbean – both released statements on Saturday criticising the leadership of the world governing body following Infantino’s decision to withdraw the plan.

The FAW added: “The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football.

“Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”

Celtic get their SPFL title defence underway this evening as they host Dundee FC, and look to capitalise on Rangers’ Friday night draw to give themselves an early lead in the title picture.

The Hoops have won the last five consecutive SPFL titles and will be hoping to get this year’s defence off to the perfect start despite plenty of outgoings this Summer, including last season’s star striker Daizen Maeda, who has joined Ipswich Town. Maeda scored the goal that ultimately won Celtic the league back in May, in their final day shootout with Hearts at Celtic Park. Martin O’Neill will also be without Liam Scales, Jota, and Benjamin Nygren for this one due to injury and suspension.

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Dundee, meanwhile, have reestablished themselves in the top flight over the last three seasons with consistent mid-table finishes, including an 8th-place finish last term. The Dee have already played four competitive games this season, escaping their Premier Sports Cup group in second place behind Ross County, thanks to wins over Airdrieonians, Annan Athletic and Clyde. Steven Pressley’s men will now take on Aberdeen in the Round of 16 in 12 days’ time.

O’Neill’s Celtic side are winless in pre-season, having drawn with Shelbourne, Middlesbrough and AC Milan as well as suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sporting Lisbon.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30pm BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

San Antonio Spurs basketball player Victor Wembanyama looks on as he takes part in a free skills clinic during the inauguration of a newly refurbished basketball court at the Complexe Sportif Paul Vaillant-Couturier in Nanterre, a northwestern suburb of Paris, on July 30, 2026. (Photo by Guillaume BAPTISTE / AFP)

French NBA star Victor Wembanyama has agreed to a contract extension with Nike that will include his own signature shoe, according to multiple reports on Friday.

ESPN and The Athletic, citing unnamed sources, reported the 22-year-old 7-foot-4 (2.24m) center for the San Antonio Spurs will extend a deal that expires in October, but there were no details except ESPN reported sources calling it a “long-term” contract.

The game looks different from here. pic.twitter.com/AVHEztAvHZ

— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) July 31, 2026

The move comes on the heels of Wembanyama signing a five-year maximum rookie contract extension worth $252 million with the Spurs in early July.

A video released by Nike and Wembanyama on Instagram showed an outer space explosion setting up a “VW” logo with the shape of an alien head.

READ: NBA 2K27 covers feature Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, Derrick Rose

“We are proud to continue supporting Victor Wembanyama’s journey with Nike,” Nike said in a statement to The Athletic.

“As one of the most unique and influential athletes in the world, Victor is a generational talent who continues to inspire the game’s next generation. We are excited about all that we’ve built together and look forward to more wins ahead.”

Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was last season’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year, topping the league in blocked shots for a third consecutive campaign.

In his first playoff appearance, Wembanyama powered the Spurs into the NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks.

Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and A’ja Wilson have often been mentioned in the “face of the WNBA” debates.

Last month, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the discourse, claiming that the title couldn’t belong to Clark or any one player yet.

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On Sunday, former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant introduced an unexpected name into the discussion.

Dez Bryant Bypasses Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese in Naming WNBA’s Biggest Star

The “face of the WNBA” discussion picked up steam in mid-July when the Los Angeles Lakers icon wrote on Substack that such a title should only be given to a player who has the “on-court and cross-platform dominance of a Michael Jordan or a LeBron James.” The Hall of Famer added that until that baseline is met, the recognition can’t be given to one player.

Former NFL star Robert Griffin III pushed back against Abdul-Jabbar’s claim. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner contended that Clark should have that honor since she is the WNBA’s biggest draw.

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On Sunday, Griffin praised Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles for her dazzling display against no less than the Indiana Fever superstar, prompting Bryant to make a bold claim.

“The Face of the WNBA!” Bryant tweeted.