ESPN Deal Puts $345 Million Behind 24-Team Playoff Plan
IRVING, Texas — College football's postseason is one step closer to doubling in size. The College Football Playoff and its longtime television partner have reached an informal, handshake agreement on money for a 24-team bracket, though formal votes and signatures are still needed before anything is official. Under the terms reported Friday, the network would
Spanish Club Zaragoza Contests Thunder Rookie Aday Mara
OKLAHOMA CITY — Days before his NBA debut, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Aday Mara is caught in a tug-of-war with the Spanish club where his pro career began. Basket Zaragoza issued a statement Friday insisting the 7-foot-3 center still has a valid contract with the club for the 2026-27 season. The club said no request
Brewers Pennant Run Adds Twist to MLB Salary Cap Fight
LOS ANGELES — Milwaukee's four-game demolition of the two-time defending champion Dodgers settled the National League pennant. Whether it settles anything in baseball's looming labor showdown is a far more open question. Owners want a hard salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement, and the players union has long refused any version of one.
Timberwolves Add LaMelo Ball in Bid to Crash NBA Parity Era
MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA has crowned a different champion in each of the last eight seasons, and the Minnesota Timberwolves enter 2026-27 convinced they are next in line. The streak runs from Toronto in 2019 through the Lakers, Milwaukee, Golden State, Denver, Boston and Oklahoma City to New York, which ended a 53-year wait for
Sean Payton Kiss on Charissa Thompson Sparks Fan Buzz
SEATTLE — A pregame chat between Denver coach Sean Payton and a familiar face from his television days became one of the most talked-about moments of Thursday night, and it had nothing to do with football. As Charissa Thompson, the studio host for the Thursday night streaming broadcast, wrapped up her interview with Payton before
NBA GMs Tab Spurs as Title Pick, Wembanyama for MVP
NEW YORK — The people who build NBA rosters see the 2026-27 season running through San Antonio. In the league's 25th annual survey of general managers, released Thursday, half of the voters picked the Spurs to win the championship. Oklahoma City, the choice of 80% a year ago, drew 43%, and the Knicks and 76ers
Porzingis Still Sidelined With Unspecified Health Issue
SAN FRANCISCO — Kristaps Porzingis remains unavailable for Golden State with no return date after missing camp and the entire exhibition slate, then resurfacing at the team building this week. Club officials said Wednesday the 7-foot-3 big man is still dealing with the same undisclosed health situation and will stay around the roster while he
NBA Tightens Flopping Calls for New Season
NEW YORK — League referees are putting flopping at the top of the 2026-27 enforcement list, and a preseason whistle on Knicks guard Jalen Brunson showed how quickly the standard can bite. During a Madison Square Garden exhibition on Oct. 12 against Minnesota, Brunson took a shove in the back from Rudy Gobert, stumbled, braced
SNU Safety Tyler Ulrich Dies After On-Field Injury
BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene University announced Thursday the death of Crimson Storm safety Tyler Ulrich, a week after he left an away game on a stretcher, and scrubbed this weekend trip to Southwestern Oklahoma State. Ulrich was 21. He went down Saturday in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, while Southern Nazarene fell 49-14 to Ouachita Baptist. Officials
Brewers Sweep Dodgers, Reach World Series
LOS ANGELES — Milwaukee finished off Los Angeles, the two-time reigning World Series champs, on Thursday night, taking National League Championship Series Game 4 by a 6-4 score at Dodger Stadium and completing a four-game sweep that sends the franchise back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982. Los Angeles jumped ahead