Ohio State and Notre Dame joined the ranks of schools with corporate jersey sponsors on Tuesday.Ohio State announced a deal with Chase Bank worth up to a reported $17 million. Chase's logo will be on the jerseys of all Ohio State sports teams starting with the 2026-27 season.Not long after Ohio State's deal was announced, Notre Dame said that it had made a deal with SoFi to have a patch on the Fighting Irish's football jerseys next season and beyond. According to Yahoo Sports Ross Dellenger, that deal is worth between $18-20 million per year.Notre Dame has partnered with SoFi as its official jersey patch sponsor.The six-year deal with SoFi is expected to be the most valuable jersey sponsorship deal in college athletics history at an average of $18-20 million annually, sources tell @YahooSports. pic.twitter.com/01R6I2XCBx Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 28, 2026The deals come as schools are looking in ever-increasing directions for revenue in the NIL era. After the NCAA allowed schools to sell logo space on fields and courts, the governing body gave athletic departments the green light to sell jersey space starting with the 2026 football season.Beginning Aug. 1, teams are "permitted up to two additional commercial logos on their uniforms and apparel and one additional commercial logo on equipment during the preseason and regular season, with an additional commercial logo on uniforms and apparel for conference championships." The patches cannot be bigger than four square inches.That means schools in the Big 12 will be able to have an additional patch along with the Monster Energy logo. The conference announced this summer that it had signed a reported $20 million deal with the energy drink company that included a jersey patch for each school.The language of the NCAA's rules means leagues can and will sell space on team equipment and apparel for championship games and conference tournaments.It also means that the revenue gap between the biggest and smallest athletic departments in Division I will only keep growing. Simple supply and demand dictates that schools like Ohio State and Notre Dame will be able to command far more money for jersey patch deals than teams in Conference USA or the MAC.

College sports marketing company Learfield saw a 123% increase in female athlete participation in name, image and likeness compensation activities over the 2025-26 fiscal year, the company revealed in a report released Tuesday.Solly Fulp, Learfields head of NIL, doesnt think the rapid surge is a coincidence.What were discovering with female student-athletes and their engagement with our brands is theyre excellent content creators and storytellers, theyre generally social media savvy and they have a genuine brand enthusiasm, Fulp said.Since the NCAA approved NIL compensation in July 2021, high revenue-generating sports like football and basketball have topped the list of earners. Five years later, womens sports are beginning to close the gap, with womens basketball ranking third in all sports and softball creeping into the top five behind baseball.Its not just an emerging market now its accelerating," Fulp said. It's awesome for us to see when it comes to not just the focus being on football, mens basketball and the revenue sports, but seeing the Olympic sports really step front and center.Female athlete engagement in NIL activities more than doubled in 2026, growing from 2,136 to 4,772.Brands most frequently partnered with athletes through production shoots, social media content, ambassador programs, public appearances and autograph sessions. Restaurants led all sponsor categories, followed by financial services, health care and business and professional services.Twenty-two national brands struck deals with college athletes over the fiscal year, including Geico, SeatGeek, State Farm, EA Sports, Uber, AT&T and Marriott. More than 260 athletes across 69 schools were featured in national campaigns.Fulp said the return on investment is high for all parties when athletes pursue deals catered to their specific passions and interests.The authenticity is coming out in the content and storytelling that they provide in these campaigns ... it humanizes the partnership and provides that deeper connection," Fulp said. "The brands are definitely seeing the benefits with the engagement rates related to those campaigns.___AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

Sassuolo agreement for Bowie in 10m deal, Mulattieri to VeronaSassuolo have reached a basic agreement with Verona for Scotland international striker Kieron Bowie, on loan with option to buy for 10m, with Samuele Mulattieri going the other way.BOLOGNA, ITALY MARCH 08: Kieron Bowie of Hellas Verona scores his teams second goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Hellas Verona FC at Renato DallAra Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedull maintains todays discussions bridged the remaining gaps between the clubs and they are well on the way to completing this move.It will see Bowie remain in Serie A, where he impressed in the six months since leaving Hibernian for 6m in January.Bowie set for Sassuolo transferBOLOGNA, ITALY MARCH 08: Kieron Bowie of Hellas Verona celebrates scoring his teams second goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Hellas Verona FC at Renato DallAra Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)Although unable to turn around a dire campaign that saw the team relegated, he still contributed four goals and one assist in 14 games.This is set to be a loan with option to buy that can become an obligation if certain conditions are met, for a total fee of 10m.At the same time, Sassuolo will also loan 25-year-old striker Mulattieri to Verona after last seasons experience at Deportivo La Coruna.Bowie will turn 24 in September and is a Scotland international with two senior caps.He had also been pursued by Cagliari in Serie A and Celtic in his homeland, but Sassuolo were the more determined team.

Manchester City confirm 28-man travelling squad for pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South KoreaManchester City will travel to east Asia for Enzo Marescas first games in charge as managerSome players remain on holiday after a gruelling FIFA World Cup campaign in North AmericaCity face Inter, K-League All Stars XI & Atletico Madrid before Arsenal in the Community ShieldManchester City are set to travel to east Asia with a stronger-than-expected squad as Enzo Maresca takes charge of his first pre-season tour as manager.The 46-year-old has been working with an initial group at the City Football Academy since pre-season training began on 20 July, with the extended rest periods required for World Cup participants from four nations shaping the composition of the squad available for the trip considerably.It was reported earlier this week that City players from England, Norway, Spain and France will not travel to Asia, with those nations deep runs including Spains World Cup triumph and Englands third-place finish pushing return dates for several key figures into mid-August at the earliest.Manchester City stars from four FIFA World Cup participant nations set to miss pre-season tourCity are required to give players a minimum of three weeks rest following their individual exit from the tournament, a period the club has extended to four weeks for most of those involved, meaning the touring squad reflects a carefully managed balance between preparation and player welfare.The result is a travelling party that carries more genuine first-team quality than the volume of World Cup absentees might suggest, with a group of senior internationals who exited the tournament at the Round of 32 having returned in time to make the trip east alongside a core of players who had no involvement at the World Cup at all.Man Citys east Asia 28-man tour squad by positionGoalkeepersDonnarumma, Bettinelli, Chabot, Wint.DefendersLewis, Henderson-Hall, Alleyne, Khusanov, Reis, Mfuni, Gvardiol, Braithwaite, Ait-Nouri.MidfieldersNico, Kovacic, Reijnders, Parker, Samba, Heskey, Mukasa, McAidoo, Echeverri, Foden.ForwardsSemenyo, Savinho, Sangare, Mubama, Monga.Enzo Marescas pre-season outlook on Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips ahead of Man City east Asia tourWhat does the east Asia tour mean for Enzo Maresca and Manchester City?The three fixtures against Inter in Hong Kong on 1 August, K-League All Stars XI in Seoul on 5 August and Atletico Madrid on 9 August provide Maresca with competitive opposition at a stage of pre-season where tactical coherence matters more than results, with the manager having spoken publicly about focusing on the day-to-day rather than the final destination.The composition of the touring party gives Maresca a different kind of challenge from the one he will face once the full group returns from the World Cup in August managing a blend of senior players, fringe figures and development talent.The return of Citys core internationals upon landing back in England will mark the real beginning of Marescas pre-season, with the Community Shield against Arsenal on 16 August and the Premier League opener against Bournemouth on 23 August coming into sharper focus once the groundwork laid in Asia has been assessed and built upon.For director of football Hugo Viana, the tour also provides a window to observe players in competitive conditions as outstanding transfer business continues across both incoming and outgoing fronts before the window closes and the new season begins in earnest at the Etihad Stadium.

The NFL offseason is at last coming to an end, and Philadelphia Eagles fans finally have something to look forward to: training camp.The Eagles, along with 26 other teams across the league, began training camp July 28 and are campaigning to win the NFC East for the third season in a row, a milestone that hasn't happened in the division since they last accomplished it between 2001 and 2004.Along with that, the Eagles will look to make their third Super Bowl appearance under head coach Nick Siriani after being eliminated in the Wild Card round last season by the San Franciso 49ers.More: Ranking Eagles' 6 top training camp battles. Why safety is not No. 1From position battles to the installation of a new offense, this year's training camp is integral if the organization hopes to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the third time in team history.When are the Eagles practicing? Players reported July 28 for training camp, and while there are some practices of note, these sessions are generally closed to the public. The first day of practice is July 29, and practices are to run through Aug. 25, when the team hosts its lone public practice at Lincoln Financial Field.The public practice at The Linc is to begin at 6 p.m., and fans will be able to watch the team live, receive autographs from alumni and current players, and participate in family-oriented activities. Tickets for the practice are $15.40 and are to benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation.Ahead of their final preseason game against the New England Patriots, the two teams are to have joint practices together Aug. 19-20, when they should see a familiar face in A.J. Brown. Eight days after their preseason match against the reigning AFC champions, the Eagles are required to trim their roster down to 53 players.Eagles position battlesWho wins the WR2 job?The past few years, the Eagles had a double-headed monster of pass catchers between A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, but the door has opened for a new receiving threat to rise up the ranks.With the 20th pick in this year's draft, Howie Roseman, the general manager, invested in the wide receiver room by selecting Makai Lemon out of USC. Even though Brown was still on the team, it was well documented the team was looking to trade him.During his three seasons with the Trojans, Lemon accumulated more than 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns, with the majority of his production coming during his junior season before declaring for the NFL draft. In 2025, he recorded 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, which contributed to him winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award as college football's best wide receiver.Lemon's primary competition may be Dontayvion Wicks, who Roseman traded for and extended through the 2027 season in April. Wicks spent the entirety of his three-season career with the Green Bay Packers, where he accumulated 1,328 yards and 11 touchdowns.Wicks may have an advantage, having familiarity with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who was the Packers' quarterbacks coach last season and was an offensive assistant in 2024. A slow start could be an early hurdle for a team's playoff hopes, which could give an experienced veteran player such as Wicks an advantage.While it will still be a battle for who has more production and looks from quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver is not a concrete position such as offensive line where one player will get all the snaps. At USC, Lemon took the majority of his snaps from the slot, and Wicks has experience both on the boundary and the slot.Who will emerge as the starting safety?Unlike the wide receiver competition, both Marcus Epps and Michael Carter were on the Eagles last season, but only one will start next to 2025 second-round pick Andrew Mukuba. Despite the fact Mukuba broke his leg late last season, all signs point to him starting week one against the Washington Commanders.Epps is the more experienced option of the two, having appeared in 94 games across seven seasons, including a previous stint in Philly from 2019 to 2021. Over his career, Epps has registered three interceptions, 224 solo tackles and 11 tackles for a loss.In 12 games with the Eagles last season, Epps did not come away with a turnover, only recorded one tackle for a loss and had 18 solo tackles. Of those games, he only started in four of them when he took over for Mukuba towards the end of the season.Carter, acquired last season from the New York Jets, has traditionally played slot corner, but with Cooper DeJean in firm control of that job, a position transition could present a unique opportunity for Carter. In eight games with the Birds in 2025, Carter came away with three solo tackles and seven assisted tackles but not much else during his time in the City of Brotherly Love. While the second safety position may not seem that important, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio heavily relies on his safeties in his two-high safety shell defense.Who will back up Jalen Hurts?The Eagles have been fortunate that Jalen Hurts has not missed a game because of injury since the 2024 season. That doesn't mean they can't be prepared in case he does suffer an injury.The two competing for this spot are 15-year veteran Andy Dalton and 2024 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee, who could not be at more different spots in their careers. While Dalton has started in 169 games, McKee only has two under his belt.Dalton made a name for himself as the starter for the Cincinnati Bengals for nine years, but has played for four teams over the last six years. During that time he has made 36 starts, but only made one last year with the Carolina Panthers.McKee, while a small sample size, has performed admirably when he has gotten on the field in the NFL. Through six appearances, he has thrown for 597 yards and five touchdowns and only has one interception. Traditionally in these situations, the veteran quarterback gets the leg up, but in 2025, the Eagles carried three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster and could do so once again.This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: What to know about Philadelphia Eagles training camp, position battles

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Fans wait out a rain delay before the game was eventually postponed before the first inning between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 15, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesTonights game at Citi Field has been postponed. In anticipation of rain in Flushing this evening, the Mets and Braves will now play a split doubleheader tomorrow, July 29.The first game will start at its previously scheduled time, 1:10 PM ET. Parking lots will open at 10:40 AM ET, and the gates will open at 11:40 AM ET. If you are wondering about the giveaway, the first 5,000 children will receive a Mr. and Mrs. Met Play-Doh set.Game two will now start at 7:10 PM ET. Gates will not open for game two before 6:10 PM. If you previously paid for a ticket for tonights game (July 28), that ticket will be honored for the 7:10 PM game tomorrow night. The first 15,000 fans will still receive the Mr. Met on Deck Plush Doll. Prepaid parking will be honored alongside admission to the game.If you are not able to attend the rescheduled game, digital vouchers and digital parking vouchers will be issued after game two as explained here.Christian Scott and Chris Sale were supposed to face off this evening, and presumably will do so tomorrow evening instead. Sean Manaea and Grant Holmes are still listed as probably pitchers for the day game. The Mets will be looking to piggyback off their strong offensive showing on Monday night, and the Braves should have some relief pitching that is well rested in time for the back-to-back outings.

Veterans report to training camp for the Atlanta Falcons today and the team will hold their first practice tomorrow at Flowery Branch. That brings us one step closer to the beginning of the 2026 NFL season, marking a new chapter and a new beginning for the organization.Fans have every right to be skeptical about the changes the Falcons made this offseason, which were mostly of the front office variety. While the team did little to upgrade the roster, Atlanta was able to get contract extensions done with both Drake London and Kyle Pitts.That being said, nobody should confuse this team for a heavyweight contender. Thanks in large part to their uncertain quarterback situation, Atlanta has been getting low rankings all offseason. This trend continued in a new batch from The Athletic. Falcons beat writer Josh Kendall listed Atlanta at No. 24 in his pre-training camp power rankings. "Owner Arthur Blank wanted Matt Ryan back so badly that he invented a position for him, and the franchises all-time leading passer is now the royally titled president of football (notfootball operations, justfootball). Ryans first two decrees were hiring veteran head coach Kevin Stefanski and first-time general manager Ian Cunningham. The trio now has to break the leagues second-longest active streak of not making the postseason (eight years)."The Falcons are definitely more talented on paper than several teams ranked ahead of them. However, it's difficult to argue they should be ranked much higher given the pair of question marks in their backfield.Atlanta could be a very dangerous dark-horse team in the NFC, but only if Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. play well enough for that to happen. Tagovailoa was benched and later released by the Dolphins, while Penix is still working his way back from an ACL injury.If head coach Kevin Stefanski can get either player to effectively run his offense, the Falcons have enough talent on both sides of the ball to make some noise in 2026.This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Where do the Falcons belong in pre-training camp NFL power rankings?

Detroit Barring any unforeseen, last-second snag, Javier Bez is back.Im anticipating him being available to us today in the big leagues, manager AJ Hinch said on his weekly segment on MLB Radio.Bez, 33, hasnt played since severely spraining his ankle ducking and half-sliding trying to avoid a tag at first base in the Tigers 5-2 loss at Atlanta on April 28.I dont know how I didnt break it, Bez said that night after preliminary imaging showed no fracture.But it was a high-ankle sprain and the recovery process was slow. After having to be shut down from baseball activity for a stretch last month, hes been on a fast track back. He made two rehab starts at Low-A Lakeland before being transferred to Triple-A Toledo over the weekend.All he did there was go 5 for 8 with three doubles in two games, playing six innings at shortstop and six innings in center field.With the Tigers taking a three-game losing streak into the game against the Orioles on Tuesday, its a good time to add a jolt of El Mago.Hes always had an immense impact on our whole vibe, Hinch said Saturday. Hes an energy-provider, somebody you look forward to every day. And from a managers perpective, I can move him around the field and he does incredible things on the field. His impact is felt from the minute he walks through the door all the way to the end of the game.You never know what hes going to bring that day that is going to spark you.The Tigers have yet to announce a corresponding move to get Bez back on both the active and 40-man rosters. Center fielder James Outman is a likely candidate. Hes been a valuable boost to the outfield, defensively, but he continues to struggle at the plate.The Tigers have gone 20-13 since they acquired Outman from the Twins, but despite hitting four homers, hes slashing .157/.202/.315 with 41 strikeouts in 94 plate appearances.He is out of minor-league options, so he would have to be designated for assignment. Seeing Javy healthy is awesome, Hinch said. Seeing him truly back to being on this team will be great. I love Javy and I always have. He is someone weve missed, just day to day.This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.Tigers vs. Orioles First pitch: 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, Comerica Park, Detroit TV/radio: Detroit Sports Net/97.1 FMScouting report LHP Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.17), Orioles: The Tigers beat him at Camden Yards on May 23, but he has been on a heater. The Orioles are 5-2 in his last seven starts and hes allowed just seven earned runs in 43.2 innings (1.44 ERA). In that stretch, he blanked the Dodgers on one hit over seven innings, allowed a run in six innings to the Cubs, beat the Astros in Houston (one run, 6.1 innings) and limited the Braves to two runs in seven innings. From a funky, 23-degree arm angle, he throws changeups, sweepers, sinkers and cutters off a 93-94 mph four-seamer and hes got a 34.7% chase rate. LHP Tarik Skubal (7-5, 2.70), Tigers: His 12-strikeout performance against the Royals on Friday left him one strikeout short of 1,000 for his career. If this is his final start as a Tiger, hes goinag to leave behind quite a legacy. Two Cy Young awards, two playoff runs, a pitching triple crown, a 61-42 record (34-17 at Comerica Park), 3.04 ERA, 1.014 WHIP, 29% strikeout rate and a 5.4% walk rate. Itll be a while before we see the likes of him again.Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com@cmccoskyThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers expecting Javier Bez to be active, available vs. Orioles