It's almost August, which means high school football season is officially around the corner.To celebrate the start, ESPN has announced the return of its ESPN High School Football Kickoff, a seven-game slate featuring elite matchups between some of the nation's top programs. Eight of the participating teams are ranked in the USA TODAY Sports preseason Super 25 national high school football rankings, including No. 3 Bishop Gorman and No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas. The games will air on ESPN networks throughout the first two weeks of the high school football season. Here's a complete look at the ESPN High School Football Kickoff schedule: No. 18 Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) at No. 13 Baylor School (Tenn.)When: Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. ETWhere: Chattanooga, Tenn.How to watch: ESPN2 Battle Ground Academy (Tenn.) at St. Michael Catholic (Ala.)When: Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. ETWhere: Fairhope, Ala.How to watch: ESPN 2Gainesville (Ga.) at No. 11 Buford (Ga.)When: Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. ETWhere: Buford, Ga.How to watch: ESPN2St. Joseph Regional (NJ) at No. 24 Mount Carmel (IL)When: Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ETWhere: Chicago, Ill.How to watch: ESPNSeven games. Ten days. 33 SC Next 300 ranked athletes.The full ESPN HS Kickoff schedule is set and begins August 20th More info: https://t.co/79gm3WKNqDpic.twitter.com/v95rN2O3rw SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 30, 2026No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) vs. Christopher Columbus (Fla.)When: Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. ETWhere: Broward County National Football Showcase in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. How to watch: ESPN2DeSoto (Texas) at No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)When: Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. ETWhere: Broward County National Football Showcase in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.How to watch: ESPN2No. 22 Chandler (Ariz.) at No. 8 Basha (Ariz.)When: Aug. 29 at 10:30 p.m. ETWhere: Chandler, Ariz.How to watch: ESPNThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eight Super 25 teams headline ESPN's 2026 High School Football Kickoff

The San Antonio Spurs and SAFC are giving fans a chance to win tickets, on-field access and exclusive merchandise for Spurs Night on Aug. 15. (San Antonio FC ) San Antonio Spurs and San AntonioFC fans have a chance to win an exclusive game-day experience as the two teams partner for Spurs Night at SAFC.The Spurs announced the "Spurs Night @SAFC Sweepstakes," presented by Community First Health Plans, which offers fans a chance to win a VIP prize package for San Antonio FC's Aug. 15 match against El Paso Locomotive FC.Have that SA Pride? Celebrate Spurs Night at SAFC and enter to win the ultimate SA sports experience including (4) match tickets, (4) on-field experience spots, and a Spurs + SAFC merch bundle.Enter the Spurs Night @ SAFC Sweepstakes #Sponsored by @CFHealthPlans below! pic.twitter.com/89XaOTu184- San Antonio FC (@SanAntonioFC) July 29, 2026ALSO READ:San Antonio FC holds on in second half to take down Brooklyn FCThe grand prize includes: Four tickets to San Antonio FC's Aug. 15 match against El Paso Locomotive FC. Four on-field experience passes. A Spurs and San Antonio FC merchandise bundle.Fans can enter through the link shared on the Spurs' social media channels, To enter the sweepstakes, sign up here.The promotion celebrates San Antonio's shared sports culture, encouraging fans to "kick it with the Spurs atSAFC" while supporting both hometown teams.SubscribeTheres more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25.This article originally published at Spurs, San Antonio FC launch sweepstakes for exclusive Spurs Night experience next month.

Deion Sanders has words with Browns' Todd Monken about Shedeur Sanders originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Sanders men seem to always be in the news in the NFL, and Thursday was no exception.Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was in the house, so to say, on Thursday during the Cleveland Browns' highly-anticipated training camp.Deion, who's also, of course, the head football coach of Colorado and father of Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, went to Cleveland and apparently had a few words with head coach Todd Monken.Monken is the Browns' first-year head coach. On Thursday, he told reporters that before practice, he and Deion talked for a bit. He said that the elder Sanders gave him a "little bit of insight" on his son.Deion Sanders talks about his son, Shedeur Sanders"It was really cool," Monken said, according to ESPN. "Deion Sanders, you kidding me? Forget that it's Shedeur's dad."Monken added, "I mean, first of all, he did an unbelievable job with Shedeur, great kid. And obviously an elite football player, hell, baseball player. And then as a coach, I mean, wow. Everything that he's achieved, that was awesome."From there, Monken said that Deion gave him a "little bit of insight, but we were up against it. [General manager] Andrew Berry was next, so I had to give him up to Andrew."He said there was some "back-and-forth as to being around Shedeur in terms of how he processes personality-wise. And I think competitive wise, he got into it at the end in terms of what makes him tick, which was good. It was all good. But we've seen that."Monken added that most of what Deion said about his son they've already seen in how he operates. He also said that when the Browns' games kick in, that'll be a "different animal."So, Monken appears already impressed with Shedeur as a man. Now, it's time to see him deliver on the field.More NFL news:Kenneth Walker III question looms over Seahawks amid campBo Nix, Broncos draw bold claim from NFL analyst49ers get wishy-washy projection as training camp heats up

A couple of quiet roster moves at the outset of this weeks series against the Pittsburgh Pirates might have ramifications that ripple into next season for the Cincinnati Reds.That is, assuming there is a season next season and MLB owners dont make the worst business decision since Blockbuster refused to buy 3-year-old Netflix in 2000, and shut down the game over a money-grab obsession with a salary cap.Reds schedule 'Sunday Night Baseball' Cincinnati Reds Aug. 30 game flexed to 'Sunday Night Baseball'Until then, the Reds have reinstalled Matt McLain once considered a part of their competitive foundation at second base after a week at Louisville on a rehab assignment for a calf injury.That follows an extended look at top infield prospect Edwin Arroyo at that position, during a rocky, defensively sloppy, two-month big-league debut.Over the final two months of a lost Reds season, those figure to be two of the players team officials will evaluate most intently after the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline as they look ahead to what team president Nick Krall said will be an effort next year to return to the playoffs.Were gonna let (McLain) play. He needs to play second base. We obviously missed his defense, said manager manager Terry Francona, who watched Arroyo struggle defensively almost nightly at second.We all know we want him to hit better, himself included, but we just dont want him to try to get it all back in one game, Francona added. Just play the game, be scrappy, make all the plays, be a good baserunner. We need to see him play.Thats the thing. McLain was one of six major Reds rookies to debut in 2023 and was their best player for the three months he was on the field that season. But since a shoulder injury in spring training cost him all of 2024, he hasnt come close to showing that kind of offensive production keeping his roster spot largely because of his value as a consistent, plus defender. He even handled center field adeptly as a brief injury fill-in this season.When we sent him out to get his at-bats (on the weeklong rehab assignment), we said, Attack it; dont just go down and rehab, Francona said. By all accounts, he was ultra aggressive in everything he did. I think that will help.If McLain becomes the hitter the Reds thought they had in 2023, that goes a long way toward their competitive plans for 2027 from a much-needed offensive standpoint.The Arroyo experiment also underscored the value of McLains 3-plus-year relationship with shortstop Elly De La Cruz the pairing with Arroyo leading to communication issues, awkward double-play exchanges and near-collisions on balls up the middle (with contact on a few plays).For young kids, the games going fast sometimes, Francona said, adding that the experience should make Arroyo better and using former All-Star outfielder Adam Jones as an example.We faced (Jones) when he was in Seattle, and I remember (with the Red Sox) I dont want to say we knocked the bat out of his hands, but we beat him up, the manager said. Then I looked up about a year or two later, and its like, Gol-ly, thats the same guy? It happens.The Reds middle infield was much tighter with McLain alongside De La Cruz.Weve been doing it together for a long time, and I want to do it with him for a lot longer, McLain said. Weve had a lot of reps together, and I think thats really important.Arroyo, who at one point was considered the top shortstop in the Reds organization, will play second every day at Triple-A Louisville, Francona said.When a kid comes back, a lot of times they look stronger, they look like they belong, they know where theyre going, Francona said. So that will be the hope (with Arroyo).And that also would go a long way toward planning for next year. And Arroyo has the chance to play himself into a finish at the big-league level this year.We told him that he showed the ability to make a really flashy play, Francona said. But we said, On a good team which we aspire to be you hit it to the middle of the field, youre out. Just wanted to give him some things to think about.We want to make whatever hiccups he had here worth (it), to let it help him learn from it. Because we want him to be a really good player.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Matt McLain, Edwin Arroyo roster moves can impact 2027 Reds season

The Cleveland Browns are back, with the official start of training camp on Wednesday as the team prepares for their first preseason game in a couple of weeks. The first day saw Grant Delpit sign a three-year extension with the team, as well as veteran pass rusher and former Brown Jadeveon Clowney visiting with the team, though they didn't agree to any deal yet. The Browns announced ahead of Thursday's practice that the team's top two groundskeepers would be retiring before the start of this season. Chris Powell, the team's Head Groundskeeper, has been with the team for 29 seasons, including the last 27 seasons in his position as head groundskeeper. Scott Springer, the team's Grounds Supervisor, is also retiring after spending 27 seasons working closely with Chris Powell, maintaining both practice fields and the stadium. Chris Powell released this statement after the announcement. "For me, 27 seasons with the new Browns, to be able to do what we do and still want to come in and enjoy the company, enjoy the task at hand it's one of these things where we don't want anything to pop up, but it's the challenge that keeps us going.We'renot just going out and mowing the grass every day. We approach anything that'snot correctand take it as a challenge."This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns top two groundskeepers retiring ahead of 2026 NFL season

The Chargers continued their training camp at The Bolt on Thursday. Throughout the 90-minute session, QB1 made his presence felt in team drills. According to the team's official website, Justin Herbert had a deep sideline completion to running back Keaton Mitchell, then hit wide receiver Quentin Johnston over the middle against double coverage, then it that same area of the field to Tre Harris and Ladd McConkey, and capped it with a deep crosser to rookie Brenen Thompson.Herbert's dominance should come as no surprise, but it is highly encouraging. Over the past few months, he has had to alter his foundational mechanics for new coordinator Mike McDaniel's system, which have included his footwork and stricter rhythm and anticipation.While it's still early, Herbert appears to be playing fast, free, and looks entirely capable of putting together an MVP-caliber campaign in this new-look offense.herbo to ladd will forever hit pic.twitter.com/6Rzy81GvMH Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 30, 2026airing it out pic.twitter.com/HX91HXR9D7 Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 30, 2026This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers training camp Day 2: Justin Herbert dominates practice

Olave is signing a four-year extension worth up to $132 million after earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2025

CHICAGO (AP) The Big Ten appears to be in no hurry to change its status as the only major conference that doesnt require its schools to schedule at least one nonconference game against another Power Four member each year.Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said this week at the Big Ten media days event that any proposed scheduling decisions would have to wait until a final decision comes on playoff expansion. The Big Ten is pushing for a 24-team approach to replace the current 12-team format.Thats fine with many of the conferences coaches and athletic directors.Weve talked a lot about scheduling in our AD room and with our coaches about whats coming next and whats the right way to do things, Petitti said. I will tell you that our focus now is seeing clarity around the playoff and access and how thats going to work before we make the next decision.Scheduling moves by other conferences have left the Big Ten as the lone holdout in this regard. The Big Ten has won the last three national championships, and none of those teams Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana last year played a nonconference regular-season game against a Power Four program.In the past, the Big Ten could point to its nine-game conference schedule as a reason it didn't need to force tougher standards in nonconference scheduling since some other Power Four leagues were only playing eight conference games. That's no longer the case.The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference are adopting nine-game league schedules this year, and the Big 12 already was doing so. Those leagues make their teams have at least one nonconference game against a Power Four team or Notre Dame, though some Big 12 teams are using matchups with Washington State or Oregon State to fill the requirement because those games were scheduled before the previous version of the Pac-12 imploded.Northwesterns David Braun and Nebraskas Matt Rhule said they would welcome a similar requirement, as long as the Big Ten gets its wish regarding postseason expansion.If we go into a 24-team playoff, it makes total sense, Rhule said.While most Big Ten teams regularly schedule at least one nonleague game against a major conference team, there are exceptions.For example, this is the third straight season Indiana hasnt played a nonconference regular-season game against a Power Four team. The Hoosiers host North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky before opening their Big Ten schedule.Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said he could foresee college football eventually making changes that allow for a more uniform scheduling strategy among the leagues.We play whos on the schedule, Cignetti said. I suspect down the road something will happen with scheduling, sort of standardizing scheduling. Youve got two conferences (the Big Ten and SEC) that are head-and-shoulders sort of above the rest right now. I think there will be some standardization."He said it wouldn't surprise him to see it in two or three years.Other Big Ten teams not playing nonconference games against Power Four members or Notre Dame this season include Nebraska, Penn State, Southern California and Washington. This season is just the second time since World War II that USC hasnt faced Notre Dame.Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers and Washington joined Indiana in not scheduling non-Power Four teams last year. New Penn State coach Matt Campbell was asked this week what hed think about the Big Ten requiring teams to do so.Theres been so much going on in our own world that I dont even know if I can give you an educated answer to that from my standpoint of it I still think this landscape is constantly shifting around us, Campbell said. I think as we settle in, maybe Ill have a better answer for that when I know what our landscape is.That reflects the general lack of consensus among Big Ten coaches regarding whether teams should be required to include a Power Four program in their nonconference schedules.Everybodys going to look at it differently, said Minnesota's P.J. Fleck, whose team hosts the SEC's Mississippi State on Sept. 12. I like it because I think playing a team like that prepares you for Big Ten play way earlier.___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

It has only been two practices but there is still plenty of activity from the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp. Here are our big takeaways from Day Two.It's the Roman Wilson showThe top wide receiver on the second day was Roman Wilson. He and Aaron Rodgers seem to have a pretty strong connection and he was targeted heavily by Aaron Rodgers as he battles with rookie Germie Bernard for the slot receiver job.Broderick Jones getting back up to weightJones continued his work and noted that he lost some weight during his recovery from his neck injury. Jones noted he is 300 pounds now but wants to get back up to between 310 and 315 pounds for the season.Keeanu Benton getting a shotNew defensive coordinator Patrick Graham used Keeanu Benton at defensive end on Thursday as opposed to strictly inside at nose like former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin did. This is great news for Benton who could thrive on the edge.The "Steelers Six"Head coach Mike McCarthy is implementing a set of fundamentals he called the "Steelers Six" in hopes of restoring better fundamental football while at the same time, making the team more explosive and dynamic.Joey Porter Jr. is there but not therePorter Jr. continues to be on the PUP list, but on Thursday he did have his jersey on, unlike Wednesday. Video caught Porter strolling around the sidelines during practice.Asante Samuel Jr. pushing for a starting spotCornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is fighting for the starting slot cornerback spot and is taking that position battle very seriously. Samuel made multiple plays and could push Jalen Ramsey back to safety and keep Brandin Echols on the bench.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers training camp: Big takeaways from Day 2

Edit via Liam McGuireESPN formally acquired NFL Network on April 1, and starting July 30 the network is available directly to ESPN subscribers.On Thursday, ESPN announced that NFL Network programming is now available to all ESPN subscribers with access to the Unlimited tier of the ESPN app. That now includes most major cable, satellite, and virtual pay-TV distributors after YouTube TV subscribers gained access to Unlimited earlier this week. It also means that anyone who purchases ESPN Unlimited directly or in one of Disneys bundled streaming offerings can now access NFL Network content at no additional charge.The inclusion of NFL Network within ESPN Unlimited means subscribers will now be able to access NFL Networks seven exclusive regular-season games, five of which are part of the leagues International Series with the other two being a doubleheader in Week 16, directly within the ESPN app. NFL Network will also air 19 preseason games next month, which will also be available along with the channels usual daily live programming likeGood Morning Football andThe Insiders.Thursdays launch marks the final major step in what has been an exceedingly quick merging of operations for ESPN and NFL Network. After the acquisition was announced last summer, several reports indicated the formal combination would take a minimum of one year, but possibly two years, to receive the requisite regulatory approvals. Instead, the deal was approved by federal regulators in February, merely six months after it was announced. By April, NFL Network was under ESPN control. And now, NFL Network has been fully integrated into ESPNs platforms.Whatever the circumstances behind the fast-tracked approval were, ESPN has to be thrilled with the timeline. NFL Network is now fully under its purview and available to ESPN subscribers in the same season ESPN is set to air its first-ever Super Bowl broadcast.Unfortunately, the merger has also meant wholesale changes by way of extensive layoffs at the Worldwide Leader, which were particularly targeted towards NFL talent to eliminate duplicative roles. Prominent personalities like Ryan Clark and Tom Pelissero were shown the door, along with countless behind-the-scenes personnel.Now, however, fans are starting to see some of the positives of the deal. No longer will NFL fans need to subscribe separately to ESPN and NFL Network; theyll both be available in one place and one one app.The post NFL Network officially made available to ESPN Unlimited subscribers appeared first on Awful Announcing.