A federal judge in Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction on Friday requiring the NCAA to restore eligibility to all Division I athletes from the high school class of 2022 who finished up their four years this past spring. The decision by Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado was reported by Boise State associate professor Sam Ehrlich. The injunction grants a class certification and a temporary restraining order to plaintiffs who qualify as stated:All persons in the United States who began to play in collegiate sports in the 2022-2023 season, competed in NCAA Division I sports, and completed four years of eligibility as defined by the NCAAs prior rules by the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, and are therefore barred from playing a fifth season due to the NCAAs adoption and immediate implementation of the Five-Year Eligibility Rule.Judge Sweeneys ruling is in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by 11 Division I athletes, including Minnesota mens college basketball player Cade Tyson, that challenged the NCAA approving an age-based, five-year eligibility model that allowed four seasons of eligibility over five years with no age restrictions. The model would eliminate redshirts and waivers.In the most simple terms: For those incoming 2026 class members and current athletes who did not exhaust eligibility this past year, schools will apply the model that benefits them the most.For those enrolling in fall of 2027, schools will apply the new age-based model. https://t.co/nzKwli7sQ7 Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 23, 2026In a statement released after Judge Sweeneys ruling was reported, NCAA president Charlie Baker disagreed with the ruling, saying Congress passing the Protect College Sports Act was necessary and suddenly restoring eligibility to an entire class would result in chaos."Without targeted intervention from Congress, college sports cannot set nationwide rules everyone can play by and without Congress, Baker wrote. Failed professionals will continue to use college sports as a fallback option robbing the next class of young athletes of college scholarships. It is long past time leaders across college sports call for the immediate passage of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act a bill supported by student-athlete leaders, Democrats, Republicans and NCAA schools from all three divisions, he continued. Today's rulings and the chaos they bring to college sports are exactly why it's time to pass this bill."The Big Ten and SEC approved a deal to support the Protect College Sports Act on Friday, Yahoo Sports Ross Dellenger reported.The ruling in Colorado came hours after a Tennessee court granted a temporary injunction to Vanderbilt guard Jalen Washington and 18 other college basketball players to provide a fifth year of eligibility. Additionally, the injunction ruled that the NCAA cannot prevent any of the athletes from entering the transfer portal. As a result, thousands of student-athletes nationwide will now be allowed a fifth season of eligibility, including football and basketball players whose careers had previously concluded. College football programs are now questioning whether players who werent selected in Aprils NFL Draft will attempt to return to college, according to On3s Pete Nakos. However, with most programs set to begin preseason practices as rosters and the budgets to build them already established, its possible that players looking to return to college football wont find available openings. The same could apply to college basketball.

WASHINGTON (AP) Shakira Austin scored a season-high 28 points and had 10 rebounds, Kiki Iriafen added 22 points and nine rebounds and the Washington Mystics beat the Dallas Wings 81-75 on Friday night.Washington (16-12) has won four straight for the first time since September 2020.Cotie McMahon made Washingtons final field goal with 2:50 remaining in the fourth quarter for a 71-68 lead. Then, the Mystics closed it out by going 10 of 10 at the free-throw line.Sonia Citron finished with 16 points for Washington despite going 3 of 18 from the field. Citron went 10 of 10 at the free-throw line, while Dallas only attempted 13. Paige Bueckers led Dallas (18-11) with 23 points. Arike Ogunbowale scored 14 of her 20 points in the first half. The Wings have lost three of their last four games. Ogunbowale made a 3-pointer with 5:12 left in the fourth to give Dallas its first lead, 64-63, since the opening two minutes of the game. It was her first made field goal of the second half.Up nextWings: Host Connecticut on Sunday. Mystics: Host the the Wings again Wednesday night ___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Athletes who graduated high school in the Class of 2022 have been granted a preliminary injunction to play a fifth collegiate season, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeneyof Colorado said Friday evening in a ruling that clears Cole Hutson's return to the Texas football team.Starting next season, the NCAA will fully implement an age-based eligibility model that grants collegiate athletes five years regardless of playing time, a requirement commonly known as the"five-for-five" rule. The model,which effectively removes the redshirt concept, calls for an athlete's eligibility clock to start upon initial full-time enrollment in college or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier. The age-based eligibility implementation will begin this summer. Recruits starting in 2027 are age-based only.However, class of 2022 athletes such as Hutson have challenged the rule in court, saying it should be extended to their class and the athletes that were only allowed to play four full seasons before running out of eligibility.Earlier in July, Hutson was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, allowing him to rejoin the Longhorns as he worked through his ongoing age-based eligibility lawsuit. He has been working out alongside his former teammates with the team but has not yet returned to the Texas roster while waiting for his scheduled court hearing Aug. 10 concerning Hutson's lawsuit filed earlier in July in Travis County.That hearing is now, theoretically, unnecessary because of the ruling from Sweeney in her Colorado court.Texas begins fall camp Wednesday. Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Cole Hutson (54) warms up ahead of of the Longhorns' game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman) Who is Cole Hutson?A 6-foot-5, 308-pound offensive lineman, Hutson signed with Texas during the 2022 recruiting cycle. Hutson started 13 times as a freshman right guard before he was used as a depth piece during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.Hutson reemerged as a senior starter in 2025and found playing time as both a center and left guard.This past spring,Hutson was not selected in an NFL draft that featured seven rounds and 257 picks. He participated in rookie camps hosted by Dallas and Cleveland, but those tryouts failed to lead to a full-time job.At the SEC's media days earlier in July, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian sounded ready to welcome Hutson back to the squad if the legal path allowed that to happen."If it ultimately all goes through, we're getting a veteran player, right?" Sarkisian said. "At the end of the day, there's nothing like having an experienced player on your team, in your locker room, in the offensive line room. There's a lot that we have to kind of sort through and unpack. But if we're fortunate enough to have him back, it'd be great."Texas currently has 110 players on its listed roster, and the NCAA only allows 105 players on a final roster regardless of their status as scholarship orwalk-on player.However, Texas has multiple walk-ons who can be removed from the roster in order to make space for Hutson or any other player.Chendall Weaver, Jordan Pope won't return to men's basketball teamChendall WeaverandJordan Pope, who both helpedTexas basketballreach theSweet 16last season, are now eligible to play a fifth college basketball season after Sweeney's ruling but can't return to Texas because the Longhorns have already reached the maximum 15 players allowed by the roster limitations that were part of last summer's House vs. NCAA settlement.When Texas recruitMarcus Spears Jr.reclassified from the 2027 class into 2026 earlier this month and joined the Longhorns for this upcoming school year, he became the 15th and final player on the Texas roster. TheHouse vs NCAA settlementin 2025 removed scholarship limits for all sports but imposed roster limits beginning with the 2025-26 school year. That means men's basketball teams had their scholarship limit increased from 13 to 15 but can no longer have more than15 players on the roster. It also means Texas - and most college programs - no longer have walk-on players like Anthon McDermott, the only former walk-on who's now on scholarship for the Longhorns.Earlier this week, Texas basketball coach Sean Miller confirmed that he didn't have room on his roster for either guard.Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.This article originally published at Texas football: OL Cole Hutson can rejoin Longhorns for fifth season after court ruling.

From an unbiased point of view, there really was no reason for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to have the best season of his career in 2025. The MVP winner was clearly the NFL's best quarterback and decision-maker, but he entered the season with a schedule that put him against the league's top defenses, while being 37 years old with a back issue that forced him to miss training camp and almost put him on injured reserve to start the season. Despite those looming hurdles, Stafford was simply brilliant, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. A primary reason is the players around him. While star receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua continue to dominate headlines, the Rams' offensive line has quietly been one of the league's best, which comes as a surprise due to how it was assembled.Recently, Stafford spoke on The Athletic Football Show about a variety of topics, with the quarterback praising his line's ability to pick up pressure, especially on blitzes."You can't do anything if you're not protected and you got to find ways to get those protections done," Stafford said. "There was a great playa great job of communicating from our entire group up frontrelaying a call out, getting a back out in Carolina."I hit Davante on my left on like an in-cut versus a crazy overload blitz that we did a great job using the cadence. We got it shown, we flipped over the whole [protection], slid the line, did the whole thing, and it takes everybody. You know, that's what you realize. You can't sit there and go, 'Man, Matthew, great throw.' I was like, 'Yeah, well, I was able to stand in there and throw it.'"The Rams, despite their injury issues, were successful and succinct in their execution in 2025. Not only did they keep Stafford clean on his way to MVP, but they also helped the team register over 2,000 rushing yards, with Kyren Williams accomplishing his third 1,000-yard season.While most NFL offensive lines are built through the draft, especially with top draft picks, four out of the Rams' five starting linemen are either Day 3 picks or undrafted free agents. Steve Avila is the exception; he was a second-round selection.The secret to their success isn't even a secret. It's dedication, communication, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed. It's them buying into the lessons instilled by their coaches, led by Ryan Wendell. Before their dominant campaign last season, I spoke to star guard Kevin Dotson about the line. Dotson, who was acquired via trade in a deal that became a complete steal for Los Angeles, had a massive career turnaround, going from being just a player in Pittsburgh to a pillar for the Rams.He dove into how modern blitz packages have dictated modern offensive line play and the things Dotson and his teammates have to do to stay dominant."We'll say it's more subtle because offensive line has always been about communication, so being able to communicate," explained Dotson. "More now, everybody has to know what's happening on the field. On the offensive line, back in the day, it was a little more center-interaction type thing, but now everybody has to know what could possibly happen, and I think it's just a little more advanced than it used to be back in those days."Dotson, who was drafted in 2020, protected both Stafford and Ben Roethlisberger. He exposed himself to a lot of looks and pressures as those quarterbacks love to test the skies. Dotson dove into his perspective on how that advanced communication impacted the team's success."The more confidence you have in what you're doing, the more you can go 100%," stated Dotson. "So if I know for a fact I got to go to this linebacker, and we communicated the linebacker I'm going to. That's two forms of verification in my mind and outside to confirm what I think. Now I can run at this linebacker 100% with no hesitation in my mind. That hesitation is the thing that messes most teams up or messes most plays up. You hesitate on a play, and they don't; you lose. If we don't hesitate, everything runs smoothly. So you know, the more confirmation that you have, the easier the game is."Looking back at what Stafford said one year later, everything Dotson said was proven correct. Simplicity in description is a gigantic task to execute. Without hesitation, the Rams' offensive line got the job done.It's also important to note that with increased communication and intelligence across the unit, the Rams have been able to churn out top linemen from a variety of sources over the Sean McVay era. Even when dealing with the NFL's best, the Rams have the knowledge, confidence, and preparation to isolate matchups in a way that plays to their strong suits, while being aligned in their overall protection plan.They trust each other, they trust the operation, and even with less center interaction, starter Coleman Shelton remains the keystone to their production. Dotson called Shelton paramount in coordinating protections, and considering he's viewed as the QB2 for the offense, it's indisputable that the strength of the Rams comes from their talent in the trenches.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Matthew Stafford, Kevin Dotson break down Rams' stellar O-line play

Lead Stories says: Satire LabelDid basketball player Sophie Cunningham refuse to apologize for her words about transgender athletes in women's sports and thus get suspended for five games? No, that's not true: This story originated as self-described satire. As of this writing, Cunningham was not suspended.The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X by @mcafeenew on July 30, 2026. It opened:WNBA SUPERSTAR SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SAYS SHE'LL TAKE A 5-GAME SUSPENSION RATHER THAN RECANT HER POSITION ON MEN IN WOMEN'S SPORTS!The post continued:The WNBA -- possibly the wokest organization in America -- gave Sophie Cunningham a choice: apologize for saying women and girls deserve to be protected in their own locker rooms, or take a 5-game suspension. She's choosing the bench. While the league continues pushing biological males into women's spaces, Cunningham refuses to bend the knee. She would rather sit out games than betray female athletes and young girls who deserve fairness and safety.The image attached to the post repeated the claim. This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing: Image source: post by @mcafeenew on X.The claim started to circulate online after Indiana Fever basketball player Sophie Cunningham said (archived here) she wanted to "protect young girls in the locker room" and that "they shouldn't have to go against biological men."The story about the supposed suspension, however, wasn't true. The player said nothing about it on her account on Instagram. A Google search across the WNBA's account on X (archived here) didn't reveal such an announcement. A search on Google News (archived here) didn't show any credible reporting supporting the rumor, either.In reality, the WNBA suspended another person for a five-game period. That was Celeste Keaton, a co-owner of the Seattle Storm basketball team. The disciplinary measure followed a heated exchange with female teenage fans supporting Cunningham's views (archived here).The story about Cunningham's supposed suspension originated from the @ALLODRetro page on Facebook, where it was posted on July 28, 2026:Image source: post by @ALLODRetro on Facebook.The account is part of a self-described satire network named "America's Last Line of Defense," run by self-professed liberal troll Christopher Blair from Maine along with friends and allies. The page's description reads:An authorized dumping ground for certified AI-free trollery and right-wing propaganda courtesy of America's Last Line of Defense. Nothing on this page is real.(Image source: @ALLODRetro account on Facebook.)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has the third-most touchdown passes on third down in the NFL since 2023 with 30, according to the NFLs Anthony Holzman-Escareno.This impressive statistic shouldn't surprise Chiefs fans who have grown accustomed to the star signal-caller's dominance over the NFL in recent years.While his track record speaks for itself, Mahomes will need to lean into his third-down prowess to keep more drives alive for Kansas City in 2026 as he returns to the field after suffering a torn ACL and LCL last season.The Chiefs improved their ground game by signing Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency which should help take some of the burden off of Mahomes early in the regular season but it remains to be seen if Kansas City's offense will return to form without a complete overhaul of the team's receiving corps, which has underperformed in recent years.This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Patrick Mahomes among NFL's leaders in third-down TD passes since 2023

CLEVELAND (AP) Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno had back-to-back RBI singles off Erik Sabrowski in a four-run eighth inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night.Ketel Marte also singled home a run in the eighth as the Diamondbacks won their third straight game and moved into sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the National League. Arizona, which didnt advance a runner past second base in the first seven innings, is an NL-best 13-5 since July 9. Jonathan Loaisiga (3-3) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win. Brandyn Garcia worked the ninth for his third save, wrapping up a combined three-hitter that began with rookie Mitch Bratt throwing five innings.Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-11) allowed two runs and three hits in 7 1/3 innings. Sabrowski entered with two runners aboard and issued a walk to Corbin Carroll before Perdomo and Moreno both delivered. Carroll scored on Moreno's base hit when right fielder Angel Martnez committed a fielding error. Rhys Hoskins gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead in the first, lining the ball off the wall in left field for a single that scored Jos Ramrez. It snapped an 0-for-15 stretch for the cleanup hitter, who has a .135 batting average since June 4.Cleveland managed only two hits in the final eight innings, both by Steven Kwan, in losing for the seventh time in nine games. The Guardians remain in possession of the third and final American League wild card.Moreno extended his on-base streak to 27 games and has reached safely in a franchise-record 46 consecutive starts. Bratt made his fifth appearance, giving up one run and three hits.Up nextDiamondbacks LHP Kohl Drake (0-0, 5.00 ERA) faces Guardians LHP Parker Messick (8-6, 2.59) in the second game of the series.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

NEW YORK (AP) Djordje Mihailovic scored in the final minute of first-half stoppage time and Toronto FC earned a 1-1 draw with New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Friday night, but saw its winless streak reach 11 matches.Nicols Fernndez scored on a penalty kick in the 9th minute to give NYCFC (7-6-5) an early lead. The kick was awarded when Toronto (3-7-8) defender Richie Laryea picked up a yellow card for a foul on Agustn Ojeda. It was the 13th goal for Fernndez, tying him with Petar Musa of FC Dallas for the league lead. Hugo Cuypers also had 13 goals before transferring from the Chicago Fire to Club de Ftbol Monterrey.Toronto tied it at the half when Mihailovic scored off a deflection seven minutes into stoppage time. Mihailovic has two goals in eight appearances this season.Toronto has gone 0-5-6 during a winless run that started after a 3-2 victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids on April 4.Matt Freese finished with four saves for NYCFC, which had 10 players out with leg injuries.Luka Gavran saved four shots for Toronto to close out a four-match road trip.Toronto hasn't beaten NYCFC in New York since September of 2020 and has never won at Yankee Stadium.German midfielder Niklas Dorsch started in his debut, after signing with Toronto on Tuesday. The 28-year-old will hold down an international slot through 2030-31.Up nextToronto: Hosts the New England Revolution on Aug. 15.New York City: Hosts the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 16.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Ty Simpson has a long way to go before hell be called upon by the Los Angeles Rams, only being in the early stages of his NFL career. On Friday, he took the field for just his fifth practice of training camp, and it sounds like it was his best yet.The rookie quarterback is competing with Stetson Bennett to be the Rams backup quarterback, a battle that Bennett is clearly leading so far. But if Simpson continues to progress and impress the coaching staff, hell make things interesting behind Matthew Stafford.According to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, Simpson had his best practice of camp, making several impressive passes throughout the day.Rams QB Ty Simpson has completed several impressive passes. Best day of camp for rookie so far. Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) August 1, 2026Sean McVay complimented Simpsons quicker release and command of the offense, getting in and out of the huddle more efficiently than he had been previously.Thats something that comes with time and experience, which Simpson will accumulate throughout camp and the season.Today was the most comfortable rookie QB Ty Simpson has looked so far. Mechanically, his release looked quicker. His best throw of the day was on a deep completion to TE Terrance Ferguson during 11-on-11. Sean McVay on where he's seen improvement in Simpson between when he pic.twitter.com/N4BykZtv4p Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 1, 2026One of his better throws was an on-time deep shot to Mario Williams after a play-action fake, hitting the receiver down the left side with two defenders in coverage. It was a confident throw from the rookie, who has been working with the second-team offense on days when Matthew Stafford is held out.Ty Simpson to Mario Williams!!! #RamsHousepic.twitter.com/7QHt0LHSKc Allen Sales (@AllenSales) August 1, 2026He also reportedly had a good throw to fellow rookie Max Klare, who's trying to carve out a role for himself at tight end.QB Ty Simpson completes a nice pass to TE Max Klare#Rams#RamsHouse Ian (Rams Up Podcast) (@RamsUp_Ian) August 1, 2026Simpson showed off his mobility on one play where things broke down and he was forced to use his legs, buying time behind the line of scrimmage by scrambling left and then back to his right. After working back toward the near sideline, he uncorked a throw to tight end Rohan Jones, which was dropped.This is the first time Ive seen Ty Simpson scramble so far in camp. pic.twitter.com/y40fmEmwT1 Ethan Shirazi (@Ethanshirazi24) August 1, 2026Simpson is bound to have his missteps in practice, which is to be expected of any quarterback. And he threw a near-interception to Emmanuel Forbes Jr. on Friday, but the ball was dropped by the fourth-year cornerback.On the play, Simpson was looking for Tru Edwards down the field but the ball was underthrown.Emmanuel Forbes was this close from picking off Ty Simpson. pic.twitter.com/BSNHTh55N2 Ethan Shirazi (@Ethanshirazi24) August 1, 2026Any progress is good to see from the rookie quarterback, especially as he competes with Bennett a guy who's had a strong camp himself so far.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams rookie Ty Simpson turns in best practice of camp so far

The Carolina Panthers took the field in front of a stadium full of fans for the first time this season on Friday night.It was their first open practice of training camp, and fans got a peek at whats in store this year. Players got in reps while 6-year-old Asher Harvey ran in a walk-off touchdown. Ashe, who is battling through congenital heart disease, signed a one-day contract through Make-A-Wish. The best way to end Fan Fest pic.twitter.com/erlfiWKLGN Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 1, 2026What a crowd. It was amazing. Came out early, were out there the whole time, Head Coach Dave Canales said about Fridays crowd.Pack the bank, thats our motto. Continue to win. Continue to build up this culture, wide receiver Jalen Coker added. The team will take the practice field again on Monday before next Thursdays Hall of Fame preseason game in Canton.