Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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UPCOMING

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FBN--COMMANDERS-CAMP

DESCRIPTION: Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders hold their first practice of training camp.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 5:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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FBC--BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS

DESCRIPTION: Coverage of Big Ten football media days, stories on merit. By Steve Megargee. Text, file photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 11:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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US--MERGER-US SKI-BIATHLON

DESCRIPTION: U.S. Biathlon is poised to move under the control of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, a rare merger of two Olympic sport organizations that officials say is necessary to boost biathlon’s revenues and performance but athletes worry will hurt the sport.

SENT: 870 words, photos.

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SOC--MLS-WHAT’S NEXT

DESCRIPTION: When the World Cup last came to the United States, it spurred the creation of Major League Soccer. Now, in the wake of this summer’s tournament, big changes are afoot for the league. Following this season, MLS will begin transitioning to a summer-to-spring calendar, bringing the league in-line with most of its international counterparts. There’s talk of adjusting roster rules and the salary cap to make the league more competitive on the global stage. And, MLS is preparing for the successor to Commissioner Don Garber. By Anne M. Peterson

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 1:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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BBW--WPBL-MAKING HISTORY

DESCRIPTION: CHICAGO — The inaugural season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League is another major moment in the scattered history for women’s professional baseball in the United States. It’s also part of a timeline that goes back to the very beginning of the sport. By Baseball Writer Jay Cohen.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 1:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--LIONS-CAMP

DESCRIPTION: The Detroit Lions kick off training camp, putting coach Dan Campbell in front of reporters for the first time since cornerback Terrion Arnold was released. By Larry Lage. 550 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 2:30 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--RAVENS-JACKSON

DESCRIPTION: Lamar Jackson enters the 2026 with plenty to prove. Now it’s not just his postseason performance that’s under scrutiny. There are apparently real doubts about whether he can still be one of the game’s top QBs. By Noah Trister. 650 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--BILLS-TRAINING CAMP

DESCRIPTION: Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills open training camp on Wednesday with familiar high expectations but with an altogether fresh approach. It’s now on Joe Brady, who at 36 enters this season as the NFL’s youngest head coach, to oversee a talented team that perennially fell short of a Super Bowl in the previous nine seasons under Sean McDermott. By John Wawrow. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--GIANTS AT THE GREENBRIER

DESCRIPTION: The New York Giants open their first training camp under coach John Harbaugh far from home, practicing at the posh Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia while their facility undergoes massive renovations. By Stephen Whyno. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 07/29/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT, Text, Photo

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SOUTH KOREA-FOOTBALL-HEARING

DESCRIPTION: Filing a story on merit

ON MERITS: By 07/29/2026 9:00 p.m. EDT, Text, LiveVideo, Video, Photo

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BBO--BLUE JAYS-BIEBER’S WALKS

Blue Jays’ Bieber struggles through ‘worst’ outing, walks 6 in two-thirds of an inning vs. Nats

SUMMARY: Toronto pitcher Shane Bieber’s start against the Washington Nationals was anything but a walk in the park. The former Cy Young Award winner issued walks to six of the nine batters he faced — including three with the bases loaded — before departing after two-thirds of an inning. In his previous 149 pitching appearances, the 31-year-old right-hander’s high for walks was five. According to Stathead/Baseball Reference, Bieber is the 11th pitcher in major league history to walk at least six while recording two outs or less, and the first to do so since Florida’s Ryan Dempster on Oct. 5, 2001, at Atlanta. Bieber is the first Cy Young winner to have such an outing,

WORDS: 572 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 11:50 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:afed73dcdf1beb6bcc2c61aca9c7b79c&mediaType=text

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BBO--RED SOX-MEAD OUT

New Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead to miss time with left wrist injury

SUMMARY: Curtis Mead will miss an undetermined amount of time with a left wrist injury suffered in his first game with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox acquired Mead on Saturday in a trade that sent left-hander Connelly Early to Washington. Mead was injured in his second at-bat with Boston on Monday when he was hit on the wrist by Athletics starter Jack Perkins. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said on Monday that X-rays were negative, but further tests on Tuesday showed an injury that will knock Mead out of the lineup. Mead is hitting .253 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs this season.

WORDS: 171 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 8:25 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:81c8baf73cd703f6953061ecc67e1e66&mediaType=text

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FBC--JERSEY PATCH DEALS

Notre Dame, Ohio State announce lucrative jersey patch sponsorship deals on the same day

SUMMARY: Notre Dame and Ohio State reached lucrative jersey patch sponsorship deals totaling around $30 million as schools search for ways to cash in on the revenue-sharing era. Ohio State announced a multiyear jersey patch sponsorship deal with JPMorgan Chase. Terms of the deal were not released, but multiple outlets reported it at $17 million annually. Notre Dame also announced a jersey patch deal with SoFi Technologies worth $18 million to $20 million, according to multiple outlets. A sprawling $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement approved by a federal judge last month cleared the way for schools to directly pay players through licensing deals — and they’re already cashing in.

WORDS: 323 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 8:14 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7b4600f42b019c006a721494d6036a6b&mediaType=text

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FBN--BROWNS-WARD

Browns’ Ward becomes NFL’s highest-paid DB with 2-year, $62.2 million extension, AP source says

SUMMARY: Denzel Ward has agreed to a two-year extension with the Cleveland Browns that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The five-time Pro Brown cornerback will sign a two-year extension worth $62.2 million — including $52.3 million guaranteed, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been publicly announced. The $31.1 million average surpasses the $31 million average when Trent McDuffie signed a four-year, $124 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams after being traded by Kansas City in March. The 29-year old Ward had two years remaining on a five-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2022.

WORDS: 222 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 7:15 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:95ba5ac8727e0940d9681120a93f5d74&mediaType=text

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FBN--RAIDERS-KUBIAK

Kubiak opens Raiders camp with Cousins atop QB depth chart and Mendoza pushed to compete

SUMMARY: Klint Kubiak is overseeing his first training camp as head coach of the Raiders. He faces the challenge of managing Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback while developing top draft pick Fernando Mendoza. Kubiak said Tuesday that Cousins will lead the first-team offense when practice starts Wednesday. Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner, will also be closely watched. Kubiak plans to adjust the quarterback competition based on performance. Star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, returning from knee surgery, is ready to practice. The team is also eager to see how rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy performs after recovering from a torn ACL.

WORDS: 771 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 7:01 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:345f659c42c0e5c4eb72f628d2fda9d0&mediaType=text

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BBO--TIGERS-SKUBAL

Tigers’ Skubal on schedule to face Orioles on Wednesday with trade deadline approaching

SUMMARY: Tarik Skubal is still the ace of the Detroit Tigers’ pitching staff as far as manager A.J. Hinch is concerned. Hinch confirmed Tuesday that Skubal is still scheduled to start on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. With the Tigers at 50-57 and the Aug. 3 trade deadline quickly approaching, it seemed possible that the Tigers would rest Skubal to avoid a possible injury heading into the trade deadline. The two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner is 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings since returning from experimental elbow surgery in just six weeks. Skubal has made it clear he wants to finish the season with the Tigers and lead them to a third straight postseason berth.

WORDS: 575 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 6:41 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ca842f8793435c425b938e03f1212611&mediaType=text

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US--CONGRESS-COLLEGE SPORTS

College NIL bill includes $25 million ‘retention pool’ but is that enough to sway Big Ten, SEC?

SUMMARY: A reworked Senate bill aims to regulate college sports by more than doubling the money schools can share with players. The Protect College Sports Act proposes up to $25 million for a “retention” pool to pay athletes to stay on rosters. This is in addition to the $21.3 million schools are allowed to spend this season. The House settlement calls for 22% of certain revenues to be shared with athletes. The bill’s future in the Senate remains uncertain.

WORDS: 607 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 6:25 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ff05d974c0af7e46364625cab42794c7&mediaType=text

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FBN--49ERS-SHANAHAN CRASH

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan takes blame for the crash that left him with a concussion

SUMMARY: San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan took the blame for the car crash that left him with a concussion and other injuries, saying he took his eyes off the road to reach for his fallen cellphone before hitting another vehicle. Shanahan crashed into a 21-year-old woman driving in the other direction in Palo Alto on July 14 and was left with a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose and broken left hand and stitches for a large cut above his right eye. Shanahan was briefly hospitalized following the crash and hasn’t been able to coach the team at the start of training camp.

WORDS: 621 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 6:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:74a88dae71eec741c54de133fd5ac08a&mediaType=text

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-KOIVUN

Jackson Koivun is a PGA Tour winner in three starts and needs time to see where he goes

SUMMARY: Jackson Koivun has the trappings of the next star in golf. The best amateur in the world after a decorated college career at Auburn, Koivun won the 3M Open in just his third start as a pro. And there’s already chatter about him being a Presidents Cup pick. But golf is best viewed with a wide lens. There was another college stud who won the 3M Open in his third start as a pro. That was Matthew Wolff in 2019. Impressive about Koivun is he seems capable of handling the big stage. It’ll be fascinating to see where it leads.

WORDS: 1014 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 5:04 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e4ec5ff93d449d16bb4b5c5256509037&mediaType=text

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FBC--BIG TEN-PETITTI

Big Ten: No league championship game if college football moves to a 24-team playoff

SUMMARY: The Big Ten would do away with its championship game if college football adopts a 24-team playoff. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti says that’s a worthwhile sacrifice to get his preferred postseason format. Pettiti mentioned this possibility back in May as he stepped up his push to expand the current 12-team playoff to 24. He made the point clear Tuesday by conceding a 24-team playoff would mean no Big Ten championship game. The bid to expand the playoff to 24 teams also has the support of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Notre Dame. The Southeastern Conference remains a holdout.

WORDS: 850 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 4:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d7c618b4225bf0f3d777e231e819c735&mediaType=text

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FBN--NFL-QB COMPETITIONS

NFL starting QB auditions are uncommon, but Browns, Falcons and Vikings camps begin with competition

SUMMARY: There are a handful of NFL teams with varying levels of competition for their season-opening starting quarterback. The Cleveland Browns again lead the list with Shedeur Sanders battling Deshaun Watson for the job. Newcomer Tua Tagovailoa is up against Michael Penix Jr. with the Atlanta Falcons. Tagovailoa was dumped by the Miami Dolphins for a record $99 million in dead money on the salary cap. The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray on a bargain contract after J.J. McCarthy’s rocky debut reopened their search. Murray was cut by the Arizona Cardinals. He was the first-overall pick in the 2019 draft.

WORDS: 1054 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 4:39 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:63b83ca865d6ce39a2565b5ba1bd0c53&mediaType=text

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FBN--STEELERS-NEW ERA

Rodgers says there’s ‘zero debate’ 2026 will be his final season as Steelers open a new-look camp

SUMMARY: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says there’s “zero debate” that this season will be his last. The four-time MVP’s status beyond 2026 is one of the few certainties for the Steelers as training camp begins. They have a new head coach, Mike McCarthy, who brings fresh ideas to the team. The team will practice earlier in the day and tackling will be limited. Pittsburgh will begin camp with defensive backs Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey on the physically unable to perform list.

WORDS: 910 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 4:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:909ae906eca44085ac0b1bda1bc95cc3&mediaType=text

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BKN--WARRIORS-GREEN

Draymond Green agrees to a 1-year, $27.7M contract to remain with the Warriors, AP source says

SUMMARY: Draymond Green has agreed to a one-year, $27.7 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors. A person familiar with the decision says Green will sign the deal that essentially matches the deal he opted out of last month before the Warriors made an unsuccessful bid to sign LeBron James. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. Green is now set to play his 15th season with the Warriors and if he plays in 51 games he will join Stephen Curry as the only players in franchise history to appear in at least 1,000 contests.

WORDS: 328 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 3:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f493167afe652f0a68b187ed750f7917&mediaType=text

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FBN--VIKINGS-ASSISTANT SUSPENDED

Vikings suspend new DB coach Gerald Alexander for 3 weeks following a drunken driving charge

SUMMARY: The Minnesota Vikings have suspended defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander for three weeks without pay following a drunken driving charge for an incident in April. Alexander’s suspension will be in effect until Aug. 13. That’s two days before their first preseason game. Hennepin County court records show Alexander pled guilty July 16 to a gross misdemeanor charge of third degree driving while impaired. He was arrested at about 4 a.m. on April 26 after his vehicle was stopped in the middle of an intersection in a Minneapolis suburb. A police officer found him unresponsive and witnessed him failing field sobriety tests.

WORDS: 524 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 3:37 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4b4c8bc8c813b57475b50a73ebd82ef0&mediaType=text

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FBN--EAGLES-CARTER

Eagles set to make Jalen Carter highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL, AP source says

SUMMARY: The Philadelphia Eagles are set to make two-time Pro Bowl selection Jalen Carter the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The sides announced that they agreed to terms on a four-year extension through the 2031 season. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because financial terms hadn’t been announced, said the contract includes $106 million guaranteed. Carter has 13 1/2 sacks in 43 career games and was crucial in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win in the 2024 season. This offseason, the Eagles also extended defensive tackle Jordan Davis, a key player in their defensive line, with a three-year deal for $65 million guaranteed.

WORDS: 370 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 2:13 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0beb832fc9534647b2878da0606196ad&mediaType=text

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US--COLLEGE SPORTS-NIL GROWTH

Female athletes surge in NIL deals as Learfield reports a 123% jump in participation

SUMMARY: Female athletes are reaching new heights in name, image and likeness participation. College sports marketing companies report a rapid surge in female athlete engagement. Learfield saw a 123% increase in participation among female athletes over the 2025-26 fiscal year. Learfield’s head of NIL says female athletes excel as content creators and storytellers. Women’s sports are closing the gap with high-revenue sports. Top partnerships included production shoots, social media posts and brand ambassadorships. Twenty-two national brands struck deals with college athletes over the fiscal year. More than 260 athletes across 69 schools were featured in national campaigns.

WORDS: 352 - MOVED: 07/28/2026 1:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aa8c4dbced273214d595daf7b242540a&mediaType=text

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