📰🏟️ 3 AM upset
Plus: SEC is voting to expel LSU...
Good afternoon. Today’s edition brings you the top news from around the sports world. Let’s get right to it.
1) Alcaraz’s US Open title defense ends at 3:33 AM
American Ben Shelton beat defending champ and #2 seed Carlos Alcaraz in five sets to reach the US Open semifinals, in an overnight thriller that featured the latest finish in tournament history (3:33 AM local time).
- Shelton, the #8 seed, will face fellow American and #11 seed Frances Tiafoe, guaranteeing the US a spot in the finals as America seeks its first men’s major title since 2003.
- The two remaining quarterfinals matchups later today feature #1 Alexander Zverev v. Botic van de Zandschulp, and #28 Alexander Blockx v. Karen Khachanov.
📣 FULL-COURT PRESS
Headlines across the sports world
- 🏈 Mid-American Conference asks the NCAA and CFP to overturn the result of Western Michigan’s controversial 13-12 loss to Michigan last weekend, claiming replay crews failed to follow “established protocol.” The NCAA says it doesn’t have the authority to overturn game results, and also announced new rules establishing “standard timing protocol.”
- ✍️ QB Baker Mayfield reportedly agrees to 3-yr, $165M extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending a preseason standoff with the largest contract in franchise history.
- 🎓 SEC asks a federal court to preserve its power to expel LSU from the conference, with a formal vote on the topic scheduled for tomorrow. Hours later, LSU confirmed its locked 105-man roster for 2026 won’t include any former NFL players.
2) NFL regular season kicks off tonight
The 2026 NFL season begins tonight with the two teams that ended last season by facing off in Super Bowl LX, with the New England Patriots visiting the defending champ Seattle Seahawks.
- It marks the 2nd time in NFL history that the league will open on a Wednesday, with kickoff set for 7:20 pm CT (NBC/Peacock).
- The unusual move was made to accommodate the LA Rams v. San Francisco 49ers contest in Australia, which kicks off Thursday night in the US (Friday morning local time).
Can the Pats get revenge for February?
🌐 WEB GEMS
Interesting things to click
😳 Talk about a frozen rope: Elly De La Cruz uncorks 105.3 MPH throw to rob Teoscar Hernández of inside-the-park homer.
🏈 New NFL rule changes: Red flags, ejections from New York, and altered kickoffs—everything fans need to know about NFL rules and points of emphasis this season.
🏟️ Zero-gravity recliners, in-house barbershops: College and pro teams are spending hundreds of millions to build luxury locker rooms.
3) LIV Golf files for bankruptcy
LIV Golf voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday, months after Saudi Arabia pulled the league’s funding, with plans to transition into a player-owned business model.
- LIV says its reorg will happen alongside BC Partners Advisors, revealing for the first time its new “lead investor” announced last month.
- The reorganized LIV Golf is expected to be majority-owned by players, who are some of the league’s largest creditors (including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau).
- LIV will try trading its debt obligations to players for equity in the new LIV 2.0, or reject players’ contracts and let them walk as a free agent.
Upstart golf league tries to stay aLIVe
🙌🔒 In Partnership with Proton VPN
Bye-bye blackouts
Blackouts happen when your local broadcast blocks a game in your area, but that doesn’t mean the game has to disappear. Proton VPN connects you through different locations, so you can watch no matter where you’re sitting.
However, it’s not the same as other VPNs. Proton VPN goes beyond with encrypted traffic, a no-logs policy verified by independent audits, and Swiss jurisdiction outside the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance. This means your connection always stays private, regardless of location.
Your zip code no longer decides what you watch. You’re in charge now.