Sports
Report: Winter Olympics off to best ratings start in 12 years
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 10, 2026; Milan, Italy; Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) of Canada gives up a goal to Caroline Harvey (not pictured) of the United States in women’s ice hockey group a play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images Fresh off a 30-year low in television ratings, the Winter Olympics is seeing much better early returns in 2026, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The Beijing Games in 2022 had low ratings across the board, including a 15.9 million viewer count for the opening ceremony, marking a three-decade low. Overall, it was the least viewed Winter Olympics NBC had ever broadcast. That performance lowered expectations for Milan and Cortina, Italy, this year.
Instead, the first two days of the Games have resulted in significant gains for NBCUniversal. Preliminary Nielsen ratings, combined with Adobe Analytics streaming data, indicate that viewership has increased by more than 60% compared to four years ago during the same two-day period, when the company averaged 11.4 million viewers in primetime.
The broadcasting networks — NBC, Peacock, CNBC, and USA — reached a peak of 28.5 million viewers on Day 2, marking the largest audience for any day of Winter Olympics coverage since 2014.
The star-studded event on Friday night attracted over 5 million more viewers, totaling 21.4 million, bringing the numbers closer to those of previous Olympics. For example, during the last Winter Olympics in Italy in 2006, NBC drew 22.2 million viewers for the opening ceremony.
Peacock saw an average of 4.1 million viewers on the first Saturday, with over 1.3 billion minutes streamed. That puts the streaming platform on track to surpass 2022’s record of 4.3 billion minutes for the entire Games.
The rebound aligns with NBC’s performance at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, which also experienced a significant ratings increase. The broadcast plan this year is nearly the same, with Peacock providing live streams for every event, the Gold Zone whip-around show airing daily on the same platform, and NBC, CNBC and USA offering live daytime coverage, with NBC rebroadcasting key moments during primetime.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NFL draft order finalized after Seahawks' Super Bowl victory
Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; The 2026 NFL Draft logo at the Super Bowl LX Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The order for the 2026 NFL Draft has been finalized, two days after the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX.
The Seahawks will pick 32nd and last in the first round of the draft due to their solid 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in last Sunday’s big game.
New England has the No. 31 draft selection.
The first 18 selections were locked in prior to the postseason. The Las Vegas Raiders own the first pick and might have their eyes on Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
The New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and New York Giants round out the top five.
The Kansas City Chiefs struggled with a 6-11 record but gain a draft pick (No. 9) earlier than usual.
Among playoff teams, the AFC runner-up Denver Broncos have the 30th pick. Denver lost to the Patriots. The Los Angeles Rams, who lost to Seattle in the NFC title game, are No. 29.
DRAFT ORDER
1. Las Vegas Raiders: 3-14 (.538 strength of schedule)
2. New York Jets: 3-14 (.552)
3. Arizona Cardinals: 3-14 (.571)
4. Tennessee Titans: 3-14 (.574)
5. New York Giants: 4-13 (.524)
6. Cleveland Browns: 5-12 (.486)
7. Washington Commanders: 5-12 (.507)
8. New Orleans Saints: 6-11 (.495)
9. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-11 (.514)
10. Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11 (.521)
11. Miami Dolphins: 7-10 (.488)
12. Dallas Cowboys: 7-9-1 (.438)
13. Los Angeles Rams, via Atlanta Falcons: 8-9 (.495)
14. Baltimore Ravens: 8-9 (.507)
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9 (.529)
16. New York Jets, via Indianapolis Colts: 8-9 (.540)
17. Detroit Lions: 9-8 (.490)
18. Minnesota Vikings: 9-8 (.514)
19. Carolina Panthers: 8-9 (.522)
20. Dallas Cowboys, via Green Bay Packers: 9-7-1 (.483)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7 (.503)
22. Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6 (.458)
23. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6 (.476)
24. Cleveland Browns, via Jacksonville Jaguars: 13-4 (.478)
25. Chicago Bears: 11-6 (.458)
26. Buffalo Bills: 12-5 (.471)
27. San Francisco 49ers: 12-5 (.498)
28. Houston Texans: 12-5 (.522)
29. Los Angeles Rams: 12-5 (.526)
30. Denver Broncos: 14-3 (.422)
31. New England Patriots: 14-3 (.391)
32. Seattle Seahawks: 14-3 (.498)
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ohio State, USC battle for better spot on bubble
Feb 8, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) reacts after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images The Big Ten regular season runs through March 8, but it gets late early for bubble teams eyeing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Games between bubble teams are particularly crucial, so plenty will be on the line when Southern California (18-6, 7-6 Big Ten) plays Ohio State (15-8, 7-6) on Wednesday in Columbus.
For the Buckeyes, it’s an opportunity to bounce back from a humbling 82-61 loss to No. 2 Michigan on Sunday. It’s no disgrace to lose to the once-beaten Wolverines, who during an eight-game winning streak have seven double-digit wins, but the Buckeyes were outhustled and outmuscled in front of their largest home crowd of the season.
The Buckeyes, who have split their past 10 games, awoke Tuesday morning to being No. 39 in the NET rankings. Considering they were No. 41 on Selection Sunday last year and missed the NCAA Tournament for the third straight March, the pressure could be mounting on the Bucks and second-year coach Jake Diebler.
“This is a team that is resilient. This is a team that has responded all year long and so I have great confidence in what our response will be moving forward,” Diebler said. “(Michigan) was a first where we didn’t handle the in-game adversity as well as we’ve handled it most of the year. That’s on us. We’ll be better at that. We’ll be better next game for that.”
Ohio State veteran Bruce Thornton (team-high 19.2 points per game) led the Buckeyes’ effort against their rivals with 16 points and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Trojans (No. 48 in the NET on Tuesday) are on the upswing with three straight wins and have been bolstered by recent additions.
Freshman Alijah Arenas, who missed the first 18 games with a knee injury, scored a game-high 24 points and hit the winning basket with 0.7 seconds left in a 77-75 victory Sunday at Penn State.
The son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas debuted on Jan. 21, one month after graduate transfer guard Kam Woods signed with the Trojans and made his first appearance for his sixth school (counting junior college) in six seasons.
Woods had 13 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals against Penn State.
“(He) leads our team in steals, and he joined us just a couple of weeks ago,” Trojans coach Eric Musselman said. “We were severely lacking in creating extra possessions through defensive creativity on steals, and Kam Woods has changed our entire season since he came.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bucks vow to match Magic's physicality in rematch
Feb 9, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (7) goes to the basket during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Bucks will be seeking to exact immediate revenge on Wednesday when they face the Magic in Orlando for the second time in three days.
The Magic’s 118-99 victory on Monday was their third straight, while also ending Milwaukee’s own winning streak at three.
Preparation and motivation won’t be issues for the Bucks, as far as coach Doc Rivers is concerned.
“It’s easy — you’re playing the same team,” Rivers said. “I love these in some ways; in some ways I don’t. I do like that the second game is spirited, more competitive. Guys bump into each other during the game, then they see each other in (two) days.”
With one eye on the bench-clearing brawl that marred the Detroit Pistons’ win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Rivers wanted to see more scrap from his team on the same night.
“I wish we had gotten into a fight (Monday),” he said, partly in jest. “Not literally a fight. I just thought they (Magic) were the more physical team.”
Orlando trampled Milwaukee 67-45 after halftime, including a particularly one-sided 36-20 third quarter.
The Magic ratcheted up their defensive hostility during those 12 minutes, scoring 10 of their points off five Bucks turnovers.
“They were very physical,” said Kevin Porter Jr., who scored 28 points. “We’ve got to match their physicality. First quarter I felt like we were bumping a little bit, but as the game went on, they continued to bump and we kind of let off. It turned into fouls for them.
“The more aggressive team usually gets those calls. We’ve just got to match their physicality next game.”
Porter is promising a tougher, more ready Milwaukee outfit for the return bout, even if the Bucks remain without their marquee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).
“We’re going to be way more prepared come Wednesday,” he said. “We don’t want to lose to any team twice, so we need that one Wednesday.”
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley likes the way his team’s defense is progressing, but stopped short of comparing it to the gold-embossed levels of the NFL’s newly crowned Super Bowl champions.
“It’s getting there,” he said. “It’s definitely getting there. It’s not necessarily the ‘Dark Side’ like the Seattle Seahawks’ defense, but we’re getting there.”
Mosley’s 172nd victory at the helm saw him move into third place for most victories by a coach in Magic history, surpassing Rivers (171).
Mosley trails only Brian Hill (267) and Stan Van Gundy (259).
Anthony Black posted 26 points against Milwaukee, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Wagner brothers — Franz and Moritz — combined for 28 off the bench.
“I feel good — I feel as I should at this point,” said wing Franz Wagner, who paired 14 points with five assists inside 17 minutes in his return from a nine-game absence with a left ankle sprain.
“Still working my way back, and obviously got to find a rhythm out there. But pleased with how I played and hopefully helped with the win.”
Orlando is chasing its third consecutive success against the Bucks, after Milwaukee had taken 19 of the previous 21 encounters.
–Field Level Media
