Sports
SEC notebook: Texas motivated by daily work, not exterior expectations
Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images There may not be a team in college football with more exterior pressure entering the 2026 season than the Texas Longhorns.
After Texas lost in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff in the 2023 and ’24 seasons, last year’s squad ended up just outside the CFP despite a season-ending victory over third-ranked rival Texas A&M.
While coach Steve Sarkisian proudly trumpeted Thursday at Southeastern Conference media days in Tampa that his team beat three top-10 teams last season and 14 ranked opponents over the prior three seasons, the Longhorns don’t have a national championship since 2005 and haven’t yet won an SEC championship in two years in the league.
As Sarkisian enters Year 6 with a quarterback (presumptive No. 1 NFL draft pick Arch Manning) and a roster as laden with talent as any in the country, he is insistent the team doesn’t need any extra motivation from outside the building to help it reach the next step.
“Those external factors, whether it’s a comment or a tweet or a podcast or an interview by a pundit, that’s not going to motivate us. What motivates us is what we do every single day,” Sarkisian said. “I’m proud of the leadership on our team for buying into that idea, and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys for the way that they handle themselves that way. Because we’re going to have to.”
Texas’ challenging 2026 schedule includes a Week 2 home game against Ohio State, matchups against 2025 CFP competitors Oklahoma and Ole Miss, and trips to Lane Kiffin-led LSU and Texas A&M in the final three weeks of the regular season.
–Sam Leavitt healed, ready for 2026 season
One of the more surprising players not representing his team at SEC media days this week was LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt.
The No. 1 overall player in the 2026 transfer portal class per 247Sports was hand-picked over a number of other transfer quarterbacks to lead the Tigers in Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge.
The only real question surrounding him was his health. After Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards, ran for 443 yards and accounted for 29 touchdowns while leading Arizona State to the CFP in 2024, he played in just seven games last season before undergoing season-ending foot surgery.
But Kiffin expressed no concern about any lingering effects of a recovery affecting Leavitt’s status for the 2026 season.
“I have great confidence in his health,” Kiffin said of Leavitt. “… He’s done a great job, really leads our players in a lot of player-led practices this time of year.”
Kiffin added that one of the reasons the Tigers didn’t bring Leavitt — who has added 11 pounds to his frame this offseason — to Tampa was so that he could guide one of those practices Thursday morning.
“He’s done a great job,” Kiffin said.
–Ryan Silverfield embracing challenge at Arkansas
Ryan Silverfield’s move to Arkansas probably wasn’t near the top of the list of flashiest hires made during the offseason’s chaotic coaching carousel.
That being said, he posted a 50-25 record over six-plus seasons at Memphis. And as the moderator pointed out while Silverfield was at the podium, the coach has a 5-1 career record against current SEC coaches.
“That’s great. Keep doubting me,” Silverfield said.
He arrives in Fayetteville to take over a program that may be the hardest to lead to consistent success among all SEC teams. The Razorbacks are coming off a 2-10 (0-8 SEC) season, their third winless SEC campaign in the past eight seasons, and have won 50% of their conference games just once in the past 10 seasons (4-4 in 2021).
For Silverfield, who was a Division III player at Hampden-Sydney College, it’s just another hurdle on his path of overcoming obstacles.
“People have the right to feel a certain way, and that’s OK. I’ve been doubted my whole life,” Silverfield said. “That’s not a bad thing. I think what ends up happening is you have a head coach that has a chip on his shoulder.
“It doesn’t matter what other people think about me. It truly doesn’t. All I care is what the players and my family think about me. Anybody that’s been around our program, anybody that’s been around me knows that we’re going to do it the right way. In due time we’ll get this back to where it needs to be.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
UFC Abu Dhabi Best Bets: Top Picks for Ankalaev vs. Guskov Fight Night
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; UFC CEO Dana White talks to the press after the fight between Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images We’re one day away from the UFC returning to its Fight Island home on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for another weekend Fight Night. It’s the first of what is expected to be two occasions this year where the Octagon lands in Abu Dhabi, with the annual late October numbered card in Abu Dhabi expected.
The main event will see former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev taking on Bogdan Guskov.
This will be Ankalaev’s first fight since dropping the title to Alex Pereira last year at UFC 320. Before that, Ankalaev went on a 14-fight unbeaten streak, culminating with his UFC 313 title win over Pereira.
Guskov takes this fight on short notice, only being announced for this bout on July 13 after an injury to Khalil Rountree Jr. Guskov dropped his UFC debut but then won four straight. He most recently fought at UFC 323, battling former champion Jan Blachowicz to a majority draw.
The co-main event will see former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg battle Ramazan Temirov. After losing three straight, Erceg enters this bout with back-to-back wins, defeating Ode’ Osbourne last year and Tim Elliott this past May in Perth. Temirov, meanwhile, has won 11 straight, including his first two UFC bouts, finishing CJ Vergara and earning a decision over Charles Johnson.
The rest of the main card will see Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman, Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov, Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune, and Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev.
ISLAM DULATOV VS WELLINGTON TURMAN
Unbeaten since dropping his pro debut, Islam Dulatov is a name the UFC has had its eye on. He’s 11-1, had a strong first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series, and quickly finished Adam Fugitt in his UFC debut last year. At 6’3” and with a 75-inch reach, Dulatov is a fairly big man for the welterweight division. Add in his high-volume striking and pressure, and his ability to finish by either KO/TKO or submission, and you can see the danger he presents.
Wellington Turman is an experienced veteran of the Octagon, and he’ll look to trouble Dulatov with his jiu-jitsu work. This will be Turman’s first fight since December 2023, however, and he enters this fight on a three-fight losing skid. Signs point to this being another Dulatov showcase.
BET: Dulatov to win via KO/TKO in Round 1 (FanDuel: -110)
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VALTER WALKER VS THOMAS PETERSEN
How Valter Walker is not on the main card of this event is downright criminal. He might be fighting an unranked fighter and the heavyweight division might be lackluster, but he’s probably this writer’s favorite thing about the division right now. The man gets submissions like crazy, and he’s developing into one of the most talented heavyweights in a UFC division that desperately needs talent.
Petersen has talent, but he’s been up and down since entering the UFC – and I prefer the competition Walker has faced. Point blank, a loss for Walker here would be devastating for not just Walker, but the division as a whole. The challenge for making a play here is that Petersen has a wrestling base and has never been submitted…and yet, the way Walker’s momentum has been, that might not matter.
BET: Walker via submission (DraftKings: +165)
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DUSTIN JACOBY VS MUHAMMAD SAID
Dustin Jacoby might not reach the upper echelon of the UFC light heavyweight rankings, but he’s tough competition for anyone who is put in front of him. The power in his strikes, which stem from his kickboxing days, translated well into the Octagon. Not only are his losses not bad, but he’s riding a three-fight KO/TKO streak entering this bout.
Said is going to have a hometown factor in this one, and he’s a strong striker and finisher in his own right. The question about him is the level of competition. Jacoby is the most experienced guy he’s going to have fought – in his first six fights, he fought fighters who had no more than four fights. He’s faced experienced fighters in his last three, but they didn’t have the greatest of records.
Some have felt this will be a difficult fight to predict, but I’ll trust in both fighters’ finishing abilities.
BET: Fight to end via KO/TKO/DQ (Caesars: -125)
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NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
