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There’s just one week to go until the biggest show on earth gets underway, with the 2026 World Cup kicking off on June 11. If you haven’t already caught a serious case of World Cup fever, what better way to get in the mood than by checking out the very best kits that will be on show in North America this summer. The result of the tournament being expanded to a bumper 48-team event and some sides bizarrely opting to have three separate strips means there will be more than 100 different shirts on view in North America, which is undoubtedly some sort of record. Here are the 20 best kits of the 2026 World Cup – ranked: 20. Senegal (Home) Granted, there is a lot going on here, but we’d prefer that to something boring from one of Africa’s dominant forces at the World Cup. Senegal’s home shirt is inspired by the hand-painted buses of its capital city, Dakar, featuring an eye-catching abstract print all over it. It’s just a shame PUMA decided to dial down the colors. 19. Algeria (Away) The adidas Originals ‘Trefoil’ has returned to their away jerseys, giving them an unmistakably retro vibe. Algeria’s offering oozes understated class, featuring shadow stripes, a darker shade of green on the sleeves and a red trim that really pops. The off-centered numbering is a very nice touch, too. 18. Cote d’Ivoire (Home) Cote d’Ivoire always catch the eye in their vibrant orange home strips, but PUMA have taken things up a notch ahead of the World Cup. Les Elephants’ home shirt carries a striking animal print design on that classic orange base, with flashes of green on the side panels. It celebrates the country’s unified passion for the beautiful game. 17. Germany (Away) Adidas has delivered something a bit different for Germany’s away kit — the country the sportswear giant calls home. It features an unusual navy blue base with ‘aqua-blue’ embellishments, with the color palette blending hues from different eras of the national team from the 1950s to the 80s. The all-over chevron pattern really pops. 16. South Korea (Home) Nike’s South Korea kits always seem to go hard, and 2026 is no different as Son Heung-min and Co. look to cause a stir once again in North America. The design cleverly draws inspiration both from the country’s mountainous landscape and tiger print on a ‘lobal red’ base, playing on the idea of an ambush by the big cats, which are one of their most prominent national symbols. 15. England (Home) Is this the shirt in which England will end their agonizing 60-year wait for a major trophy on the men’s side of the game? They’ll certainly hope so. Nike have evoked some serious retro vibes for the Three Lions’ new home shirt, which is seemingly inspired by the iconic Umbro number from 2000. The modern take features a subtle all-over Three Lions motif, with striking red numbering, trim and detail on the collar and cuffs. 14. Canada (Home) One of the host nations, Canada will look the part on home soil in their striking new Nike home kit. The American sportswear manufacturer has come up with a creative way of incorporating the country’s most prominent cultural and natural symbol, the maple leaf. An oversized motif takes center stage, with the leaf delineated by darker shades of red across the body. 13. Jordan (Third) Yep, you read that correctly — some countries will actually have third kits at the World Cup. If that isn’t too much of a ‘game’s gone’ moment for you, then hopefully you will appreciate Jordan’s third kit from Kelme. A clean, black base, this shirt is all about the subtle floral motif that covers most of the body. Let’s just hope we get to see a glimpse of it on the pitch. 12. DR Congo (Home) Umbro are not messing about with DR Congo’s home shirt as the African nation prepares to contest a World Cup for the first time since 1974, when it was known as Zaire. Mainly blue with neat trim on the sleeves and collar, it’s all about the striking print across the torso, which apparently draws from the power and agility of the leopard. 11. Spain (Home) There’s nothing overcomplicated about Spain’s very clean adidas home kit, but that rich navy blue notably returns to the sleeve panels for the first time since the early 2000s to give it a retro feel. The European champions will be out for global domination in North America, and this is a kit worthy of their cause, with the look completed by yellow pinstripes that draw from the national flag and crest. 10. Qatar (Home) One you might not expect to sneak into our top 10, but the color combination and subtle zigzag pattern on Qatar’s home shirt have grabbed our attention. The maroon colorway is complimented by simple white trim and numbering, with the central, vertical motif inspired by the nation’s flag. 9. Argentina (Home) Adidas have rarely gotten an Argentina shirt wrong in their long association with the great footballing nation, and they’ve continued the roll of hits in 2026 with both the home and away shirts for the World Cup holders. They haven’t messed with a winning formula, with the new home edition once again carrying three vertical stripes in that famous celestial blue, with the ‘Three Stripes’ and trim in black. Simple in its beauty. 8. Argentina (Away) Argentina will be looking to defend their crown in North America, and their away kit is a thing of beauty. The country’s rich artistic heritage takes center stage for their mainly black away shirt, in a design featuring a distinct swirling blue graphic pattern across the body that takes cues from traditional motifs. Intricate floral details, climbing plants and flashes of white complete a classy look. 7. Croatia (Away) Usually all the noise is around Croatia’s red and white home kit, but Nike have created a potential modern classic with their away shirt for the perennial dark horses. The shirt features the classic checkerboard print on the sides in two-tone blue, with a void in between where the crest, Nike ‘Swoosh’ and numbers will sit. Expect to see this one being worn off the pitch for years to come. 6. Sweden (Away) Sweden might have kept things basic with their home jersey, but their away strip is anything but. A ridiculously cool design on a classy dark blue base takes visual cues from the Scandinavian nation’s music and culture of the 1960s and 70s (think ABBA). The wavy print is utterly mesmeric and will be one of the most eye-catching on display in North America. 5. France (Home) We’re sure Nike’s fresh look for the France national team will have divided opinion, but credit to them for trying something different — and if things go Les Bleus way this summer, it could become a cult classic. The shirt certainly ticks the retro box with its big collar and defining geometric gradient print in a big departure from what the American sportswear behemoth has produced for the French over the past 16 years. 4. Germany (Home) This one has us downing steins and donning lederhosen! German big hitters adidas love a throwback when producing a shirt for their home nation, and the new home strip for Die Nationalmannschaft is a thing of beauty. It clearly draws on their designs from the late 80s and early 90s, as the colors of the German flag stretch over each shoulder and meet in the middle. The designers will hope a side that has underwhelmed at recent tournaments can do it justice in North America. 3. Curaçao (Away) The smallest nation to have qualified for the World Cup, 150,000-strong Curaçao will be packing a big punch in their adidas away strip. Featuring the retro ‘Trefoil’, the pale yellow base is perfectly complimented by striking dark blue trium and the iconic ‘Three Stripes’ in red, green and orange to really catch the eye. 2. Japan (Home) We are pretty certain there has never been a bad design in the history of adidas’ collaboration with the Japan national team, and that certainly ain’t going to change this summer. Evoking the manufacturer’s ‘Teamgeist’ templates of the mid-noughties, the home shirt is retro-tinged but very much ready for the modern day. The focal point is an abstract graphic inspired by the iconic haze on the horizon where the sea meets the sky in the Asian nation. 1. Mexico (Home) Could this be the shirt to break Mexico’s curse of the ‘Quinto Partido’?! The host nation has only ever gone beyond the last-16 stage on home soil (in 1970 and 1986), and they will hope they can repeat that feat wearing their sublime new adidas home strip. Featuring striking traditional motifs in dark green against a lighter base, adidas say it represents the country’s energy and pride, celebrating a nation that lives and breathes the beautiful game.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

As Shohei Ohtani fired six scoreless innings Wednesday to drop his ERA on the year to 0.74, the third-lowest mark through the first 10 starts of a season in MLB history, he continued to feature a new element to his game. And it’s one that might be necessary as the two-way star tries to capture his first ever Cy Young Award in a year that features a slew of formidable contenders for MLB’s top pitching honor. While Ohtani’s strikeout rate is down from his career norms, his 51.7% groundball rate is the highest of his career — up more than 10% from last year and 6% from his previous career high —  and the fourth-highest among all starters who’ve thrown at least 60 innings this year. On Wednesday in Arizona, he began his start by inducing three straight groundouts in a spotless first inning and ended it with a double-play grounder from Corbin Carroll to escape a sixth-inning threat. Ohtani struck out six and got eight groundouts on the night while needing just 89 pitches through six innings. His ability to keep the ball on the ground has played an important role in his success, helping him limit slug — he has allowed a home run in just one of his 10 appearances this year — and consistently go deep into games, which he’ll need to do if he wants any chance of winning a Cy Young. The Dodgers continue riding with a six-man rotation, even with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow down, in part to manage Ohtani’s innings and workload. Unlike other Cy Young contenders, Ohtani can’t afford even the occasional clunker. He’s pitching like he knows it, going at least six innings in all but one of his 10 starts, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his 10 starts and holding opponents to an MLB-low .142 batting average. Since the earned run became an official stat, Jacob deGrom (0.56 ERA, 2021) and Juan Marichal (0.59 ERA, 1966) are the only pitchers with a lower ERA through their first 10 starts of a season than Ohtani. “I think a lot of starting pitchers, you feel your way into a game and you give up a couple early and you bear down,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But I’ve noticed with Shohei, every run is a premium. He’s literally trying to throw a shutout every time he goes out there, where I don’t know if every starter has that mindset.” Since the mound was lowered in 1969, only 28 pitchers who qualified for the ERA title have finished a season with an ERA under 2.00. That number drops to 25 pitchers if you eliminate the shortened 2020 season. The lowest ERA in that time belongs to Dwight Gooden, who had a 1.53 ERA in 1985. Ohtani’s ERA, after holding his opponent scoreless in half of his 10 starts this year, is half of Gooden’s mark (0.74). But, as of Thursday, Ohtani is just shy of qualifying for the ERA title. He’s tied for 74th in innings pitched and currently on pace to throw 159 innings. Over the last 20 years, the fewest number of innings pitched by a Cy Young starter over the course of a full season is 167 by Corbin Burnes. Ohtani will have his work cut out for him to reach that number. And in a year in which the Phillies’ Christopher Sánchez just racked up 50.2 consecutive scoreless innings and the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski is running a strikeout rate near 40%, Ohtani must maintain a sizable ERA lead and routinely rack up starts of six and seven innings if he hopes to win MLB’s top pitching honor. Keeping the ball on the ground, the way he has to this point, will help. Ohtani’s arsenal hasn’t changed dramatically to allow him to post the highest groundball rate and lowest home-run rate of his career. While he has incorporated more of his curveball and splitter this year, he still leans primarily on his four-seamer and sweeper — two of the best pitches in baseball — throwing them a combined 75.3% of the time. Rather, Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness believes that Ohtani’s elevated ground-ball rate is mostly the result of the pitcher’s enhanced ability to read the game, understand opponents’ tendencies and mess with a hitter’s timing by varying his delivery and velocity. Sometimes, that can help him avoid barrels and get harmless contact to end an at-bat quickly. Other times — like when he slowed his mechanics down to end an 11-pitch at-bat against Francisco Lindor in April — it can help him get a strikeout when he needs one. “He’s one of the best self-coaches we have,” McGuiness told me last week. “I think he’s kind of just found a consistent delivery and throw right now. He’s tapped into a crazy amount of power, and he’s just avoiding the fat part of the plate.” Over his last four starts, Ohtani has surrendered just nine hits and one run — and that’s while fighting his command through a large portion of that stretch. Wednesday’s start, in which he allowed just one free pass, represented a step in the right direction. He allowed three baserunners as a pitcher and reached base five times as a hitter, getting his batting average up above .300 for the first time since Opening Day. After a slow start to the year offensively, he now has the lowest ERA in MLB as a pitcher and the third-highest OPS in the National League as a hitter. “He’s the best player that’s ever walked this earth,” said catcher Will Smith. This year, he might also be the best pitcher, too. “When Shohei says he’s going to go do something, we all believe it,” McGuiness told me. “Like, he’s probably going to go do it. It is unbelievable. No words can really describe what he’s accomplishing right now, and honestly I think we’re just scratching the surface on the best version of him, which is even scarier to think about.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Emerse Faé deserves a lot of credit as he pulled off quite an upset in his hometown. The Ivory Coast manager, born in the French city of Nantes, led the team he once represented as a player to one of the biggest shocks in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup by beating tournament favorite France. But Thursday’s result now raises concerns about France’s scoring efficiency and its killer instinct to put a winnable game away. It also now puts the spotlight on an Ivory Coast team that could now be one of the potential dark horses of the tournament. The defining story of this game was how Ivory Coast turned the tide of the game and rose in the second half, largely through the contributions of French-born players Guéla Doué (whose brother Désiré Doué plays for France) and Nicolas Pépé. Then it was Guéla who assisted Amad Diallo on the winner. Here are my takeaways: 1. France Wastefulness A Concern France controlled the game in Nantes in the early going but could not put the game away. It wasn’t until Rayan Cherki’s 45th minute goal when Les Bleus found the back of the net. French manager Didier Deschamps made the obvious decision to not start the players who recently won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, notably Ousmane Dembélé. That still left impressive quality such as Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery, Désiré Doué, and Lucas Hernández on the bench. Despite that, France was able to start a first-rate attack including Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram, and Michael Olise. The Ivory Coast did well enough to keep the game scoreless at 0-0 for as long as it did and in fact had a chance to strike first when Simon Adingra took advantage of a mistake from Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni to go one on one with keeper Mike Maignan, only to see the AC Milan man come up with the save. Despite the edge in the first half, France was wasteful throughout. Mbappé saw a good chance saved by Yahia Fofana in the opening minutes. Thuram and Olise would also fail to take advantage of goal-scoring chances in the first half. Mbappé was particularly guilty. The Real Madrid star trails Olivier Giroud by just one goal to become France’s all-time goalscorer, but has faced criticism of his finishing inefficiency and missed chances close to goal. This game, played in front of home fans, will only increase these concerns. Ultimately, their failure to put the game away in the first half sunk them. Where France was wasteful, Ivory Coast was clinical as the team equalized in the 53rd minute when Guéla Doué was sent in alone on Maignan with a perfect pass from Villarreal’s Pépé. Then, in the 84th minute, it was Doué setting up Diallo with a pass from the right wing which the Manchester United attacker was able to finish from the middle of the box. At the World Cup, chances will be harder to come by and unless France is able to make the most of its chances, they could find it a difficult road despite their immense talent. 2. Ivory Coast’s Discipline Pays Off In the early goings, it seemed as if this game was going to a coast for France. Deschamps’s team was in control of the pace and had the bulk of first chances. But the Ivory Coast grew into the game and now Fae has the opportunity to lead the Ivory Coast to a meaningful win that should give it momentum heading into the World Cup. Playing on the road against a World Cup favorite and trailing at the half, Ivory Coast responded by playing brilliantly. In the end, the goals it scored were through impressive individual quality with passing that cut through the French midfield and backline. In the early goings, the Ivory Coast could have become frustrated or overwhelmed, but instead they maintained their resolve, and let their individual quality play out. Right back Doué was the best player on the field in this game. The Strasbourg winger pushed forward in the attack effectively and was able to notch a goal and an assist. Defensively, he was also very impressive in his ability to help contain France’s attack down his side of the field. He also earned a bit of household bragging rights with the victory over his brother’s team. 3. Cherki’s Case To Start On a team as talented as Les Bleus, the internal competition for minutes at the World Cup is fierce. Rayan Cherki is generally not considered a starter for a first-choice French team, but the Manchester City attacker made a great case on Thursday as he was the best player on the field in the first half. A long-time veteran of France’s youth teams and a member of the 2024 Olympic team that won the silver medal, the Lyon native has been making inroads with the full French team over the past year. Cherki did not make his debut for France until June 5, 2025, when he also scored his first goal. Shortly before halftime, he scored his second career international goal to give the hosts a 1-0 edge. It wasn’t just the goal, Cherki was on the ball throughout his entire 78 minutes and was consistently getting into dangerous places and finding his teammates in the attack. He ultimately was one of the few bright spots on a bad day for France. 4. Ivory Coast As A Dark Horse? That has been some talk about the Ivory Coast being a potential sleeper team who could make a run this summer. The team has a manageable group with Ecuador, Curaçao, and Germany rounding out Group E. But now, the expectations will only be heightened. A win over Curaçao should be expected and a result over Germany would take a similar level of resolve as defeating France. The game against Ecuador could be an even match. What should be encouraging for the Ivory Coast is that this result over France was not how a typical upset goes where a set piece, a penalty, or a red card evens the game. The Ivory Coast scored twice from the run of play with first-rate passing and effective finishing. What this game showed was that Ivory Coast as the talent to play with the best and the players are confident in their ability.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A year before making coach Mauricio Pochettino’s USA roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Matt Freese had never even played an international game. Now, he heads into the Greatest Show in Sports as the Stars and Stripes’ projected No. 1 goalkeeper. Freese has taken an unusual path to get to this point. The son of a renowned neurosurgeon and a health care executive who prioritized books over sports, the now-27-year-old turned down Manchester United as a teenager to attend Harvard, from which he earned an economics degree in 2022. That alone makes Philadelphia native Freese perhaps the most interesting man on Pochettino’s 26-player World Cup roster. I sat down with the New York City FC backstop to dive deeper into who he is. Your family was into academics, your late father, Dr. Andrew Freese, especially. Why were you so into sports when that’s not what you got at home? It’s pretty random, isn’t it? I think because it provides an avenue to compete very tangibly. Usually it’s binary: There’s one winner and one loser. I love winning, and I really hate losing. So I think the competition aspect of it really is what drove me to love athletics. You played lots of different sports as a kid. Were you good at any others? My best sport was probably lacrosse, but I just didn’t love it the way I love soccer. I read that you always wanted to be a keeper. When I lived in South Carolina, my neighbor was the goalkeeper for our area’s high school team who won the state championship for them in penalty kicks. I idolized him as an 8-year-old kid. That kind of sparked my interest. But it wasn’t until I was probably 11 that I got to play goalkeeper in a real game. You’d taken shots from your older brother before that, though, right? We’d been playing in the backyard all along. I had this one ridiculous save my first time playing goalkeeper, so from there the coach let me play occasionally. It wasn’t until probably 16, 17 when I became a goalkeeper exclusively. That’s pretty late for a future World Cup keeper. What’s funny is, I never had any burnout because I had a consistent yearning for more soccer. My interest and love for the game didn’t even fully peak until I was like, 19 or 20. Keepers are crazy, right? You seem like a pretty normal guy. [Laughs.] It’s just because you don’t know me that well. I’m not normal at all. There’s a long history of American keepers playing other sports. Tony Meola was drafted by the Yankees. Brad Friedel played football. Tim Howard played basketball. Did it help you? So much. It enabled me to learn a pretty broad variety of skill sets. Goalkeeper is such an athletically multifaceted position. You need hand-eye coordination, speed, strength, decision-making, to be able to jump. You need everything. You moved around a lot as a kid. Was it hard to become a fan of particular teams? I was 10 when we settled in Philly. I moved like seven times before then, but we stayed in Philly after that, so I fell in love with all those teams: Eagles, Sixers, Flyers. That was the same time that the Philadelphia Union started. My mom was able to get tickets for us to go to the first game. That was probably part of the reason that I fell in love with that team. And then you got cut from their academy. What was that like? This was before the academy actually, when I was 11 or 12. They had this thing called the Union Juniors program. I got cut from that when I was probably 12 or 13.  I was still playing four other sports. I was pudgy back then too, which probably didn’t help. But I worked my ass off and got invited back and made the academy when it launched full-time. You also went over to England and trained with Liverpool and Manchester United. Tell me about that experience. I came from such a non-soccer background that I don’t think I knew how big of a deal that was in the moment. Maybe that was good, because I played very freely when I was over there. Honestly, I balled out. Manchester United wanted to sign you, but you turned it down. Why? I was an 18-year-old kid. You follow what your parents want for you, at least in that moment. A year and a half later, I became a man, and I said that now soccer comes first. You went to Harvard instead. Pretty good second option. It was a lifelong dream of my parents for me to go to college. I promised them I would do my first year and see what happens. After that first year, I said I’m not putting this on hold anymore and went pro. The goal was to make the 2020 Olympic team, right? My dream was always to represent my country, whether it’s the Olympics or now, at the World Cup. At that moment, I had my eyes set on the 2020 Olympics and for me to be considered, I had to leave college. Playing for the 2-13 team that we were at Harvard wasn’t going to cut it. So I really just had to make that leap. You did graduate from Harvard, though. How did you do it? I wanted to graduate, and I had that opportunity. The only reason I wouldn’t have done it is if it was going to detract from soccer, but it definitely didn’t. It was the opposite. It helped me so much on the field. My rookie year in MLS was a total mess. I was injured like four or five times. My body, my mind, my emotions were not ready for the pressure that an 11-month season puts on you. I wasn’t taking classes then. But my second year I started again, and it allowed me to have an outlet to release some of the pressure. Still, juggling school and a pro soccer career must’ve been difficult. When you’re 20 years old, you need something to keep you focused when you’re off the field. It created a regimen, a routine, a reason for me on a Thursday night to be at home, sitting at a desk at 9 p.m. doing homework, yeah, and then going to sleep early. So it was, it was a massive part of my development. That’s fascinating. There’s a ton of research that suggests that intellectual and academic brain stimulation also translates into adaptability and quick, quick cognitive processes on the field. That’s one of my biggest strengths, my adaptability to new systems and the speed at which I learn things on the field. While we’re on the topic of school, you did your thesis on penalty kicks? It wasn’t a thesis, there was a project about it. I’m not answering anything about that. That story has been told, we can move on. I’ve got too many shootouts left! Your paternal grandparents were from Germany, a soccer power. But your dad wasn’t into soccer at all? Not at all. I actually never met them. They passed away when he was young. How did you become introduced to the sport? My brother loved soccer, and we watched it all the time together. Now, I realize he was my first goalkeeper trainer. I owe so much of this to him. But it was just a random love for the game that I found. It was a challenging time in my young life, moving around a lot. My parents were getting divorced. Soccer was something that just allowed me to feel at home. With NYCFC, you wear number 49 for your maternal grandfather, Jack, who was an Air Force pilot and AFL quarterback. My mom says I remind her of him: Big, broad shoulders, 6-foot-5. He was number 49 during his football career, and so that’s why I love 49. I’d wear it at the World Cup, but the highest number allowed is 26. Where did your nickname, “Matty Ice,” originate? I’m from the same area as Matt Ryan. One of my gym teachers knew him in high school or something and started calling me Matty Ice. It didn’t fully stick then. The one that stuck was Booger, the nickname my brother gave me when I was 6 years old, and that one really stuck. NYCFC’s nickname is the Pigeons. Do you like that one? I think pigeons are cool. It’s crazy to think you had never played for the national team until June 2025. How do you process that? My favorite quote is from Daryl Morey, the former 76ers president: “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.” People see a meteoric rise during the past 12 months. I see 15 years of hard work before that, so that I can capitalize when that moment comes. What would it mean to you to be standing there on the field on June 12 for the USA’s first World Cup game? It would be such an honor, part of a dream come true. I dreamt specifically of winning World Cup games representing my country. I’m super competitive. I want to win eight games this summer. There’s a lot of work left for that full dream to come true. You’ve said you love pressure. There’s no more pressure than the World Cup and being a host nation, right? I was born with this desire to be in the most pressure games, the most pressure moments, the highest-stakes games, to be a difference maker. That’s just been part of who I am as an athlete my whole life, is that I’m there for the big moments. What can this team accomplish this summer? We want to set a new standard for American soccer, to do for this sport in this country what the ’94 group did when the World Cup was here last. That started the love for the game in America. We want to continue to raise the bar and inspire 5- to 10-year-olds who are watching this game so that in 15 years from now, they’re setting another new standard.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It’s not often that you get two blockbuster NFL trades in June, but that’s what Monday brought us — and it still seems likely that there are some more moves to come. A.J. Brown was widely viewed as the top trade candidate available following free agency, with the Philadelphia Eagles trading him to the New England Patriots on Monday. However, that deal was usurped by the Los Angeles Rams’ acquisition of two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who didn’t seem to be available prior to Monday’s deal. So, with those two stars finding new homes this week, who are the top names still available? We’re offering up five names, and none of them are nearly the caliber of Garrett or Brown. The NFL trade market was hurt by Wednesday’s news that the Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat won’t get moved, too. Still, these five players could provide some value to their new potential homes, even if they’re traded for just a mid-to-late-round draft pick years from now. But now is the time to be aggressive, to address a concern before it’s glaring in September and get a new player in the building in time to learn his team and scheme ahead of training camp. Here are the five best remaining trade candidates, and picking the top potential landing spot for each: Kayvon Thibodeaux is only 25 and playing this year on his fifth-year option, making $14.8 million. But the New York Giants are loaded at edge rusher, with Brian Burns and second-year star Abdul Carter already getting the majority of the snaps last season. Throw in rookie Arvell Reese into the mix as well, as he’ll likely have some pass-rush usage, even if he’s primarily a linebacker. Thibodeaux has missed 12 games over the last two seasons, totaling only eight sacks (including 2.5 last year), but a team needing help at edge would be hoping to get the player who had 11.5 sacks in 2023. His salary is a lot for a rotational edge rusher, so unless they really want expensive protection against injury, a trade makes a lot of sense for the Giants. POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: New England Patriots, where former Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is now a defensive analyst. Can the San Francisco 49ers find a taker for Brandon Aiyuk? The 28-year-old hasn’t played since injuring his knee in October 2024, and the 49ers were able to get his 2026 guarantees voided, but he still has injury concerns and a massive contract. San Francisco has the same dead money against their cap if it cuts him or trades him — $33 million, split over this year and next. He wants to go to the Washington Commanders, reuniting with his former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels. But even giving up a future seventh-rounder for Aiyuk means committing to paying him $26 million this year, and he wouldn’t command that as a free agent, so the Commanders might be content to wait the 49ers out until they just cut him. That might be the likely outcome, San Francisco waiting until just before training camp starts and then cutting him loose. POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: Washington Commanders, where former 49ers front office exec Adam Peters is now the general manager. Anthony Richardson shows how quickly a prospect can lose his window, even as a No. 4 overall pick. He just turned 24, but with the Indianapolis Colts giving Daniel Jones two years and $88 million, he’s not a central part of their plans. Richardson recovered from an eye injury last year, and there’s uncertainty about when Jones will be fully recovered from a torn Achilles tendon, but Indianapolis is more likely to trust second-year pro Riley Leonard. The Colts just signed Easton Stick as a fourth quarterback, which could be them setting depth ahead of a trade. A team acquiring Richardson would have to pay him a $4 million roster bonus in July, but if you don’t have a long-term answer at the position and don’t see yourself landing a high draft pick in 2027, he’d be an inexpensive option to look at and even re-sign inexpensively when he becomes a free agent in March. Richardson actually has an 8-7 record as a starter, but a 50% career completion rate is alarming, with more career interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (11). He’s rushed for 634 yards in 17 career games, but that’s only a plus if you can improve his passing skills enough to keep him on the field. He’s in a similar boat to Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, pushed out by the team that drafted him and in the final year of his rookie contract, available for pennies on the dollar compared to his original draft value. POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: Detroit Lions, who could use a developmental backup with Teddy Bridgewater as QB2. Alvin Kamara just turned 30, and with the New Orleans Saints signing Travis Etienne in free agency, he won’t be the Saints’ featured back for the first time in his career. He only played 11 games last year, but averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry — he averaged at least 4.5 yards in each of his first four seasons, but has averaged below that in each of his last five. He’s always been a strong pass-catching back, so his value to a new team might be as a complementary back for third downs and in the passing game. New Orleans takes on $18 million in dead money (split over two years) if they cut him and $15 million if they trade him. They’ve moved on from key veterans from those final Drew Brees playoff teams in the last year, and Kamara makes sense as the next one to go. Kamara has maintained that he wants to finish his career with the Saints, so the threat of him retiring rather than reporting to a new team might lessen what the Saints can get. POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: Buffalo Bills, where former longtime Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is now the offensive coordinator. The Miami Dolphins have garage-sold or cut so many of their best players out of town this offseason, releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and edge rusher Bradley Chubb and trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. So, linebacker Jordyn Brooks is essentially the meme of the Fresh Prince alone and looking wistfully around an empty room. He’s in the final year of his contract, making a reasonable $8 million. It’s possible Miami wants to keep him as one key piece, but it should be active enough in 2027 free agency that it won’t be able to get a compensatory pick for losing him. Brooks was a first-team All-Pro after leading the league with 183 total tackles last year, adding 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, so he’s a smart target for a linebacker-needy team. If it doesn’t happen before the season, it feels inevitable he lands with a contender at the trade deadline. POTENTIAL LANDING SPOT: Dallas Cowboys, who need all the defensive upgrades they can get after last season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Summer break is fast approaching for NFL teams. Over the next two weeks, they’ll be wrapping up their offseason programs. During the long wait for football’s return, what will be the top question lingering over every club? I pick one key query for each NFC team (stay tuned for the AFC edition Friday): NFC East On paper, the Dallas Cowboys are much improved on defense. Five of their seven draft picks were used on that side of the ball — most notably first-round picks Caleb Downs, who’s been touted as a generational defensive back prospect, and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. Dallas also traded for standout edge Rashan Gary (7.5 sacks last season). Safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant headline their free-agent acquisitions. But it will be up to the 34-year-old Parker, a first-time defensive playcaller, to put all the talent together into a competent unit. The Cowboys’ hopes of returning to the playoffs, and a potential postseason run, could hinge on the former defensive backs coach. Dart is learning a new system, with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy taking over as Giants OC under new head coach John Harbaugh. There’s also a question of whether New York has enough firepower around the 2025 first-round pick. The biggest concern is star receiver Malik Nabers, who, after tearing his ACL last season, had a cleanup procedure earlier this offseason. Nabers’ availability for the start of the season remains unclear, and fellow receiver Darius Slayton has also been sidelined with a core muscle injury. The signing of Odell Beckham Jr. is nostalgic for New York fans, but at 33 years old, there’s no guarantee that he even makes the roster. [Odell Beckham’s Giants Reunion A Futile Trip Down Memory Lane] For months, the Philadelphia Eagles had been preparing their roster for the eventual departure of three-time All-Pro receiver Brown, who was officially traded to the New England Patriots on June 1. Philadelphia drafted USC’s Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick, signed veteran receivers Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency and traded for wideout Dontayvion Wicks. But can they fill the void left by Brown, who posted four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Eagles? More will be asked of DeVonta Smith as quarterback Jalen Hurts’ top target. After missing 10 games due to injury last year, the Washington Commanders QB said he has a “bitter taste” in his mouth. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year will look to get back on track with a new offensive coordinator in David Blough, who was Washington’s assistant quarterbacks coach the previous two seasons. NFC Central If you thought this past year couldn’t have been any better for Williams, who led the Chicago Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff victory over the Packers last season, he was announced as the cover athlete for “Madden NFL 27” in early June — the first-ever Bear to claim that honor. Williams & Co. face big expectations to build on what was Chicago’s first playoff appearance since 2020 and first division crown since 2018. A fourth-place schedule in 2026 could help the Detroit Lions return to double-digit wins in the 2026 season. But the play of the offensive line, which was an issue last year, will go a long way to Detroit reestablishing itself as a dominant team. The revamped unit has All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell flipping from the right to left side. No. 2 running back David Montgomery is out of the picture, having been traded to the Houston Texans. The pass-rush help for Aidan Hutchinson and the health of the secondary is paramount for the Lions, too. Starting defensive backs Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed and Brian Branch missed a combined 20 games in 2025. Recovering from a torn ACL suffered in mid-December, Parsons told reporters in early June that he’s about four months away from playing, which would put his return around October. But even if that timeline holds, there’s a question of how long it’ll take the superstar edge rusher to truly get his feet back under him. Green Bay will need Parsons at full strength down the stretch for what is expected to be a playoff push. The Vikings signed veteran quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy to be QB1. Murray may have the slight advantage — the stakes are high in Minnesota after GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing in January — but the two quarterbacks have been splitting first-team reps in offseason practices. NFC South Michael Penix Jr., who’s making his way back from a third torn ACL, and former Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa, who signed with Atlanta in March, are in a full-fledged competition to be the Falcons’ QB1. Penix has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 work, so Tagovailoa has had the early advantage in reps with the starting offense. Carolina picked up the fifth-year option in Young’s rookie deal, keeping him under contract through 2027. But the former No. 1 overall pick will need to build on an encouraging 2025 campaign to justify a long-term deal. He posted career-best passing numbers last season — a 63.6% completion rate for 3,011 yards and 23 TDs with 11 INTs — leading the Panthers to their first playoff appearance since 2017. Shough finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season, despite starting just nine games. And he has ideal circumstances to build off his promising 2025 campaign. The former Louisville standout is entering Year 2 with coach Kellen Moore, and the Saints prioritized bolstering the surrounding offense. New Orleans signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and used the No. 8 overall pick on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Mayfield had his worst season with Tampa Bay in 2025, and the Bucs failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The former No. 1 overall pick will have his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons with the Bucs in Zac Robinson, and franchise legend Mike Evans — one of Mayfield’s favorite receiving targets — departed in free agency. NFC West Despite the uncertainty at quarterback — Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck are the options — new Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur has plenty of talent on offense. But there are questions about whether the team has enough on the offensive line to give Love, the running back picked at No. 3 overall, a chance at success. For two seasons, receiver Harrison has failed to live up to the hype as the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 draft. LaFleur was a wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator with the Niners before working as an OC the past five seasons, so perhaps he’ll bring an approach that can unlock Harrison’s talent. After the blockbuster trade for superstar defensive end Myles Garrett, the Los Angeles Rams have surged as the favorite to win Super Bowl LXI. They had already acquired former All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in what’s been an aggressive offseason. According to FOX Sports Research, it will mark the first time that a reigning MVP (Matthew Stafford) and DPOY (Garrett) will play on the same team in the following season (excluding Lawrence Taylor and Alan Page, who won both awards in 1986 and ‘71, respectively). Anything less than a Super Bowl trip would be a disappointment for Los Angeles. [Ranking The Top 10 Moves After Myles Garrett, A.J. Brown Trades] Injuries have been a recurring issue for the San Francisco 49ers for years, and health could shape their fortunes once again in 2026. Stars George Kittle (Achilles), Nick Bosa (ACL) and Fred Warner (ankle) all enter the new year coming off season-ending injuries. Darnold beat the bust label years ago. But how he responds to a larger workload in 2026, coming off a Super Bowl victory, remains to be seen. The two-time Pro Bowler no longer has the luxury of having Kenneth Walker III in the backfield, and Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the start of the season with a torn ACL. And with a first-time offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury replacing Klint Kubiak, Darnold may need to take greater ownership of the Seahawks’ offense.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Russell Wilson has called it a career, officially. A few days after announcing his NFL broadcasting aspirations, Wilson released a video to coronate his playing career. The 13-year quarterback reminisced on his favorite NFL moments. He thanked the coaches and teammates who lifted him up along the way. He laid all the emotions out there. “Thank you, football,” Wilson said to conclude the video. “I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.” Wilson remembers “falling in love” with football while playing for fun with his father and brother. Eventually, he said, “my love for football turned from something more than a passion. It was an obsession.” In college, Wilson led the Wisconsin Badgers to a Rose Bowl victory in his senior year of college, while leading the Big Ten with 33 touchdowns. He was then selected with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson said he remains grateful to former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for his role in that decision. “To coach Carroll, thank you for taking a chance on a young, 5-11, Black kid, from Richmond, Virginia, that was told ‘he was too small to ever make it in the NFL,’” Wilson said in his retirement video. “We knew what winning was like.” Wilson and Carroll led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos. The Seahawks returned the following year, but lost Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots. He won 104 games over 10 years in Seattle, while earning nine Pro Bowl selections. “To Seattle, you raised me,” Wilson said. “Not just all the wins and crazy loud games. But also the forever memories after we won the Super Bowl.” Wilson played four seasons outside of Seattle — two in Denver, one with the Pittsburgh Steelers and another with the New York Giants in 2025. While he didn’t experience the same success as he did for the Seahawks, his teammates, he said, made an impact. “To every teammate I’ve had the privilege of sharing the locker room with, thank you for the sacrifices, the brotherhood, the memories.” Wilson will remain in the living rooms of football fans, players and coaches everywhere, but his playing days will not soon be forgotten.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

We’ll learn a lot more about the U.S. national team on Saturday, when it takes on Germany in Chicago. We should see what head coach Mauricio Pochettino is thinking for his starting lineup, which I’ll talk about below, and get a look at what we can expect during the tournament. I sifted through an avalanche of your questions from FOX Soccer’s Instagram. Here are the best and my thoughts on the team. Q: What’s the answer to the midfield issues we had against Senegal? — Braden Griffin (@braden.griffin) Mo: I think we’ll learn that against Germany. After Sebastian Berhalter played 60 minutes and started alongside Tyler Adams, I’m expecting that we’ll see a different starting lineup on Saturday. My guess is that we see Weston McKennie next to Adams. McKennie came on for the second half against Senegal and played in midfield alongside Christian Roldan. I think we’ll see McKennie in that role from the start against Germany. If that happens, I see Malik Tillman slotting into the starting XI. I’m biased because it’s a position I played, but the midfield is where you win control of the match. That part of the field helps facilitate everything, whether it’s supporting the defense or helping the attack. The midfield sets the tempo. Adams and McKennie were part of the midfield trio that was so heavily praised and played well in the last World Cup with Yunus Musah. Having two of those three available and in form, that’s huge. Adams might not have the armband, but he’s the captain of the group. When McKennie is on the pitch and at his best, which he is, the team has a different bounce to it. They’re known each other since they were kids and are leaders within their own right on the field. Tyler is more demanding, communicative and expressive, while Wes is a leader by example and makes big plays that shift momentum. You won’t see some of these things on the stat sheet. The experience of playing together is invaluable. They can cover ground in an incredible way, but Adams’ range allows McKennie to pick his moments going forward, not to hinder his traits in attack. Their balance and understanding is so valuable, and I expect we’ll see the start of their World Cup journey together on Saturday against Germany. Q: Pepi looked great against Senegal. Would you start him again against Germany? — @john.cie7 Mo: Pepi did look good, and I was happy to see that. He started the game and was one of my highest-rated players against Senegal. Having another genuine option at striker is great, especially one who’s in form. While I was impressed by Pepi, I’m expecting to see the USA’s best starting lineup against Germany. That means Folarin Balogun would get the start as the No. 9 ahead of the World Cup opener against Paraguay. Q: Who should be the starting goalkeeper? — Ethan Armstrong (@edogmoney8) Mo: Matt Freese is going to be the starting goalkeeper for the World Cup. That said, Matt Turner has made a real case to win that role back. He has closed the gap between him and Freese. Turner made some key saves against Senegal, including one on star winger Sadio Mané, during his 45 minutes. He also has World Cup experience after starting in 2022, which could help his case. Chris Brady, who was the presumptive third-string keeper, played the second half against Senegal. Especially entering a big tournament, I would want to know who the starter is. I like the idea of competition, but I want to know who the No. 1 guy is. That’s not to say the backup isn’t competing and capable of stepping in, but I wanted it to be clear entering a tournament. The second goal against Senegal, that’s a lack of understanding between Brady and the defense. Having an understanding and experience between the goalkeeper and the defense, having continuity, that’s a relationship you want to really rely on. Clarity also does go a long way. If I’m playing center back, I want to know how my goalkeeper is playing so I know how aggressive I need to be. If a ball is being played into the box, I want to know what to expect. During my time with the national team, Tim Howard was always our goalkeeper. If he’s fit and available, he’s the guy. That’s not to say Brad Guzan wasn’t pushing him and capable. The chemistry and relationship that Howard had with his defenders, that was so valuable. They knew Howard’s voice in the back. Q: Is Trusty not a better option than Ream? — Tyler Holland (@tyler.j.holland7) Mo: I have to say, I’ve been really impressed with Trusty in his last two appearances for the national team. He won trophies this season with Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, and you can really see that confidence. Trusty has put himself in a good position to start on the left side of a back three on June 12. Q: Who will be the dark horse for the USMNT? — Jose Cadena (@jose313078) Mo: Defender Alex Freeman. I still consider him a dark horse because of his age and 15 caps, but I think his potential is incredible. Freeman, who moved to Villarreal in La Liga back in January, has a clear opportunity to show it off at the World Cup as a starter in defense. Another player I’ll throw out there is winger Alex Zendejas. Some may have seen his inclusion in the 26-man roster as a surprise, but not me. He enters the tournament in incredible form at the club level for Club América in Liga MX (Mexico) and gives the USA a different option in the final third. Q: Can this team win more than one game in the knockout rounds? — Brody Howell (@brody_howell94) Mo: The simple answer is yes. Is there a guarantee that will happen? Of course not. Nothing is. Heck, a win against Paraguay isn’t guaranteed. That said, I fully believe in this group to put itself in a position to do more than any men’s team has done previously. That means winning multiple games in the knockout rounds.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

For certain coaches and fans around the country, many of whom had been waiting with bated breath, last week’s NBA Draft withdrawal deadline finally afforded them the chance to exhale. The collective sigh you might have heard originated in places like East Lansing, Michigan, where point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. allowed the Spartans to breathe easier, and extended to Nashville, Tennessee, where point guard Tyler Tanner’s choice to return to school should propel Vanderbilt into the Top 25. Elsewhere, the reactions were far more tempered — crushed, even. Arizona bid farewell to star forward Koa Peat, a five-star freshman who made the surprising decision to remain in this year’s NBA Draft. And at Arkansas, whose coach, John Calipari, is accustomed to rebuilding efforts, the Razorbacks will need to replace standout guard Meleek Thomas. The draft giveth and the draft taketh away. With that in mind — and now that rosters are finally, sort of, almost complete — here’s a look at the top returning players in the sport ahead of the 2026-27 season: Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 190 poundsClass: Redshirt juniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 15.2 points, 9.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.4 minutes per game It’s anything but hyperbolic to say the trajectory of Michigan State’s upcoming season hinged on whether Fears, a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten performer, would decide to remain in the NBA Draft. He kept the Spartan faithful waiting until the absolute last minute, stretching his contemplative period — and the accompanying speculation on social media — all the way to the withdrawal deadline day. In the end, though, with most prognosticators viewing Fears as an early second-round pick, he decided to return for another year alongside head coach Tom Izzo. Though his on-court demeanor remains divisive, Fears should enter the 2026-27 campaign as arguably the best point guard in college basketball after leading the nation in assists last season. Fears will be counted on to demonstrate legitimate growth in maturity and leadership following the departures of veteran big men Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, both of whom exhausted their eligibility. This team belongs to Fears. Height: 6 feetWeight: 175 poundsClass: JuniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 33.5 minutes per game An incredible ascent from zero-star recruit to one of the more prolific scoring guards in the country vaulted Tanner into a legitimate draft prospect this spring, with most experts viewing him as a fringe first-round pick. Undeterred by an undersized frame, Tanner flashed strength on both ends of the court by earning first-team All-SEC honors while simultaneously being named to the conference’s All-Defensive Team last season. He was also inches away from connecting on a half-court heave against Nebraska that would have lifted Vanderbilt into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. As with Michigan State, the Commodores’ outlook changes quite significantly with Tanner returning for another season. His presence alone should be enough to earn Vanderbilt a spot in most preseason rankings and keep the program in the upper half of what projects as an incredibly competitive SEC landscape. Head coach Mark Byington has a chance to lead the Commodores to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for just the second time in school history. Height: 6-foot-9Weight: 215 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes per game For Haugh and his teammates, the dream of winning back-to-back national championships was shattered with a stunning second-round loss to No. 8 Iowa last March. In many ways, it was a defeat that could have signaled the end of an era for Florida, whose exceptional frontcourt trio of Haugh, Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu all faced individual decisions about the NBA Draft. With one expert after another projecting Haugh — a consensus second-team All-American last season — as a surefire first-round pick and likely lottery choice, his time in college seemed finished. But on April 21, more than a month before the NBA’s withdrawal deadline, Haugh announced his intention to return for another year, matching Condon’s decision from the week prior. And when Chinyelu decided to join them by removing his name from the draft last month, head coach Todd Golden’s band was officially back together. Now, the Gators will almost certainly enter the 2026-27 campaign as prohibitive national title favorites and the presumptive No. 1 team in the country. Height: 6-foot-8Weight: 225 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: Iowa State Last season: 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1 assist in 30.5 minutes per game Momcilovic faced two monumental choices in quick succession as the calendar inched from spring toward summer. First, the sharpshooting forward needed to decide whether to remain in the NBA Draft, where he projected as an early second-round pick. Once Momcilovic removed his name from consideration in late May, he was tasked with selecting a new collegiate destination after moving on from Iowa State. The dust finally settled late Monday evening when Momcilovic, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, committed to Kentucky over Louisville and Arizona. It’s easy to understand why 247Sports rated Momcilovic as the No. 2 overall player in this year’s transfer portal, trailing only former Kansas center Flory Bidunga, now at Louisville. He led the nation in both 3-point field goal percentage (48.7%) and 3-pointers made (136) for an Iowa State team that finished tied for third in a brutally difficult Big 12 and then reached the Sweet 16. Momcilovic chipped in at least three made 3s in 23 of 37 appearances for the Cyclones and reached a season-high eight 3-pointers on four separate occasions. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 195 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: Georgia Last season: 10.1 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 28.4 minutes per game After head coach Dan Hurley and his squad pushed No. 1 Michigan to the brink in this year’s national championship despite significant injuries to Demary (ankle) and guard Solo Ball (wrist), it left many UConn fans wondering what might have been. The Huskies never complete their stunning comeback against top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight without Demary’s two 3-pointers in the waning moments. Nor do they reach the title game without his seven points, seven assists and nine rebounds against Illinois in the Final Four. Still, those performances paled in comparison to what Demary offered at his best during the regular season. Time and again, Hurley credited Demary for instilling the team with levels of toughness and defensive intensity that raised UConn’s ceiling. Coaches around the conference seemed to agree: Hurley’s peers voted Demary first-team All-Big East and also placed him on the league’s All-Defensive Team. Demary and guard Braylon Mullins should form one of the sport’s best backcourts. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 203 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: Wisconsin Last season: 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.8 minutes per game One year removed from a near-silent transfer portal cycle in which head coach Jon Scheyer only added reserve center Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, the Blue Devils made much more of a splash this spring. In addition to signing former Belmont star Drew Scharnowski, the No. 31 overall transfer and No. 8 power forward in the portal, Scheyer also secured one of the sport’s best pure scorers in Blackwell. Any concerns about whether Blackwell would ever make it to Duke were erased on May 22 when he withdrew from the NBA Draft. A former three-star recruit, Blackwell developed into a highly effective three-level scorer during an impressive career with the Badgers. He increased his scoring average from 8 points per game as a freshman, to 15.8 per game as a sophomore, to a career-best 19.1 per game last season, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. Potency from beyond the arc (38.9%) and at the free-throw line (85.9%) made Blackwell a coveted option in this year’s portal cycle. Height: 6-foot-11Weight: 236 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game The statistic that most people referenced when discussing the impact of Florida’s mammoth frontcourt — which included Condon at power forward, Thomas Haugh at small forward (6-9, 215 pounds) and Reuben Chinyelu at center (6-10, 265 pounds) — was offensive rebounding rate. Those three players spearheaded a relentless assault on the glass that led to the Gators recouping more than 43% of their field goal attempts, second nationally behind only Tennessee. As a result, no team finished with a better rebounding margin than Florida’s mark of plus-14 per game. Having that kind of size proved equally beneficial on the defensive end, where the Gators ranked sixth nationally in adjusted efficiency and eighth in opponent 2-point field goal percentage. Condon’s two-way versatility was a major reason why. He finished as the team’s top player in Bayesian Performance Rating, according to EvanMiya.com, which is a metric that tracks an individual’s overall value whenever he’s on the floor. Height: 6-foot-9Weight: 250 poundsClass: SophomorePrevious schools: None Last season: 13.3 points, 8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 29.5 minutes per game Though Illinois fans could be forgiven for not knowing much about Mirkovic when he committed to head coach Brad Underwood, the coaches and scouts who closely follow international basketball were already overly familiar with his game. By then, Mirkovic had averaged 22.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championships while playing for his native Montenegro. The following year, he averaged 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across seven games in the 2023 U20 European Championship, where he was the youngest player. And in 2024 — not long before signing with Illinois — Mirkovic made his debut for Montenegro’s senior national team in a FIBA EuroBasket qualifier. Mirkovic’s versatility and overall feel for the game translated seamlessly to college, where he entrenched himself as a day-one starter for Underwood. He finished the season ranked 12th nationally among freshman in the PRPG! metric on Torvik, which calculates how many points per game an individual contributes beyond what a replacement-level player would offer. He should be among the Big Ten’s elite this season. Height: 7-foot-2Weight: 260 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: None Last season: 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game There were times during Arizona’s remarkable 2025-26 campaign, which included the program’s first trip to the Final Four in a quarter-century, when it seemed all but impossible for opposing teams to score around the rim. Player after player — regardless of size, independent of position — would simply be turned away by Krivas, a mountainous presence adept at applying the sport’s famed principle of verticality to avoid being called for fouls. He finished the season with an incredible ratio of 73 blocked shots and only 103 fouls, driving the Wildcats toward a second-place finish in adjusted defensive efficiency behind Michigan. The only players with better individual defensive ratings than Krivas, according to EvanMiya.com, were Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan, Reuben Chinyelu of Florida, Aday Mara of Michigan, Flory Bidunga of Kansas and Joseph Tugler of Houston. Krivas is now the unquestioned anchor for a team that needs to replace its three leading scorers in Brayden Burries (16.1 points), Koa Peat (14.1 points) and Jaden Bradley (13.3). How much, or how little, Krivas’ own offensive repertoire expands in the coming months might serve as a good barometer for Arizona’s ceiling next season. He’ll need to make more than 3.5 field goals per game for the Wildcats to remain among the sport’s elite. Height: 6-foot-1Weight: 180 poundsClass: SeniorPrevious schools: North Carolina Last season: 10.5 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game What a luxury for head coach Dusty May to retain the Most Outstanding Player from this year’s Final Four. Though Cadeau entered his name in the NBA Draft earlier this spring, the expectation among Michigan’s coaching staff was always that he would return for his senior season. In fact, Cadeau’s presumptive presence as the central figure on next year’s roster became a key selling point for the Wolverines when pursuing new faces in the transfer portal. May and his assistants soon realized that quite a few players, especially rim-running centers, were eager to play with Cadeau. Given the departures of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara, all of whom are expected to become first-round picks later this month, there’s an opportunity for Cadeau to assume more of a scoring role next season. He and shooting guard Trey McKenney, who was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after averaging 9.9 points per game, should give Michigan one of the strongest, most experienced backcourts in the league.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Two current Cup drivers held the keys to the NASCAR silly season, and one of them is staying put … for one more year. Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) was the most high-profile driver who was not signed for next year. HMS announced on July 23 that Bowman would return next season and that 2027 would be his final year before retiring from full-time competition. The other driver who is key is Connor Zilisch, who is signed through next season. He’s one of the most heralded prospects and Trackhouse is struggling. Could he sign early with another team — much like Tyler Reddick did a few years ago, a move that eventually led to him leaving a year early at season’s end? It’s possible although, the most likely landing spot would have been to replace Bowman. Obviously, there are things that can’t be predicted. The devastating death on May 21 of Kyle Busch leaves a much bigger void beyond a seat in the Cup Series. It will likely take some time for Richard Childress Racing to determine how it will move forward for 2027. Here is how things look at each organization, in order of owner points following the July 21 race at North Wilkesboro. Joe Gibbs Racing It would be a surprise if JGR has any changes for next year. Ty Gibbs (fourth) isn’t expected to be going anywhere and Denny Hamlin (first), Chase Briscoe (eighth) and Christopher Bell (10th) are signed beyond this season. The one thing that JGR might need to anticipate is Hamlin retiring from full-time racing after 2027 then having to fill that ride. Brent Crews, who drives for JGR in the O’Reilly Series, is the team’s focus on the development driver side who could be Cup ready. 23XI Racing Corey Heim has been announced as a full-time driver, replacing Riley Herbst (25th in the standings). Tyler Reddick (second in the standings) signed a contract extension earlier this year. Bubba Wallace (13th) is in an option year and is expected to be back. Team Penske With Ryan Blaney (third) having recently signed a contract extension, Team Penske has its former champions Blaney and Joey Logano (15th) under contact. Austin Cindric doesn’t have a deal yet for next year. He’s 16th in the points, and it appears all those ahead of them could very well return to their same rides next year. Hendrick Motorsports Chase Elliott (fifth), Kyle Larson (sixth), William Byron (12th) and Alex Bowman (29th) are all now signed for next year. If you want to look ahead to the 2027 silly season, Zilisch and HMS O’Reilly Series driver Corey Day are the top candidates to replace Bowman for 2028. Spire Motorsports Spire Motorsports has Carson Hocevar (seventh) locked in long-term, while Michael McDowell and Daniel Suárez are not. Spire has shown the willingness to eat a year of a contract to get a driver it wants. But who would that be at this point? Suárez is 11th in the standings and McDowell is 20th. Now that Bowman is set to return at Hendrick next season, it appears that the Spire lineup likely will be the same for 2027. RFK Racing Ryan Preece, at 18th in the standings, is a driver whose future appears mildly unclear althought he and RFK leadership said they expect he will be back. RFK likely will have just two charters for next season (it is leasing one that will go to Legacy Motor Club next year) but it also has strong sponsorship from Kroger and its vendors to the point where running Preece as an open car next year appears to be the plan. Chris Buescher (ninth) has signed a contract extension (announced June 16). Brad Keselowski (19th) will race at RFK until he is ready to retire, which he says won’t be for several more years. Trackhouse Racing All three Trackhouse drivers — Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen and Zilisch — are signed at least through next season. Zilisch is the one who could be on the move if there is enough money that money talks. Only van Gisbergen (14th in the standings) is having a season to be happy about as Chastain is 21st and Zilisch is 34th. Legacy Motor Club Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek could very well return next year as some improved performance since April (Jones is now 17th in the standings; Nemechek is 26th) is an indication of progress at the organization. Legacy will add a third chartered car next year as well and that is the expected landing spot for Riley Herbst. Kaulig Racing Neither AJ Allmendinger nor Ty Dillon are locked in at Kaulig next year although Allmendinger has the option to race as long as he wants. The organization is in a tough spot without manufacturer support. It would be a huge scramble for Dodge to enter Cup in 2027 although that is their hope, and if they do so, whether that could impact DIllon is to be determined. Allmendinger is 22ndt in the standings; Dillon is 30th. If Kaulig does make a change, Josh Berry could be a candidate, but he currently doesn’t bring sponsorship. Front Row Motorsports Todd Gilliland (23rd in the standings) signed a contract extension earlier this month and Zane Smith (24th) signed a contract extension last year that has him solid at FRM. Noah Gragson? He’s a strong personality but hasn’t had the results that would wow many, as he sits 31st in the standings. Would FRM move Layne Riggs or Chandler Smith to Cup? That depends on sponsorship most likely and the team has indicated they are working on a contract extension for Gragson. Hyak Motorsports Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (27th in the standings) signed a contract extension in May and is set to remain with the organization. Richard Childress Racing Austin Dillon is expected to return in 2027 as he sits 28th in the standings. Who will fill the open seat is still to be determined. Austin Hill has been the driver of the renumbered No. 33 car, and he appears to be the leading candidate for the ride for 2027. Josh Berry and Noah Gragson are longshots. Haas Factory Team Cole Custer hasn’t had a good year (he’s 32nd in the standings) but whether a change is made is debatable as the team appears to be still trying to find its footing. He did have a respectable month of May. Wood Brothers Josh Berry (33rd) will be replaced next season by defending O’Reilly Series champion Jesse Love, who turns 22 next January. Wood Brothers Racing President Jon Wood, in a news release, said: “Jesse has accomplished a lot at a young age. He’s demonstrated the ability to win races, compete for championships and handle the expectations that come with racing at a high level.” Rick Ware Racing As long as RWR doesn’t sell, this should remain Cody Ware’s ride.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports