Lionel Messi’s international run with Argentina is over.
Messi announced Monday that he has retired from the Argentina national team, closing the book on one of the most decorated careers in international soccer. He leaves as South America’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals in 207 appearances, a staggering body of work that stretched through plenty of highs and lows.
His Argentina story had everything: the first retirement, the comeback, and the redemption that came with the 2022 World Cup. Now that chapter is finished, and Messi’s place in the country’s soccer history is already sealed.
Elsewhere in the college game, Mark Mitchell has changed course again. After first saying he would return for a fifth season, then entering the transfer portal and committing to Kentucky, Mitchell has now flipped back to Missouri.
The move gives Mark Pope and the Wildcats a miss after what had looked like a major win, while Mitchell is chasing a clearer path to eligibility. He averaged 18.3 points per game for Missouri last season, though a fifth year still isn’t locked in.
The Orioles also made a surprising waiver move, claiming Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the Mets. Baltimore sold at the deadline, but the AL standings have kept the club in the playoff mix anyway, so the Orioles are hunting for help wherever they can find it. Robert’s season has been slowed by a back injury, and his production has been shaky since he returned, but the upside is still there if he gets right.
Golden State, meanwhile, heads into the WNBA pause on a heater. The Valkyries have won four straight, including a victory over the Lynx, and that surge has pushed them to the top of the WNBA Power Rankings. The league is on break for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, and CBS Sports also took a shot at projecting Team USA’s starting lineup.
At UCLA, the school made a major change by firing athletic director Martin Jarmond because of a “significant financial deficit.” The timing is notable, with the Bruins set to open their 2026 football season in just days and the department facing a major financial mess. Former Lakers executive Tim Harris will step in, and he’ll do it pro bono as he tries to steady the books.
The big college football reveal, though, was the 2026 College Football Playoff prediction board. CBS Sports’ experts picked 12 teams, with Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, Miami and Texas all getting support for the title picture. Notre Dame drew two votes, and Brad Crawford made the case that Marcus Freeman has built a team ready for January.
Crawford: "Notre Dame is built to win the national championship because Marcus Freeman's roster checks every box that matters in January. The schedule gives the Irish room to develop without enduring a weekly meat grinder, allowing CJ Carr to take another step before the postseason during what could be a potential Heisman-caliber campaign.
He'll operate behind an elite offensive line capable of maximum protection. Pair that foundation with one of the nation's nastiest, most disruptive defenses and Notre Dame has a championship-ready formula built to sustain against the elites in the CFP."
The full top 12 had Notre Dame at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, Texas, Indiana, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oregon, LSU, Michigan and Boise State.
LSU was a frequent talking point across the predictions, from playoff picks to the label of most overrated teams. Lane Kiffin and the Tigers were part of the conversation again, with the program continuing to lean into controversy as it heads into its SEC fight in court.
And in the NFL draft world, Arch Manning is already showing up as a future No. 1 pick. Mike Renner has Manning going first overall to the Dolphins in his latest 2027 mock draft, with the quarterback’s late-2025 surge fueling the projection.
Renner: "I wrote at the end of last year how the Manning down the stretch in 2025 was the one many expected. If he's that guy for a full season, then this is a no-brainer.
If the Dolphins are drafting No. 1 overall, it likely means the Malik Willis experiment didn't pay off dividends. Manning would be stepping into a very rough situation, but at least it's one that's already gone through a fire sale.
The Dolphins are top three in cap space the next two offseasons to build around their young quarterback."
Renner’s mock finished the first round with the Broncos taking Nick Prongos, the Texans selecting Ahmad Hardy, the Ravens landing Yhonzae Pierre, the Browns choosing Luke Reynolds and the Seahawks grabbing Cayden Green.
One franchise hoping to stop living near the top of the draft is the Giants. With John Harbaugh in charge, Doug Clawson has them taking a leap all the way to the Super Bowl in his bold predictions.
In Other News...
Kentucky Already Has One Week 1 Threat It Cant Ignore
Kentuckys first week of game-planning has already come with some urgency, as the Wildcats sent coaches to scout Youngstown States week zero opener ahead of the season opener. The focus was clear from the start: quarterback Beau Brungard, a dual-threat presence who can stress a defense with his arm and his legs, is the kind of player who can shape a game plan before kickoff ever arrives.
Brungard backed up the attention with a strong outing in the Penguins most recent game, throwing for 232 yards and three touchdowns while adding 119 rushing yards and two more scores. For Kentucky, that means the opener brings more than a typical first-game test, because stopping one player who can do damage in multiple ways may decide how smoothly the Wildcats can settle into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Changing Kroger Field In A Way Fans Will Notice
Kroger Field is getting a noticeable makeover this fall as Kentucky Athletics rolls out a slate of changes aimed at making game day feel fresher under new head coach Will Stein. The upgrades touch several parts of the fan experience, from concession pricing and payment options to updated seating, a new team introduction sequence and a more interactive atmosphere for home games.
The department is also leaning into presentation, bringing in a new game-day host and lining up promotional events throughout the season to keep the crowd engaged. Kentucky is pairing those touches with themed home dates designed to pull the stands into the action, a sign that the Wildcats want the building to feel different before the first snap even arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Gets A Key Defensive Boost As Backfield Questions Linger
Kentuckys defense got a needed lift this week with EDGE Sam Greene expected to be fully available for the season opener against Youngstown State. Greenes return matters for a unit looking to settle in early after he missed the end of last season with a torn ACL, and his availability gives the Wildcats another experienced body on the edge as they head into September.
The bigger uncertainty remains in the backfield, where Will Stein said Jovantae Barnes is still working his way back and will not be on the field for the opener. CJ Baxter is expected to handle the lead role for now, giving Kentucky a clear plan even as the staff keeps a watchful eye on overall health and readiness heading into the start of the season. [Read more 🡒]