Iga Swiatek’s pursuit of a career Grand Slam will have to wait another year. The No. 2-ranked women’s player couldn’t overcome the dominant serve of Elena Rybakina on Tuesday, falling in the quarterfinals at the 2026 Australian Open.
The match truly came down to Rybakina’s serve, as she registered 11 aces during the contest. Despite getting her first serve in only 49% of the time, Rybakina executed when it mattered. She won 79% of the time on her first serves and 63% of the time on her second serves. She had three double faults, but those didn’t stop her from winning the match in straight sets (7-5, 6-1) over Swiatek.
The win marks the second time Rybakina has reached the semifinals at the Australian Open. She made it as far as the final back in 2023, but has never won the event. The win also pushed Rybakina’s head-to-head record vs. Swiatek to 6-6.
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With the loss, Swiatek is still in pursuit of a victory at the Australian Open. She’s won every other major, but has only reached as far as the semifinals at the Australian Open. The 24-year-old will try to complete her career Grand Slam next year.
Following her win early Wednesday, American Jessica Pegula will take on Rybakina in the semifinals Thursday. The two have faced each other six times, and have gone 3-3 in those matches. The other semifinal match, which will also take place Thursday, features women’s No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. women’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina.
Jannik Sinner eliminates Ben Shelton
For the third straight year, Ben Shelton’s run at the Australian Open has ended at the hands of Jannik Sinner. The 24-year-old Italian dispatched Shelton in straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) Wednesday.
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With the win, Sinner advanced to the semifinals at the Australian Open for the third-straight year. He won the event in both 2024 and 2025, and is looking for his third straight victory at the Australian Open.
With the loss, Shelton now has just one win in 10 matches vs. Sinner. The American has played his best tennis at the Australian Open, where he held a 79% winning percentage entering Wednesday’s match, but Sinner continues to be a huge barrier for Shelton’s success at the event.
If Sinner is hoping for a three-peat, he’ll need to step up his game in the final two matches. The top-four ranked men have all advanced to the semifinals, though one of them got there by unconventional means. That would be Sinner’s next opponent, Novak Djokovic, who was down 0-2 against Lorenzo Musetti before Musetti was forced to retire due to an injury.
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Sinner and Djokovic have squared off 10 times, with Sinner holding a slight 6-4 advantage over Djokovic in those meetings.
Chloe Kim of the United States will be going for an unprecedented third straight gold at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. (AP)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Unlike Summer Olympic endeavors like track, swimming and volleyball, several of the events at the Winter Olympics seem foreign to observers. Even casual athletes who engage in activities such as skiing, sledding and ice skating rarely do so at the levels required in Olympic competition.
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With that heightened level comes added danger that can put competitors at risk for serious injury. That makes the Winter Games a thrilling spectacle, but also creates a dread that seeks relief.
Here are five of the most compelling events to be held in Milan Cortina that bring anticipation, excitement and national spirit to the competition.
Luge and Skeleton
Many of us loved to hop on a sled on a snow day if the conditions were ideal. But did we ever imagine zooming down a hill at 85 to 95 mph? And doing so on a small platform that doesn’t offer much protection? Or going headfirst, as Skeleton racers — or sliders — do?
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However, as thrilling as that speed can be, it also needs to be controlled and that adds a level of suspense to the competition. Athletes can lose grip and fall off of their sled. Some have soared off the track when taking a turn too fast or at the wrong angle.
Sometimes, that has fatal consequences, as happened during the 2010 Vancouver Games when Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control while traveling 88 mph and went over the sidewall. Tragically, he struck an unpadded support pole and later died from his injuries.
Schedule:
Feb. 8: Men’s luge final Feb. 10: Women’s luge final Feb. 11: M+W doubles final Feb. 12: Team relay final Feb. 13: Men’s skeleton final Feb. 14: Women’s skeleton final Feb. 15: Team skeleton final
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Men’s Ice Hockey
Ice hockey might not be among the most popular of the four major professional sports in the United States. But interest surges among players and fans when teams are playing for their respective countries.
Last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off — which featured the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden — drew 9.3 million viewers on ESPN for the championship final between the U.S. and Canada. Including viewers in Canada, 16 million viewers tuned in across North America.
NHL players will participate in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. For the U.S., that includes stars like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk. Canada will feature Sidney Crosby, Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid on its roster.
Women’s schedule:
Feb. 5: USA vs. Czech Republic Feb. 7: USA vs. Finland Feb. 9: USA vs. Switzerland Feb. 10: USA vs. Canada Feb. 13-14: Quarterfinals Feb. 16: Semifinals Feb. 19: Finals
Men’s schedule:
Feb. 12: USA vs. Latvia Feb. 14: USA vs. Denmark Feb. 15: USA vs. Germany Feb. 18: Quarterfinals Feb. 20: Semifinals Feb. 22: Finals
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Alpine skiing (downhill)
For some fans, downhill skiing is a signature event of the Winter Games, part of Olympic competition since 1936. This is another sport in which speed is a major factor, adding to the danger and thrill of the competition is alpine skiing.
Athletes average speeds of 81 mph — and up to 95 mph — as they descend a steep course while making tight turns around gates. That makes technique, tucking to become more aerodynamic, especially important. Attempting to navigate the course at such high speeds has resulted in skiers suffering serious, debilitating injury or death throughout Winter Olympics history.
Additionally, alpine skiing features this Olympics’ most recognizable name in Lindsey Vonn, competing in her fifth Winter Games at 41 years old.
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Schedule:
Feb. 7: Men’s final
Feb. 8: Women’s final
Short track speed skating
Auto racing becomes a contact sport when cars are nudging each other from behind, bumping opponents out of their lane or sending them into the wall. Imagine that, but without the vehicles.
Long-track speed skating provides a spectacle of pace and form. But the short-track event forces the competitors closer together and carries the possibility of collision. If someone falls, it could create a chain reaction among the other skaters.
The sport can also reward unusual strategies. During the 1500m final at the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea, Chinese skater Yang Jingru sprinted through her first lap rather than conserve energy for the final rounds. She then stayed with the pack through the rest of the race, but was already far ahead when the other skaters attempted to catch up for the final lap.
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Schedule:
Feb. 10: Mixed Relay Feb. 12: W 500; M 100 Feb. 14: M 1500 Feb. 16: W 1000 Feb. 18: W 3000; M 500 Feb. 20: M 5000; W 1500
Snowboarding (halfpipe)
Each of the five snowboarding Olympic events is intriguing, but the halfpipe is the headliner. The structure of the u-shaped course is imposing in itself with walls reaching 22 feet high, a 64-foot gap between the edges and 600 feet in length. Naturally, those who compete in halfpipe relish the challenge rather than fear the heights and potential falls that come with them.
With a run on the halfpipe, the same thrill and dread felt while watching a figure skater attempt a triple or quadruple jump often sets in. Is he/she going to fall? The risk for a snowboarder is much greater. Competitors can launch into the air 20 to 30 feet — and sometimes higher.
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While in the air, athletes will also attempt tricks incorporating front and back spins, forward or backward flips and bending to grab their boards. A typical trick is a Double Cork 1440, which involves four spins and two flips. Legendary snowboarder and three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White pursued a Triple Cork 1440 — with four full rotations and three flips or handplants — throughout his career, but never landed it in competition.
Then the competitors have to land on a slope, sometimes without looking at the surface, and maintain balance to stay on the board. Pulling off jumps and landing clean is exhilarating for both athlete and spectator.
There will also be a bit of history on the line as American Chloe Kim will be going for an unprecedented third straight gold medal.
It’s been less than 24 hours since the NFL conference championship games were completed and the Super Bowl LX participants decided, but already the big bets are flowing in. The Seattle Seahawks are currently 4.5-point favorites over the New England Patriots at BetMGM.
The Super Bowl is the biggest betting event in the U.S. annually, and with two notable teams and plenty of storylines, oddsmakers are certainly thankful it was the Patriots that made it through and not the Denver Broncos with a backup QB in Jarrett Stidham.
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One bettor has waited long enough and already placed the first seven-figure wager on the game.
Circa Sports reported on Monday that a bettor wagered $1.1 million on the Patriots money line in Super Bowl LX at +188 odds. If New England wins the game, the bettor will win just under $2.1 million. It’s the first seven-figure wager on the game, and very likely won’t be the last.
Patriots QB Drake Maye has been sacked five times in each of his three postseason games this year New England’s offense has tallied just 54 total points, but the Patriots have advanced to the Super Bowl. The offense has been helped by a tenacious New England defense that has held opponents to under 3.5 yards per play in the playoffs and surrendered 26 total points.
The largest reported futures wager still alive for New England is a $50,000 wager on the Patriots to win Super Bowl LX at 35-1 odds at DraftKings, which would pay out $1.8 million.
This weekend, we get a rematch of Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to headline the card. Volkanovski won the previous fight back in April 2025 by unanimous decision.
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Here are my best bets for UFC 325, which takes place this weekend at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Alexander Volkanovski (-150) vs. Diego Lopes (+125)
Fightnomics
In their prior title-fight matchup, Lopes scored a second-round knockdown against Volkanovski, only to see the champ get stronger over the remaining rounds. The final fight totals show Volkanovski pushing a high-pressure offense, throwing far more volume and with much better accuracy of strikes than Lopes. He also added 11 takedown attempts, though only landed one. Still, that forward attack nullified any size advantage Lopes might have had. Basically, Volkanovski delivered his usual strategy that plays to his strengths.
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We’re left with Volkanovski being the busier and more accurate striker, while also having tighter defense. He’s also more likely to mix in takedowns, which could sway rounds should he actually land them this time. Offense wins fights, but defense wins championships. The glaring stat is the head strike defense of Lopes, which is an abysmal 55%. That is not championship caliber.
Eventually Volkanovski’s age and cumulative damage will become more of a concern, but given that these two are not far removed from their last fight, there’s no reason to doubt the number just yet. The price is affordable, and I still like Volkanovski to get it done by decision or in the later rounds depending on how aggressive Lopes gets knowing he might not get another shot at this.
Bet: Volkanovski to win (-150)
Benoît Saint Denis (-350) vs. Dan Hooker (+275)
Fighnomics
A striker-versus-grappler matchup all the way, and I almost always favor the grappler.
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Though Hooker owns more knockdowns scored than any fighter on the card, his per-strike knockdown rate is actually lower than that of Saint Denis. So on the feet, it’s not as much of a disadvantage, with similar striking stats for each.
But on the ground is a different story, and BSD wastes no time trying to get fights down to the mat. He’s faced elite strikers before, and survived into the second round in his losses. Maybe those were learning opportunities to get even more aggressive getting to the mat, or perhaps tightening up his striking. Also, while Hooker has more of the striking pedigree, he has only one striking finish win since 2020.
Arguably his best days are behind him now aged 35, but BSD would still be wise to change levels before testing his chin too much.
Bet: Numbers lean Benoit Saint Denis even at the high price. I also think it takes Over 1.5 rounds, however it goes down, which might improve the price.
Mauricio Ruffy (-125) vs. Rafael Fiziev (+105)
Fightnomics
This was the only upset potential I saw in the three available matchups among veterans, and apparently the market agreed with me enough to flip the line.
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This is likely going to play out entirely on the feet, as both these guys attempt very few takedowns. They’ve spent minimal cage time on the ground because they also both have strong takedown defense.
In addition to a size and range advantage, Ruffy is more accurate at range, with a balanced and precise attack. Perhaps more importantly, his defense is excellent compared to the below-average defense of Fiziev. That suggests Fiziev in an uphill battle to close range while eating lots of damage along the way.
While Fiziev has the more diverse kicking game and tends to swing for the fences with few jabs, he has only two knockdowns scored in a fairly large sample size. Ruffy has yet to prove himself against comparable opponents, and his own sample size leaves more room for risk, but I still like his performance stats enough to support the lean here.
Bet: Even after odds flipped, there’s still a lean on Ruffy
Kevin Durant didn’t sugarcoat it. After the Rockets held Victor Wembanyama to a rough 5-for-21 shooting night last week — including 3 for 18 on jumpers — KD offered some veteran wisdom disguised as postgame analysis.
“He’s still working on his jump shot. We made him shoot over us,” Durant said. “He’s more dangerous when he gets layups and dunks. That’s more his game than floating around the perimeter shooting 3s and jump shots. When they go in, it looks amazing. But when you put a hand up, he had a couple bad misses.”
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Translation? Pull up all you want, big fella. We like our chances.
Wembanyama is already one of the best players in the world at age 22, and he’s not yet in his prime. But does KD have a point?
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Wemby’s jumper a work in progress
Wemby is shooting a career-best 39.5% on midrange dribble-jumpers, but that ranks only 22nd of the 25 players to take at least 100 of them so far this season. It’s better than the 33.3% he posted last season and miles ahead of his rookie campaign’s 26.8%. But it’s not efficient yet.
Then you look at his 3-point shooting off the dribble, and the trend reverses: 25% this year, down from 32.8% last season and 37.7% as a rookie.
Combine all his pull-up attempts from both midrange and from 3, and he’s shooting 34.5%, only a tick better than the 33% he posted in both prior seasons. This season, Wemby ranks 41st of the 46 players to take at least 150 of those shots. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is first (48.2%) and Durant is decimal points behind at 47.8%.
Wemby just turned 22. He’s the same age as a college senior. He can’t rent a car without paying extra. He’s not a finished product. The pull-up numbers have plateaued, sure. But he is much more fluid getting into his shots. Three years ago he looked like a baby deer learning to dribble. Now he’s crossing guys over while also turning the ball over less than he ever has. And he’s generating more of his own shots as a result: dribble-jumpers make up 31% of his total shots, up from the 25% in his first two seasons. That number was only 18% during his final year with the Metropolitans 92 before being drafted first overall in 2023.
By the time Wemby is in his prime, maybe all these reps as a shot creator will pay off. After all, he does have touch. Wembanyama has made 81.6% of his free throws in his career, and his catch-and-shoot 3-point success has risen each season. This year, he’s making a blistering 44.7% of those 3s — up from 37% last year and 29% as a rookie. That’s excellent progress, and adds to the belief that someday it’ll translate off the dribble.
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The problem today? Wemby is taking only 3.2 of those 3s off the catch this season — slightly less than half of what he attempted last year. No matter how good you are, you still gotta take the easy ones. That’s true behind the arc. It’s true at the rim too.
Is Wemby ‘floating around the perimeter’ too much?
When Wembanyama gets to the restricted area, he’s automatic. He makes 76% of unassisted at-rim shots, which includes self-created drives from the perimeter, post-ups, isolations, or when he handles in transition. And he makes 87% of at-rim shots when the ball is passed to him, which includes lobs, cuts, rolls and other assist opportunities. Both are elite numbers. Combined, he’s the best in the league: Among 102 players with at least 100 total attempts in the restricted area this season, he leads the whole NBA at 82%. Even better than Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But Wemby takes only 3.5 shots per game in the restricted area, which ranks 51st of the same group of 102 players. Norm Powell takes more (3.7). Marvin Bagley takes more (3.9). Lauri Markkanen — a stretch big who lives beyond the arc — takes 5.1 per game. Giannis leads with 8.1 per game. Should that number be higher for Wemby?
Well, when Giannis was 22 he was taking only 5.5 restricted area shots per game and he didn’t have the jumper that Wemby does. It wasn’t until Antetokounmpo’s first MVP season in 2018-19, at age 24 and entering his physical prime, that he exceeded eight at-rim shots per game. Wemby is still young, adding strength, and already has more layers to his offense than Giannis has ever had.
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When I interviewed Wembanyama following his rookie season, I asked who the players were that he studied most while growing up. KD and Giannis were fittingly the two players mentioned. Turns out, he’s statistically already in the same stratosphere as The Greek Freak at the rim. And the French Freak is putting defenders on posters too. But does Wemby need Durant to sit him down and show him the perimeter math?
Not exactly. Because here’s the thing: Wemby is a shape-shifter. His shot distribution swings wildly depending on who’s next to him. The pattern is clean: When Wemby shares the floor with a backcourt of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — San Antonio’s two young guards — he takes 34.1% of his shots at the rim. With just Castle? 28.5%. Just Harper? 22.7%. Now add De’Aaron Fox. Fox and Castle together: 18.0%. Fox and Harper: 15.8%. Fox alone: 15.6%.
Wemby’s at-rim rate literally cuts in half when Fox is on the floor. Instead, Wemby takes a lot of 3s. Two-thirds of his catch-and-shoot 3s have come when he shares the floor with Fox. Wemby will often stand out on the perimeter to make space for Fox to do what he does best as an All-Star guard with a downhill style. Meanwhile, Castle and Harper get out of Wembanyama’s way by spacing behind the 3-point line, or they look for him on his rolls to the rim with more regularity.
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Wemby’s distribution of dribble jumpers and all self-created chances is constant, regardless of the lineup combo. What changes is how he serves as a finisher. So Durant isn’t necessarily wrong about Wemby’s affinity for creating his own jumpers. But the data suggests his at-rim frequency is less about Wemby’s choice and more the Fox Effect.
And the team is no worse for it. No matter the combination of guards, Wemby’s shooting efficiency stays nearly equivalent and every group dominates offensively.
At least in the regular season. Fox doesn’t feel like he’s stepping on Wemby’s toes now. But will that change come playoff time? Castle and Harper have some of the worst “gravity” numbers in the league — a new metric released by the NBA that measures how much defensive attention a player commands. Defenses don’t respect their ability to score, and why would they? They’re young and inefficient. But in a January game, who cares? Nobody’s game-planning that hard yet. The question is what happens in April or May when Oklahoma City or Denver or even Houston have three days to prep. At that time, will the lack of knockdown shooting around Wembanyama become an issue?
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Wemby, because he’s a genius and an athletic freak and apparently incapable of being bad at anything, will probably find a way. It’s on the Spurs to optimize the groups around him as he continues to “float around” outside and work on his shooting off the bounce.
If Wembanyama becomes anywhere near as dominant in the creation category as he is in every other, Durant’s game plan won’t work anymore. Because right now, Wemby is in his third year and already a game-wrecker on defense who, on offense, leads the league in rim efficiency at 82%, shoots 45% on catch-and-shoot 3s, and contorts his entire offensive game to fit whoever’s standing next to him.
All while “still working on his jump shot.” What happens when he figures it out?
The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly begun listening to offers on two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to Charania, multiple teams that have called the Bucks inquiring about an Antetokounmpo trade believe Milwaukee is “more open than ever” to moving the 10-time All-Star. Despite the level of interest, the Bucks are not in a hurry to move on from their franchise face if what they seek in return in such a deal is not met.
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What the Bucks are looking to get back for the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo is a number of draft picks and/or a highly rated young player. Should Milwaukee take this sweepstakes beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline, they will have a better idea of available picks from potential suitors ahead of June’s NBA draft.
The Bucks are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with an 18-27 record. They’ve lost six of their past seven games and, according to Jake Fischer, the team’s decline has reached “a point of no return” for Antetokounmpo with those around the organization noting “the writing is on the wall” and are resigned to a trade happening at some point.
“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment, that I will come out and say ‘I want a trade,’” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s not … in … my … nature. OK?”
Antetokounmpo can opt out of his current contract in 2027 and he will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension in October.
The “Greek Freak” was drafted 15th overall by the Bucks in 2013 and quickly became one of the league’s biggest stars. Over Antetokounmpo’s 13 NBA season, he’s averaging 24 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Along with his two MVP awards and 10 All-Star Game appearances, he’s also a seven-time All-NBA first team member, the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, and helped deliver an NBA title to Milwaukee in 2021 while being named Finals MVP.
2025 season record: 5-12, (o 4.5 wins), fourth in AFC North, missed playoffs, 31st in DVOA
Overview
This Browns’ season was never going to be about success in 2025. From roster moves to trades in the draft, Cleveland’s focus was on what comes next. Along the way, the Browns started two rookie quarterbacks who each played like the worst starter in the league and finished last in just about every offensive category. In some of those, last feels generous. The defense, though, was top five in DVOA, and Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with his 23rd sack in the season finale.
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Cleveland seemingly hit on many of the non-quarterback 2025 draft picks — tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (Defensive Rookie of the Year) — while the Browns picked up a ton of future draft capital, entering the 2026 draft with two first-round picks.
Cleveland has -$9 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap, which ranks 21st in the league. There is not likely to be a Deshaun Watson resolution this offseason. A post-June 1 cut would be a net zero at an $80 million cap hit, but it would add about $23 million to the 2027 cap. Cleveland could make that move now, with over $100 million in space projected for 2027, but without any of the contracts that will be added this offseason. During his end of season news conference, Berry said he anticipated Watson would remain on the roster.
Longtime tight end David Njoku announced he won’t return to the team in 2026, which means the Browns will absorb his entire $24 million cap hit this season due to the void years on his contract. There are similar contract situations to sort out for many of Cleveland’s free agents.
Key pending free agents
TE David Njoku LB Devin Bush OL Joel Bitonio OL Wyatt Teller OL Ethan Pocic OL Cam Robinson OL Jack Conklin
Njoku’s decision to hit free agency isn’t a surprise after he was targeted on only 17% of his routes and fell behind Fannin as the go-to tight end. Bush came alive and thrived in the middle next to Carson Schwesinger. Bush was 10th in yards allowed per coverage snap (min. 100) among linebackers and was third in the rate of tackles that produced a positive play for the defense.
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Most of Cleveland’s starting offensive line is scheduled to be free agents. This is a line that has dropped off in quality due to age and injuries, but we won’t expect the Browns to completely move on with four new starters and Dawand Jones, who went out for the season in Week 3.
Positional needs
Quarterback Offensive line Wide receiver
It’s time to overhaul the offense. Among 45 quarterbacks who threw at least 100 passes, Dillion Gabriel ranked 42nd in EPA per play. Shedeur Sanders was 43rd. Both had their faults and neither looked like the type of quarterback who could lift those around them — that was too high an expectation for a third- and fifth-round pick.
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Just for numbers, the Browns need help along the offensive line, depending on how many players they retain as free agents. The line was in the bottom third in pass block and run block win rates, per ESPN.
Wide receiver has been a bugaboo position for Andrew Berry in his GM tenure with the Browns. There have been a ton of draft misses betting on speed, while the trade plus extension for Jerry Jeudy has led to an underwhelming 1.41 yards per route run in his time with the Browns.
Barring packaging their other first-rounder and trying to move up for a quarterback, the Browns should address the offensive line. Fano played both left and right tackle in college, and while he can stand to add weight, he’s a good athlete who stays on his feet and is strong in the run game.
What could move the fantasy needle in 2026?
Fix the offensive line
The Browns hit on some young players in this most recent draft, including RB Quinshon Judkins and TE Harold Fannin Jr. Cleveland still needs a quarterback and a complete refresh of the wide receiver room. However, the offensive line has hit a breaking point due to age and expiring contracts. If that doesn’t get corrected in the offseason, I’m not sure what they add at those more marquee positions will move the needle much at all. That has to be top of mind for GM Andrew Berry, who was retained despite head coach Kevin Stefanski being shown the door. — Matt Harmon
Betting nugget
The Browns were one of the NFL’s best teams at home for bettors, cashing in six of eight home games this season. — Ben Fawkes
Racing fans get ready, another season of NASCAR is upon us! The 2026 NASCAR season kick offs with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026 and runs all the way through Nov. 8, 2026 when a winner is crowned at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship which will take place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway this year. This year, NASCAR races will be broadcast across Fox, FS1, NBC, USA, TNT Sports, and select races will stream exclusively on Prime Video. Oh, and don’t forget that you can tune in to exclusive driver-cam coverage on HBO Max, too.
It can be overwhelming to keep up with all the different services you need to watch every race, but luckily we’ve broken down where you can watch them all. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, a full schedule of races, and how to watch them all.
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How to watch NASCAR in 2026:
Dates: Feb. 1, 2026 – Nov. 8, 2026
Channels: NBC, USA, TNT, truTV, Fox, FS1
Streaming: Prime Video, Peacock, DirecTV, Fox One, HBO Max (Driver-cam) and more
What channels are showing NASCAR in 2026?
NASCAR races will be broadcast across several channels all season long, with coverage switching over from one channel to another at several points during the season. Early races, from Feb. 1 through May 17, will air on Fox or FS1. From May 24 until June 21, races will stream exclusively on Prime Video. From June 28 – July 25, you can catch weekly races on TNT Sports. And from August until November’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, you can catch races on NBC, USA and Peacock.
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How to watch NASCAR in 2026 without cable:
To watch every single race of the 2026 NASCAR season, you’ll need a couple of different streaming services. You can stream channels like NBC, USA, Fox, FS1, TNT, and truTV on streaming platforms like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, which will get you access to the majority of this year’s races, but you’ll also need a Prime Video subscription if you want to catch the Coca Cola 600, the Cracker Barrel 400, FireKeepers Casino 400, NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono and the Anduril 250. Races airing on NBC and USA will also be available to stream on Peacock, and races airing on Fox and FS1 will be streaming on Fox One. And once again, HBO Max will also be showing alternate driver-cam angles at every race this season.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule:
All times Eastern
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Here are the races that make up the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series.
Feb. 1, 2026: Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Fox, HBO Max)
The Cleveland Browns found themselves in a familiar position this offseason. Following yet another disappointing year marred by poor quarterback play, the Browns were once again in the market for a new head coach, one who would presumably fix those issues and lead the franchise back to prominence.
The team found that head coach Wednesday after announcing the hiring of former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
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With the move, Monken will be tasked with turning around a franchise that has just two winning seasons over the past 18 years and the Browns’ most recent quarterback to make the Pro Bowl was Shedeur Sanders’ curious selection during that period.
Monken joins the Browns after spending the past three seasons as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator. Baltimore has been incredibly successful under Monken, ranking fourth, third and 11th in points scored over his three seasons in Baltimore. Prior to that, Monken served as an offensive coordinator with the Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His time with the Browns lasted one season, as Monken was not retained after the team fired Freddie Kitchens at the end of the 2019 NFL season.
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Todd Monken has work to do at QB
Given the importance of the position, quarterback will almost certainly be the biggest issue facing the Browns now that a new head coach is in place. The team tried to plaster over the problem with a quantity over quality approach last season, at one point having five different QBs on the roster. But Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett were quickly shipped out, leaving the team with veteran Deshaun Watson and soon-to-be second-year passers Dillon Gabriel and Sanders heading into 2026.
While it will ultimately be up to Monken to make the decision, none of those players have performed well enough to guarantee themselves a role next season. The Watson acquisition proved to be an unmitigated disaster. The quarterback hasn’t been the same since the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans after Watson was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. During his four seasons in Houston, Watson threw for 104 touchdowns and made three Pro Bowls. In three seasons with the Browns, he’s played in just 19 games, throwing 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Gabriel and Sanders both received starts as rookies, though neither player performed all that well. The team seemed to take on an über-conservative approach with Gabriel, who tossed seven touchdowns over six starts. After Gabriel went down with a concussion, Sanders stepped in and finished out the season as the team’s starter. While he produced a few highlights, Sanders made far too many mistakes, and finished the 2025 season as one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Despite that, Sanders received a Pro Bowl invitation.
Given those struggles, it’s likely the Browns will consider selecting a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team is not only desperately in need of help at the position, but the timing feels right with a new head coach coming in. If that’s the route the team goes, it would be hard not to link Monken’s success to that quarterback.
Those issues led to the Browns being considered one of the least desirable openings in the NFL this offseason, per Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab. That doesn’t mean the team is completely bereft of talent.
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Defense is team’s bright spot — but what is going on with Jim Schwartz?
For all the struggles the Browns endured on offense, their defense was pretty solid. The team ranked 14th in points allowed in 2025, and saw Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record. Garrett is unequivocally one of the top — if not the top — defensive players in the NFL and a true game-wrecker. His presence alone should ensure the Browns’ defense remains at least fearsome heading into next season.
However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz had expected to be hired as Cleveland’s next head coach. Now, after being looked over for the job in favor of an outside candidate, Schwartz could be looking elsewhere, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
While the 2025 NFL season ended poorly for the Browns, the team experienced success under former head coach Kevin Stefanski. In six seasons on the job, Stefanski led the Browns to the playoffs twice, earning the AP Coach of the Year award in both seasons. His .442 winning percentage was the best the Browns have experienced since Bill Belichick and his .451 winning percentage left the team following the 1995 season.
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Compared to other Browns coaches in recent memory, Monken could face heightened expectations following the Stefanski era. To make matters even worse, Stefanski was among the more popular head-coaching candidates this offseason, and almost immediately found a head-coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons, potentially giving him an opportunity to quickly prove to the Browns that they made the wrong decision to let him go.
None of that will matter if the Browns got it right this time around. There’s a lot of work to do in Cleveland, but if Monken can decide on — and coach up — the team’s quarterback of the future, that would go a long way toward ending decades of futility most Browns fans are eager to forget.
Although we’re still a few weeks away from the teeth of fantasy baseball season, it’s never a bad idea to start sketching some ideas in pencil. With that in mind, here’s a one-man mock draft for the first round, as we look to get those drafting muscles back in shape.
1. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
2. Shohei Ohtani, UT, Dodgers
There are no wrong answers at the top of the draft, and these two guys will go one-two in most leagues. Judge is three years older, but Ohtani also carries the strain of his side pitching assignments. Both men are supported by deep lineups behind them. Ohtani’s 59 steals from two years ago proved to be an outlier; he did it for fun once, but probably now recognizes it doesn’t make sense to run that aggressively in the regular season. More than any other club in baseball, the Dodgers start each year with October health in mind.
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3. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
In what can fairly be termed an off year, Witt still led the majors in hits and doubles and was the seventh-most valuable hitter for 5×5 leagues. The Kansas City lineup has an upgraded feel to it, with eight of its primary starters expected to be league average or better. Witt likely hasn’t peaked yet, about to enter his age-26 season.
4. Juan Soto, OF, Mets
Announcer Keith Hernandez has said for years that any ballplayer could probably steal 15 bases or so if he merely put in the effort. Soto took it a step further, leading the National League with 38 swipes in 42 attempts, after seven full seasons of station-to-station baseball. Even if Soto’s steals take a reasonable step back, he’s a multi-category monster entering his age-27 season. The timing could be right for his first MVP year.
His last two seasons have been remarkably similar, although Skubal was less unlucky with wins last year. The voters didn’t seem to mind — he’s been the runaway Cy Young winner in the AL two straight seasons. Starting pitchers are the running backs of fantasy baseball — you always worry about health risks, but if you land on the right ones, you probably rule the world. The top of this position should be considered in any first round.
Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
6. José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
He keeps cranking out near-identical seasons, and he’s also taken his base stealing up a notch in his 30s. I don’t love the lineup around Ramírez, but six straight years of durability and production earns him an obvious seat at this table. Third base is also not a deep fantasy position.
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7. Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks
The batting average has bounced around for his three full seasons, but players with this type of power-speed potential will always demand early fantasy picks. Last season was partially muted by a wrist problem; imagine what Carroll might be able to accomplish if he’s healthy in his age-25 campaign.
8. Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates
Wins can be fluky for even the greatest pitchers, which is why it’s reasonable to consider something other than wins to fill out your league structure. However you play, Skenes belongs here, sitting on a 1.96 ERA and 0.948 WHIP through 55 MLB starts. Appointment viewing.
An early look at how the first round of 2026 fantasy baseball drafts could play out.
(Henry Russell)
9. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
For all the strikeouts, the average hasn’t really been a problem — his career .255 mark is more than good enough, given how he fills the other categories. And with Elly stepping into his age-24 season, we still have to view him as a player on the escalator.
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10. Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners
You know you’re a special ballplayer when you hit 32 homers and steal 30 bases and chart as the No. 11 overall hitter . . . and the world collectively shrugs. It would be nice if Rodríguez played in a more favorable offensive park, but you have to grab these five-category contributors while you can. Rodríguez cut his strikeout rate to a career low last year, a subtle sign of growth.
11. Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox
We’ve seen this movie before with Chris Sale, the last time the Red Sox plucked a Chicago lefty ace in his prime and reaped instant benefits. Crochet’s first Boston season was much more effective on the road (2.25 ERA, versus 3.02 at Fenway), but his power arsenal is capable of dominating anywhere. If Skubal gets tired of winning Cy Young Awards, Crochet is a logical next pick, readying for his age-27 season.
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12. Kyle Tucker, OF, Dodgers
Fantasy baseball sages Glenn Colton and Rick Wolf will remind us that it’s somewhat risky to pay up for a fantasy baseball pick who’s starting a big contract and on a new team. It’s also been frustrating to see Tucker navigate injuries the last two years. On the plus side, Tucker is still just 29 and he’s now insulated by the Los Angeles lineup, one of the deepest in baseball. And given the star-power in L.A. and the reasonable expectation that the Dodgers are already in the playoffs, it’s not like Tucker arrives in camp with absurd pressure on his shoulders. He’ll be a first-round pick in some leagues and an early-second round pick in others.
Others Considered: Ronald Acuña Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, Fernando Tatis Jr.
