Kemon Spell, a five-star running back from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has committed to the University of Georgia, multiple outlets reported on Feb. 2, 2026. ESPN has listed Spell as the No. 1 running back in the 2027 class and one of its top overall prospects; 247Sports and other services also rank him among the nation’s elite. Spell originally committed to Penn State in August 2024 but reopened his recruitment after coach James Franklin’s midseason departure and formally pledged to Georgia following a multiday visit to Athens. He was credited with 1,755 rushing yards last season; outlets reported between 28 and 32 touchdowns as a junior despite missing games with injury. Georgia beat out programs including Penn State, Notre Dame, Miami and several other powerhouses for Spell’s verbal pledge. His decision is the latest high-profile commitment in an early 2027 cycle in which Georgia sits among the top recruiting classes nationally and comes as the Bulldogs prepare for the 2026 season under coach Kirby Smart.

Ryan Donato had two goals and two assists and Ilya Mikheyev added a goal and three assists as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the visiting San Jose Sharks 6-3 in Chicago on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak. Connor Bedard, Connor Murphy and Sam Rinzel also scored for Chicago and Spencer Knight made 24 saves. Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Shakir Mukhamadullin scored for San Jose; Celebrini finished with a goal and an assist. San Jose starter Yaroslav Askarov made six saves on 10 shots before yielding to Alex Nedeljkovic. The victory halted Chicago’s recent slide — the Blackhawks were 3-6-2 in their last 11 games — and ended an 0-for-26 power-play drought when Bedard converted a man-advantage chance, his 23rd of the season. The game was Chicago’s final home match before the Olympic break. Both teams are scheduled to be on the road Wednesday, with San Jose at Colorado and Chicago at Columbus.

Maryland Republican delegates on Feb. 5 said Democratic colleagues hung a sign outside the offices of Democratic delegates Eric Ebersole and Nick Allen that appeared to dismiss concerns about transgender athletes in women’s sports. The Maryland Freedom Caucus posted a photo of the sign, signed by the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, which included statements that "trans women have no competitive advantage," that "anti-dignity policies put transgender youth at risk," and that "banning transgender youth is illegal." Ebersole and Allen released a joint statement calling their office a "safe space" and affirming support for LGBTQ+ rights. The posting came a day before the state legislature was due to vote on the Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act, a bill that would require certain school teams and facilities to be designated by biological sex — a measure similar to laws already enacted in 27 U.S. states. The sign’s claim contrasts with a 2021 British Journal of Sports Medicine study that found transgender women may retain an athletic advantage after a year of hormone therapy.

On Feb. 4, 2026 the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 128-126 at Scotiabank Arena. Anthony Edwards scored 30 points, with 21 coming in the second half, and his steal-and-breakaway dunk with 2:02 remaining gave Minnesota its first lead since the opening quarter. Jaden McDaniels added 19 points and Rudy Gobert finished with a double-double (12 rebounds, 10 points). Toronto was paced by Scottie Barnes (22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists), Brandon Ingram (25) and Immanuel Quickley (23). The Raptors hit 15-of-31 from three but saw their offence stall late and committed nine turnovers in the final 24 minutes. Minnesota improved to 32-20 and snapped a 20-game losing streak in Toronto dating to 2004; Toronto fell to 30-22. The win came despite pregame reports that Edwards was listed as questionable with left-elbow soreness. Minnesota hosts New Orleans next; Toronto has the Chicago Bulls on its schedule.

KJ Lewis scored 22 points as Georgetown defeated Creighton 76-68 in a Big East matchup, handing the Bluejays a third straight loss and giving the Hoyas their fourth consecutive win. Malik Mack added 20 points and Vince(I)wuchukwu (listed as Vincent/Vince in reports) posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, helping Georgetown overcome a 34.9% shooting night by the field. Georgetown converted 24 of 33 free throws, with Lewis and Mack a combined 21-for-25 from the line, while Creighton shot just 24.2% from long range (8 of 33) and committed 16 turnovers. The game featured a 12-0 Georgetown run early in the second half that established control after a tightly contested first half; the teams had met earlier in the season in an overtime contest. The victory moved Georgetown to 13-10 overall and 5-7 in Big East play, while Creighton fell to 12-11 and 6-6 in conference action.

Feb. 5 — No. 8 Houston rolled to a 79-55 Big 12 home victory over Central Florida, snapping UCF’s three-game win streak and improving the Cougars to 20-2 overall and 8-1 in conference play. Kingston Flemings led Houston with 18 points and six assists, Chris Cenac Jr. recorded a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double and Milos Uzan added 12. Houston dominated inside, outscoring UCF 42-14 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle (40-29), while forcing turnovers and producing six steals in the first half. The Cougars shot about 54-55% for the game despite going 3-for-19 from deep; UCF struggled from the floor, finishing the first half 7-of-25 and making just six 3s overall. Houston extended its home win streak and its string of 20-win seasons under coach Kelvin Sampson, while UCF missed an opportunity to bolster its NCAA resume ahead of upcoming conference matchups.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has ended months of speculation by committing to the Gold Coast Titans until at least the end of the 2030 season, the club confirmed in early February 2026. The Queensland Maroons front‑rower and Titans captain opted not to trigger exit clauses in a decade‑long deal that had left him able to test the market for 2027, turning down reported interest from the incoming Perth Bears and a possible return to the Melbourne Storm. Club sources and multiple media outlets reported the long‑term contract is worth roughly AU$12 million. New coach Josh Hannay, who took over after Des Hasler’s departure, has been credited by players and Fa’asuamaleaui himself for creating a reshaped culture that influenced the decision. The commitment is being billed as a major coup for the Titans, who have struggled for finals success since the player joined in 2021, and provides stability around which the club says it will build a premiership‑contending roster.

Joe Flacco and rookie Shedeur Sanders were named to the NFL Pro Bowl and took part in practices in San Francisco on Feb. 3, 2026, marking first-time selections for both quarterbacks. Flacco, 41, received a late call to join the AFC squad as a replacement after initial selections withdrew — Patriots rookie Drake Maye is unavailable because he is in Super Bowl LX, while Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are sidelined by late-season injuries. The 18-season veteran, a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP winner and the 2023 AP Comeback Player of the Year, told reporters he had never been selected before; Elias Sports Information Bureau said no one in league history has waited longer for a first Pro Bowl nod. Sanders earned the honor after a strong rookie campaign and was the first AFC replacement named; Bengals starter Joe Burrow was later added as another replacement. The game features 29 first-time Pro Bowlers this year. Veterans and rookies alike noted the family-friendly atmosphere, with several players bringing children to practice ahead of the AFC vs. NFC all‑star game scheduled for Tuesday evening (8 p.m. ET).

Bo Horvat scored 52 seconds into overtime as the New York Islanders edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., on Tuesday night. The Islanders rallied from multiple deficits to snap a two-game skid and move within a point of the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer added a goal and an assist, and Ryan Pulock also scored; Ilya Sorokin made 31 saves. For Pittsburgh, Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist, while Anthony Mantha, Egor Chinakhov and Bryan Rust also scored; Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots. The game was played in the Islanders’ penultimate contest before the Olympic break. In a quirky moment, a bird briefly landed on the ice behind the Penguins’ net during the game and was safely released afterward.

Bobby Hauck, the winningest coach in Big Sky Conference history, announced his immediate retirement on Feb. 4-5, 2026, saying he no longer enjoyed the job amid sweeping changes in college football. Hauck, 61, led the University of Montana Grizzlies across two stints totaling 14 seasons, compiling a 151-43 record at Montana and 166-92 in 19 seasons overall including UNLV. He guided the Grizzlies to eight Big Sky titles, 13 playoff appearances, four FCS national championship games and a 2025 run to the national semifinals after a 13-2 season. Hauck cited the post-2021 landscape — unrestricted transfers, name, image and likeness deals and recent revenue-sharing — and the growing role of agents and outside influences on players as key reasons for stepping down. Wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy, who worked with Hauck at Washington in 2002 and has experience on staffs at Texas and other power-conference programs, will succeed him. Hauck said he does not intend to be a head coach again and expressed a desire to enjoy the next phase of his life outside the pressures of modern Division I coaching.

The International Olympic Committee has maintained its 2023 suspension of Russia and Belarus for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, barring them from competing as national delegations while permitting a limited group of Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) to take part. For Milan-Cortina, which opens Feb. 6, the IOC has issued invitations to 13 Russian and seven Belarusian competitors across individual disciplines; team sports, including Russia’s prominent ice hockey program, remain banned. AINs will compete without flags, national anthems or national identification and must meet strict vetting criteria — including no public support for the invasion of Ukraine or ties to military or security agencies — and qualify through each sport’s normal channels. The vetting process is under scrutiny after media reporting and intelligence material suggested pro-war links for several cleared Russians, and footage of an IOC review-panel member embracing a sanctioned Russian gymnast has raised further questions. The IOC says invitations followed established review procedures; Ukraine’s Olympic Committee and other critics are calling for tighter checks.

Kirill Kaprizov scored his second goal of the game, ripping a power‑play wrist shot 3:38 into overtime to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Saint Paul on Feb. 3. Joel Eriksson Ek and Brock Faber also scored for Minnesota, and Filip Gustavsson made 17 saves. Quinn Hughes finished with three assists in the game, reaching 50 points for the season and extending an assist streak that initially tied the Wild franchise mark at nine. Two days later Hughes added an assist on Matt Boldy’s first‑period goal to stretch the streak to 10 straight games, setting a Wild record and an NHL record for the longest assist streak by a defenceman in his first season with a team. Over the 10‑game run he produced 16 assists and has 34 points (three goals, 31 assists) in 26 games since joining Minnesota. The Wild have won four straight and maintain momentum heading into the Olympic break, while Hughes is set to suit up for Team USA in Milan.

Three members of the Southern Alberta Mustangs junior hockey team were killed on Feb. 2 after the vehicle carrying them collided with a northbound semi‑truck hauling gravel at the Highway 2/55 Avenue intersection at the north entrance to Stavely, about 100 km south of Calgary. RCMP said two 18‑year‑olds from Kamloops, B.C., JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso, and 17‑year‑old Caden Fine of Birmingham, Alabama, were declared dead at the scene. The 40‑year‑old truck driver sustained minor injuries. Mounties have sent collision reconstruction personnel and said the investigation is ongoing; initial inquiries do not indicate criminality. Alberta Transportation announced it will conduct a post‑incident review of the intersection, which has a history of collisions including a fatal crash in September. The deaths prompted community vigils, a memorial at the Stavely arena, fundraising drives and benefit games; donations to a GoFundMe for the families rose rapidly. Tributes and condolences came from provincial leaders, national figures and the hockey community, including NHL teams.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) on Feb. 4-5, 2026 confirmed four on-field rule changes ahead of the NRL season opener in Las Vegas on March 1. Teams may now name six players on the interchange bench (players 14-19 inclusive) though only four may be used, with up to eight interchanges per match — a move designed to give coaches greater tactical flexibility and cover for in-game injuries. Trainers will be restricted from entering the field except in prescribed circumstances to prioritise safety and limit non-essential intrusions. An accidental in‑goal knock-on by the attacking team will no longer result in a seven-tackle set, and the tackle-count reset threshold for certain infringements has been moved closer to the 20-metre line from the current 40m mark. A separate, more controversial proposal to let the non-scoring team choose to kick or receive at restarts has been shelved for now and will be trialled later in the season in matches that do not affect finals positions.

The Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star utility player Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team deal also involving the Tampa Bay Rays, the clubs announced Feb. 2-3, 2026. Seattle received Donovan (29), a versatile left-handed hitter and former Gold Glove winner under team control through 2027 and owed $5.8 million for 2026. St. Louis added prospects and draft compensation: right-handed pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje (2024 first-round pick), outfielder Tai Peete (2023 first-round pick), outfielder Colton Ledbetter (from Tampa Bay) and two Competitive Balance Round B draft picks (No. 68 from Seattle, No. 72 from Tampa Bay). The Rays received third baseman Ben Williamson from Seattle and exchanged roster and draft adjustments (Tampa Bay designated Ken Waldichuk for assignment to make room). The move strengthens Seattle’s lineup ahead of the 2026 season — joining Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena — while accelerating a Cardinals rebuild under president Chaim Bloom and trimming projected payroll below $100 million.

Patrick Mahomes’ brief, cryptic post on X on Feb. 4 — “Let’s go!!!!! @tkelce 🎯🎯🎯” — touched off a wave of speculation that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had made a decision about his playing future. Mahomes quickly clarified the message referred to Kelce’s near hole‑in‑one at the Waste Management Phoenix Open pro‑am in Phoenix, where Kelce played alongside Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka and landed a tee shot very close to the pin on the raucous 16th hole. Video clips circulated by Golf Channel and social reactions, including a like from Taylor Swift, amplified the moment. The exchange briefly overshadowed ongoing questions about Kelce’s contract status — his deal runs through March — and whether he will retire before the 2026 NFL season. Mahomes’ clarification calmed immediate fan frenzy, but Kelce’s decision remains a key offseason storyline for the Chiefs and the wider NFL.

Australia has named moguls skiers Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham as its flag bearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. The pair were announced at a ceremony in Livigno, Italy, on Feb. 4, with Anthony and Graham set to carry the Australian flag in Livigno as the Games use a multi-hub, dispersed opening format centred on Milan’s San Siro. Anthony, 27, is the reigning Olympic moguls champion and arrives in Italy as the world No.1 after a successful World Cup season; she has recovered from a recent collarbone injury. Graham, 31, is a PyeongChang silver medallist and a four-time Olympian who has enjoyed a strong World Cup campaign this season. Australia will field 53 athletes across 12 sports at Milano Cortina. Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin praised both athletes for their leadership and consistency. The Games’ opening events begin in early February with ceremonies and competitions staged across Milan, Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent release of more than three million Jeffrey Epstein‑related records has thrust New York Giants co‑owner Steve Tisch into the spotlight after his name appeared roughly 440 times in the documents. Emails from 2013 published in the disclosure show Epstein exchanging messages with Tisch that included descriptions of women and facilitation of introductions; in some exchanges Tisch asked whether women were “pro or civilian” and whether one was “fun.” Tisch has said the association was brief, that they exchanged emails about adult women, movies, philanthropy and investments, and that he never went to Epstein’s island. The NFL said it is aware of the reports and will “look into the facts,” with Commissioner Roger Goodell saying the league will determine whether the material falls under its personal conduct policy before opening any formal investigation. League officials have previously fined owners after misconduct probes; the DOJ has cautioned inclusion in the files does not by itself indicate criminal conduct. Other NFL owners have also been named in the broader disclosures, intensifying scrutiny of ownership conduct.

The New York Giants have hired Matt Nagy as their offensive coordinator, multiple U.S. outlets reported on Feb. 3, 2026. Nagy spent the past three seasons as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator after earlier work under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City; he was part of Chiefs staffs that won the 2023 Super Bowl and reached the 2024 title game. Nagy was head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018-21 (34-31) and interviewed for several head-coaching vacancies this offseason before his Chiefs contract expired. He becomes the second major addition to new Giants coach John Harbaugh’s staff after Dennard Wilson was hired as defensive coordinator. Harbaugh had targeted Todd Monken for the role, but Monken took the Cleveland Browns’ head-coaching job. Nagy will be charged with developing second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart and integrating returning stars such as Malik Nabers as New York looks to improve on a 13th-ranked total offense and 17th-ranked scoring finish last season. Kansas City has re-hired Eric Bieniemy as its offensive coordinator.

Rangers completed the deadline-day signing of 22-year-old German striker Ryan Naderi from Hansa Rostock on Feb. 3, 2026, agreeing a fee reported around £4m up front that could rise above £5m with add-ons. Rangers boss Danny Rohl described the Dresden-born forward — who has dual German and Bulgarian citizenship and qualifies for the Czech Republic — as a player with pace, physicality and goal threat, and said he had received congratulatory messages from contacts in Germany who likened Naderi to former international Fredi Bobic and current Germany forward Nick Woltemade. Naderi scored eight goals and provided five assists in 18 appearances this season for Hansa (BBC and club figures suggest 13 goals and nine assists in 45 appearances since 2024). The signing was Rangers’ fourth of the January window following Andreas Skov Olsen, Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens; the club also moved Joe Rothwell on permanently and sent Danilo on loan to NEC Nijmegen. Rangers said Naderi had played 90 minutes at the weekend and could be available for selection immediately as they chase Scottish Premiership honours.

Atlanta’s revamped football leadership has declined to guarantee Michael Penix Jr. the starting quarterback role for 2026 as the team evaluates its roster and cap choices. At an introductory news conference for new general manager Ian Cunningham on Feb. 3-4, Falcons president of football operations Matt Ryan — who led the hiring of GM Cunningham and coach Kevin Stefanski — said the decision ultimately rests with the head coach and broader roster discussions. Penix, the No. 8 pick in 2024, is rehabbing a torn left ACL suffered in November and is expected to miss nine to 12 months; he has said he aims to be ready for Week 1 of 2026. In nine starts last season he completed 60.1% of passes for 1,982 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions while the team went 3-6 in his starts. Kirk Cousins, who started other games in 2025, restructured his contract and faces a March 13 vesting guarantee that could force a roster decision. Atlanta could explore free-agent or draft options if Penix’s recovery timeline or long-term plan remains uncertain.