All articles tagged with #2026 27
SB Nation’s mid-July look at the 2026-27 NBA season ranks Oklahoma City No. 1, San Antonio No. 2, and New York No. 3, signaling an elite trio atop a reshaping league. The piece notes new anti-tanking rules and a draft lottery relegation zone that redefines risk for the worst teams, highlights key offseason moves across franchises, and acknowledges that LeBron James’s soon-to-come decision could trigger additional movement.
The Penguins have 39 contracts locked in for 2026-27 as of July 2, with room to reach roughly the mid-to-upper 40s (potentially about 47) as RFAs, ELCs and other signings count toward the 50-contract limit. They bid farewell to several veterans (Acciari, Mantha, Hayes, Skinner, Clifton, Wotherspoon, among others) and added a mix of new players (Kuzmenko, van Riemsdyk, Carlile, Calvert) plus trades (Korczak, Okuliar, Gustafsson) and RFAs/ELCs (Lapierre, Robertson, Brunicke, D’Aigle, Zonnon, Fernstrom), signaling a balance of NHL depth and burgeoning AHL talent. The goaltending shift leans younger, and the team could still trade or sign a few more to finalize a 46–49 player core before the season starts.
Toronto selected Gavin McKenna No. 1 in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old forward is projected for a 63-point rookie season (22 goals, 41 assists) and could slot on Toronto's top line or first power play, potentially boosting the Leafs’ fantasy upside and Matthews’ outlook. McKenna is among NHL.com’s top rookies for 2026-27 and is viewed as a Calder Trophy frontrunner among rookies.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) has released the broadcast and site schedule for the 2026-27 postseason, detailing quarterfinals in Las Vegas, semifinals hosted by the traditional bowls (Fiesta, Cotton, Peach, Rose, Sugar, Orange), and the National Championship in New Orleans, along with associated fan events and hotel accommodations.
The IIHF Council initially excluded Russia from the 2026–27 season for safety concerns, but the Disciplinary Board overturned that decision and sent the matter back to the Council to re-analyze with safety, security, operational and sporting plans. The Board clarified this does not automatically reintegrate Russia; eligibility for future IIHF events will be decided on an event-by-event basis after further review.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced San Jose, CA as its latest expansion market for the 2026-27 season, with SAP Center hosting home games and Sharks Ice at San Jose as the training site; San Jose becomes the fourth expansion city (joining Detroit, Hamilton and Las Vegas), placing four teams in the Pacific Time Zone, and the league will share details on roster-building and the 2026 draft soon, while fans can deposit to secure priority access to season tickets.
Michigan’s men’s basketball program announced five additions for the 2026-27 season: three transfers (J.P. Estrella, Jalen Reed, Moustapha Thiam) and two high-school signees (Brandon McCoy Jr. and Lincoln Cosby). Cosby will redshirt this season due to a torn ACL. The newcomers are highlighted for size, defense and versatility, with Estrella, Reed and Thiam adding frontcourt presence and toughness, while McCoy is projected to contribute immediately as an explosive scorer. All five have multiple years of eligibility, signaling both short-term impact and long-term depth for the program.
With the NBA draft early-entrant deadline behind us and the transfer portal closed, On3’s fourth projection for the 2026-27 season has Florida at No. 1, followed by Michigan, Duke, UConn, and Michigan State, as rosters and decisions continue to shift ahead of the coming season.
From April 7–21, the spring transfer portal window is live for the Big Ten’s 2026-27 roster moves. Confirmed incoming scholarship transfers include Maryland’s Tomislav Buljan (New Mexico), Michigan’s J.P. Estrella (Tennessee), Minnesota’s Sam Orme (Belmont), Ohio State’s Justin Pippen (Cal) and Andrija Jelavic (Kentucky), Purdue’s Caden Pierce (Princeton), Rutgers’s Lewis Duarte (New Mexico State), and UCLA’s Filip Jovic (Auburn) plus Sergej Macura (Mississippi State). Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Oregon, USC, Washington, and Wisconsin reported no incoming scholarship transfers as of April 11.
Alex Ovechkin hasn’t decided on a 2026-27 return and will wait until summer to consult Capitals ownership and staff. At 40, health is a major factor as he weighs retirement after 21 NHL seasons, a possible re-signing with Washington, or finishing his career in Dynamo Moscow (KHL); the Capitals will support his decision, and there may be no formal farewell if he departs.
The College Football Playoff has announced the quarterfinal and semifinal dates and the bowl venues for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The College Football Playoff released dates and bowl sites for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Playoffs: for 2026-27, quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30, 2026 and at Cotton, Peach and Rose Bowls on Jan. 1, 2027; semifinals at the Orange Bowl (Jan. 14, 2027) and Sugar Bowl (Jan. 15, 2027); and the National Championship on Jan. 25, 2027 in Las Vegas. For 2027-28, quarterfinals conclude with the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31, 2027 and the Fiesta, Peach and Rose Bowls on Jan. 1, 2028; semifinals on Jan. 13 (Orange Bowl) and Jan. 14, 2028 (Cotton Bowl); with the Championship on Jan. 24, 2028 in New Orleans, with times/TV to be announced later.
The Florida High School Athletic Association has finalized football classifications for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, with remaining fall sport classifications to be released in spring, covering various school size categories.
The FAFSA for the 2026-27 school year has launched earlier than ever, with new features like faster verification and a new aid calculation formula using the Student Aid Index, aiming to streamline the application process and improve access to federal financial aid.