Rodriguez urges bringing back Backyard Brawl, other regional rivalries

July 11, 2026

Quarterback Nicco Marchiol hitting tight end Grayson Barnes in the end zone to tie the Backyard Brawl against Pitt was one of the top moments from West Virginia's 2025-26 athletic year. Everyone remembers just an hour later, Rich Rodriguez getting hit with Gatorade, and yelling on ESPN that the "West Virginia Mountaineers never quit," after the Mountaineers knocked off the Panthers in overtime, completing a 10-point comeback. It was iconic, and another page in the classic Backyard Brawl rivalry book on the gridiron. It's a book that won't be opened for quite some time, though. WVU ...

Yahoo Sports launches college fantasy football leagues

July 11, 2026

How about Texas quarterback Arch Manning paired with Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith on the same college football roster. While at it, add Michigan tailback Jordan Marshall, too. No transfer portal needed, either. Just some savvy drafting by a college fantasy football team owner. Yahoo ...

BRIEFS

July 11, 2026

Golf event upcoming WHEELING — The fifth annual Nick Gaudino Memorial Youth Golf Tournament will be held at noon on Thursda at the Bloch Memorial Golf Course at Wheeling Park. This competition is part of continued efforts to promote youth golf for boys and girls in the Ohio Valley and is offered in cooperation with the Wheeling Park Commission and Dan Ackerman and his staff at Oglebay Resort. The event is coordinated and sponsored by the members of the Gaudino family in memory of Nick Gaudino and his wife Alice who raised four young men (Dave. Tom, Greg and Mike) who have gone on to ...

McIlroy part of 3-way tie for the lead at Scottish Open as Scheffler misses the cut

July 11, 2026

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy took advantage of the scoring holes in windy conditions Friday and posted a 4-under 66 for a three-way share of the lead in a Scottish Open that no longer has Scottie Scheffler. As comfortable as McIlroy looked, Scheffler struggled from the start ...

Wimbledon defeat makes Djokovic realize he’s ‘blessed and cursed’

July 11, 2026

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic didn't dwell on Centre Court after getting dominated by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals. The 39-year-old Djokovic enjoyed a warm, smile-filled embrace with his 24-year-old opponent at the net after the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat Friday, quickly packed up ...

Same old story: US men’s soccer team has been stagnant for quarter century

July 11, 2026

SEATTLE (AP) — For all the growth in American soccer over the past quarter-century, the U.S. men's national team remains stagnant. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie fared no better at the World Cup in 2022 and 2026 than Tim Howard, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore did in ...