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Longtime college football referee Ron Snodgrass has been named national coordinator of officials, the NCAA announced Monday. Snodgrass will take over Sept. 1 for the retiring Steve Shaw. Snodgrass has worked mostly in the Big Ten Conference and officiated in Division I for 26 seasons. He has officiated numerous postseason games, including the College Football Playoff.

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The NFL will allow head coaches to designate a member of their sideline staff to initiate replay challenges, a league official confirmed Monday.

Traditionally, head coaches have been the only member of a team that can declare a challenge by throwing the red flag. But that will change in 2026 if a coach prefers to assign the task to someone else, a decision he would have to inform officials of before the start of the game.

The change was not announced during the NFL's annual meeting where rule changes are typically voted on. But each summer the league makes tweaks when finalizing its rule book that don't require votes from ownership.

NFL to allow coach's designee to initiate replay challenges The NFL will allow head coaches to designate a member of their sideline staff to initiate replay challenges this season.

As college athletes become bigger targets for sexual exploitation online, the NCAA and FBI announced a partnership Monday to educate athletes on how to prevent private images from falling into the wrong hands.

Financial name, image and likeness deals have increased the online public presence of college athletes, making them desirable victims for criminals, an FBI cyber expert said during a media call.

"Student-athletes maintain large public-facing social media followings and in many cases expanded further by name, image and likeness activity," FBI cyber division Section Chief Taushiana Bright said. "That visibility increases both their exposure to targeting and the leverage an offender believes they hold when threatening to expose an athlete to a coach, team, school or sponsor."

NCAA and FBI announce partnership to combat athlete sexploitation As college athletes become bigger targets for sexual exploitation online, the NCAA and FBI announced a partnership Monday to educate athletes on how to prevent private images from falling into the wrong hands.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy returned to the team Monday for his first training camp practice since his wife was shot at their Virginia home and the couple's 27-year-old son was arrested in the shooting.

Bieniemy was greeted by a handful of fans as he walked down the long hill to the fields at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs hold camp. Then he jumped right into his first practice since Mia Bieniemy was shot the evening of July 26.

"It was good to have EB back, back in full. I don't think he missed a snap he was out there," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "Listen, I was talking to him several times a day. I knew when he was coming back. The primary thing is that Mia is stable, that she's doing well."

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Elijah Bieniemy has been charged with malicious wounding, the use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. His court appearances have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation.

Eric Bieniemy, who returned to the Chiefs earlier this year, had been staying in touch with Reid and the rest of the staff, and had been watching streams of some practices. In one case, he called Chiefs manager Brett Veach — who was sitting next to Reid — and asked him to hand over the phone, then proceeded to tell the head coach a point of instruction for a running back.

"It was great to have him back out there. Everybody was glad to see him," Reid said. "I think once you start going, then you're going. It is like a game. Once you're in the game, you're in the game. But he always brings the energy."

Bieniemy was part of coaching staffs that helped Kansas City reach three Super Bowls and win two of them. But because Reid is the primary play-caller, Bieniemy left to serve as the offensive coordinator with the Washington Commanders, where he would be able to call his own plays and perhaps better position himself for a head coaching job in the NFL.

The Commanders struggled in his lone season there, though, and Bieniemy and the rest of the staff were let go. He spent a season with UCLA and last season coached the running backs with the Chicago Bears before returning to Kansas City as the offensive coordinator.

He replaced Matt Nagy, who was hired as the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

"Obviously it's great to have him back. We missed him and prayed for his family when he was out," Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said. "But to have a guy like that come back to the field, man, a competitor — it brings out the best in us."

Top News Eric Bienemy returns to team after wife Mia was shot July 26 at Virginia home (AP)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared updates on two players expected to play big roles for the offense in 2026. Campbell said Monday that running back Isiah Pacheco has a "little" MCL sprain that shouldn't preclude him from playing in Week 1 of the regular season. The early diagnosis is worse for projected starting center Cade Mays. The veteran lineman will be sidelined for a "significant period of time" because of a wrist injury. Campbell couldn't say when Mays might be healthy enough to suit up.

Detroit Lions Center Cade Mays has 'significant' wrist injury; Isiah Pacheco has MCL sprain

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and pinch-hitter Austin Hays connected for a two-run shot in his first at-bat with San Diego as the Padres beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 7-2 on Sunday.

Padres 7-2 Astros (Aug 9, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN Expert recap and game analysis of the San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros MLB game from August 9, 2026 on ESPN.

Leaders of the College Football Playoff could possibly discuss a future model with a 20-team field during a videoconference scheduled for today, sources told ESPN. The group has been mostly debating 16 and 24-team fields and should learn more today about how valuable a 24-team field could be. No decisions are expected on future format today.

Leaders of the College Football Playoff could possibly discuss... - ESPN Read the breaking news story from the ESPN contributor Heather Dinich

The New England Patriots reportedly rewarded one of their top veterans with a new deal on Monday.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots agreed to terms with tight end Hunter Henry on a two-year contract extension. Rapoport added that the 31-year-old had one year remaining on his previous deal, and his extension makes it "likely that he finishes his career with the Pats."

Fantasy Football Veteran TE agrees to 2-yr, $16M deal that includes $14.5M guaranteed (multiple reports)

Chicago WR Luther Burden III is expected to miss the preseason due to the strained groin injury he suffered Saturday, but the Bears believe he should be back for the team’s regular-season opener vs. the Panthers, per sources.

Chicago WR Luther Burden III is expected to miss the preseason... - ESPN Read the breaking news story from the ESPN contributor Adam Schefter

Cedric Mullins' RBI single in the fifth inning put Tampa Bay ahead and Ian Seymour pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.

Rays 4-1 Mariners (Aug 9, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN Expert recap and game analysis of the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners MLB game from August 9, 2026 on ESPN.