Sports News Today — October 17, 2026

The sports world is buzzing today with a mix of lineup surprises, controversy, and thrilling playoff moments. In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs are shaking things up by going with a three-guard starting lineup in their season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a bold move that could pay off or backfire. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are dealing with their own controversy as wide receiver Courtland Cooper has been removed from the exempt list, but still faces potential discipline from the league. In the NFL, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is taking an unconventional approach to preparing his pass catchers, using pop quizzes to test their knowledge and readiness.

In other news, the family feud between the Buss siblings and Los Angeles Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss continues to play out in court, with the siblings filing a new challenge to Jeanie's petition to remove them as trustees. On a more positive note, the Cleveland Guardians are riding high after a Game 3 win, and we're breaking down the key takeaways from that victory. And for a trip down memory lane, we're revisiting the 1982 night when the Milwaukee Brewers punched their ticket to the World Series, a moment that's still celebrated by fans today as a reminder that even after 44 years of heartbreak, loyalty and dedication can lead to triumph.

Today's signal:
• Spurs going with 3-guard starting lineup in season opener vs. Thunder (espn.com)
• Broncos' Cooper removed from exempt list, could still face league discipline (espn.com)
• Pop quizzes from Aaron Rodgers?! How Steelers QB preps pass catchers for games (espn.com)
• Buss siblings' filing challenges Jeanie's petition to oust them as trustees (espn.com)
• Takeaways from Guardians' Game 3 win (espn.com)
• '44 years of heartbreak, 44 years of believing': Inside the night the Brewers punched their World Series ticket (espn.com)