Sports News Today — October 18, 2026
BYU outlasts Notre Dame, caps upset with stop in end zone and more — today's sports signal.
What a day in sports it's shaping up to be! We've got thrilling finishes, historic achievements, and intense rivalries making headlines. In college football, BYU pulled off a stunning upset against Notre Dame, with a dramatic stop in the end zone that will be replayed for weeks to come. Meanwhile, in Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi continued to dazzle, scoring twice to take his season tally to 25 and lead Miami to a win over Atlanta.
But that's not all - in the NHL, the Panthers are making history with their incredible scoring prowess, becoming the first team ever to record natural hat tricks in three straight games. On the WNBA court, the Valkyries took a crucial Game 1 win over the Dream, thanks in large part to A'ja Williams' 26 points and clutch late free throws. And in the world of boxing, Pierre Dubois delivered a devastating 2nd-round TKO to retain his title against Wardley. Even the NBA is buzzing, with Kevin Durant firing back at comments from Suns owner Ishbia about his tenure in Phoenix. With so many exciting stories unfolding, there's never been a better time to be a sports fan!
Today's signal:
• BYU outlasts Notre Dame, caps upset with stop in end zone (espn.com)
• Messi scores twice, takes season tally to 25 in Miami win at Atlanta (espn.com)
• Panthers become 1st team in NHL history with natural hat tricks in 3 straight games (espn.com)
• Williams' 26, late free throws lift Valkyries past Dream in Game 1 (espn.com)
• Dubois destroys Wardley in brutal 2nd-round TKO to retain title (espn.com)
• Durant fires back at Ishbia for negative framing of Suns tenure (espn.com)