Coach News Today — September 24, 2026

The sports world is buzzing with news today, and it seems like injuries and controversy are dominating the headlines. In the world of college football, Michigan is facing a tough blow with the news that quarterback JJ McCarthy is not the one, but rather C.J. Stroud's backup - no actually Dart is, and he's going to be out for the rest of the regular season with a knee injury. This comes as a huge setback for the team, but head coach Jim Harbaugh is staying optimistic, refusing to rule out a potential playoff run. Meanwhile, in the SEC, Alabama fans are getting a better look at freshman quarterback Keelon Russell, who's been making waves through the first three games of the season.

But it's not just football making headlines today. In the NHL, there's been a lot of criticism surrounding the Edmonton Oilers' decision to hire coach Kris Knoblauch, formerly known as Babcock, amid accusations. Hockey legend Mark Messier is speaking out, saying he's "horrified" by the hire. On the sidelines, NFL coach Pete Carroll is also making headlines, issuing an apology to Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton for some comments he made earlier. It seems like coaches and players alike are learning valuable lessons today, whether it's about perseverance in the face of injury or about being mindful of the words we say. Stay tuned for more updates on these stories and others from around the sports world.

Today's signal:
• What we've seen from Alabama QB Keelon Russell through three games (espn.com)
• Dart to have surgery, miss regular season; Harbaugh won't rule out playoffs (espn.com)
• Messier 'horrified' by Oilers' hire of Babcock as coach after accusations (espn.com)
• Giants QB Dart to have knee surgery, miss rest of regular season (espn.com)
• Messier 'horrified' by Oilers' hire of Babcock as coach (espn.com)
• Seahawks coach apologizes to Payton for comments: 'Lesson learned' (espn.com)