WRFC-AM (Athens, GA)

The start of Georgia’s football season is closing in, just a little more than two months away (Sept. 5), but the anticipation is building. Preseason polls are approaching, and DraftKings Sportsbook, cited by ESPN, has already released its national championship odds. The Bulldogs, who return 68% of their production from a season ago — 63% on offense, 72% on defense — rank among the betting favorites once again. Read more at DawgNation.

The Belgian soccer federation wants explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game. Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Belgian federation (RBFA) said it has still not received either “FIFA’s decision or any explanation regarding this matter.

GENEVA — An all-time controversy in the World Cup’s 96-year history was raging Monday ahead of the co-host United States facing Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake. European soccer body UEFA criticized FIFA for an "incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision" to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play despite getting a red card in his previous game — a shocking move made Sunday after pressure on the world soccer body's leader Gianni Infantino from his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump.

JOLIET, Ill. — Chase Briscoe held off Christopher Bell on Sunday night in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway, racing to his first Cup Series victory of the season. Briscoe was followed closely by Bell in the final laps on the 1.5-mile oval about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. But Bell was unable to run down his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate.

MONTREAL — Summer McIntosh broke the longest-standing individual women’s swimming world record Sunday night, finishing the 200-meter butterfly in 2 minutes 1.65 seconds at the Canadian trials. The 19-year-old McIntosh broke the mark of 2:01.81 set by China's Liu Zige in 2009 during what’s known as the super-suit era. A three-time champion at the 2004 Paris Olympics, McIntosh slammed her fists into the water in celebration while smiling ear-to-ear as the crowd erupted inside the Olympic pool.

LOS ANGELES — When the major leagues seemed far away to Eliézer Alfonzo during his near-decade in the minors, the catcher says he always found the strength to continue by thinking about how proud he would make his family. He finally stepped onto the Dodger Stadium field for that moment Sunday, but in heartbreaking circumstances.

MEXICO CITY — The kickoff for the World Cup round of 16 game between Mexico and England was delayed by one hour on Sunday night as a thunderstorm rolled through Estadio Azteca. The game was pushed to 7 p.m. local time from its scheduled 6 p.m. start. This is the second time weather has disrupted El Tri's tournament run; their round of 32 match against Ecuador on Tuesday was pushed back an hour due to similar conditions.

SILVIS, Ill. — Chris Gotterup made up a five-shot deficit Sunday by closing with a 9-under 62 to win the John Deere Classic for his fourth PGA Tour title in the last 12 months. Gotterup avoided a playoff when Ben Kohles, trying to win for the first time in his 120th start, hit his approach to the 18th left and into the water and wound up with a double bogey. Gotterup next week defends his title in the Scottish Open, where he began his remarkable run to reach the top 10 in the world.

LONDON — There’s not usually a clock ticking down in tennis. Yet for Coco Gauff at Wimbledon on Sunday, the All England Club's 11 p.m. curfew made it seem like there was. And Gauff hit the winning shot at the buzzer. Two minutes before 11, Gauff converted her first match point with a service winner out wide to reach the quarterfinals at the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Pérez has not allowed a baserunner through six innings against the Athletics on Sunday. The 23-year-old Pérez, who has never pitched a complete game in his major league career, has retired all 18 batters he’s faced with seven strikeouts. Pérez has thrown 83 pitches, 50 for strikes. Miami leads 8-0. The Marlins have not had a perfect game in the 33-year history of the franchise. The A’s have not come close to getting on base.