2026 Preview In Sport

2025 in Sport had it all. We had back to back champions in the MLB for the first time since the late 90s - early 2000s. An NFL team prevented a three-peat in dominant fashion. We also saw one of the youngest NBA teams ever win their franchises' first title. We watched a man defend his UFC title 4 times to then lose his belt in December. Instead of a 2025 recap, I want to dive into what this new year could and should bring to our screens.

NFL

Where do I start with this ever-evolving league. The league that despite three Christmas games with back up and 3rd string QBs in all three on multiple streaming platforms had millions more viewers than the NBA on Christmas. The NFL continues to rise in popularity year after year and with both #1 seeds from last year eliminated from the playoffs, we will at least see a new AFC Champion. The Chiefs had reached 5 of the last 6 Super Bowls before having their worst season of the Mahomes/Reid era. I hate to make it about one or two players or teams, but in 2026, we needs to see the Bills or the Ravens in the big game. This is the best chance they may ever have with their respective elite QBs, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Baltimore could lose Sunday night and miss playoffs entirely too, which again puts a ton on Josh Allen and the Bills finally breaking through. They are not going to get rid of either star quarterback regardless of how their seasons end. However, their coaches may not have the same outcomes. With the league being as wide-open as it is this year, one of the top dogs in the AFC need to make a statement in January/February.

NBA

If you check one of my latest posts on TikTok, I mention that the NBA needs more rivalries. The old guard led by LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are going to be on their way out soon. If the NBA wants to increase the popularity of their sport, they need to have reasons to tune in to the games. They have their established stars in their prime like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The guys that have been in the league for a few years starting to really emerge as elite, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham. And the super young guys who are already elite, Victor Wembanyama and Alperen Sengun. Now the NBA needs to figure out how to market these stars. The easiest way to make that happen...have rivalries grow. Seems like we may have one in the Spurs/Thunder, reigniting after years of the Duncan Spurs and the Durant/Westbrook teams. Personally, here are a few NBA matchups that should become rivalries. Rockets-Nuggets, Knicks-Pistons, Knicks-76ers. It is tough for me to put a rival for the Celtics because they have run through nearly most of the teams in their conference the last few seasons. I would like the Magic to have a rivalry along with whatever team Giannis plays for in the near future. My point is that rivalries create storylines, and storylines create urgency and urgency increases ratings.

MLB

The MLB is going to have a big problem following the 2026 season. They are most likely heading towards a lockout of the 2027 season. The main reason for this is because of a potential push for a salary cap from the owners. The MLBPA however, is the strongest player's association of all the major U.S. sports. And they do not want a salary cap, and neither do the owners of teams that spend absurd amounts of money like the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Mets. I am a fan of the Phillies and Yankees, but I will side with the majority of owners on this one. While I despise teams like the Pirates and the Marlins who do not pay enough for their star players, I sympathize with the middle of the pack of the MLB for not having the access to the dollars that these upper echelon teams have with their TV deals and their ultra-rich owners who will spend whatever it takes to get the best players. I like the idea of a salary floor, where teams can spend as much as they want, but need to spend at least a certain dollar amount. For the upcoming 2026 season, before the looming lockout, I want a mix of big market and smaller market teams to compete in the playoffs. Obviously I want the Phillies or Yankees to win it all, but for the future of the sport, we need a lower level market team to win the championship. It needs to be a balance of the big cities being relevant, while also knowing there is a chance for teams like the Guardians, Rockies and White Sox to compete with viable rosters. The NFL does parity the best, even with Tom Brady, Pat Mahomes and Peyton Manning representing in the Super Bowl every year since 1998, until this season.

UFC

The UFC White House card on the schedule for mid-June, is the best chance the UFC will have of showcasing their best fighters since UFC 300. The problem is that they may be having a hard time filling out the card. Ilia Topuria is taking a break due to personal family/legal issues. Jon Jones' unreliable past doesn't serve well for Dana White. Alex Pereira posted on Instagram a few weeks back that the White House card is a "No-Go!" Some fighters that I would personally like to see on the card, minus the ones I mentioned that are in limbo at the moment, are Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski, Merab Dvalishvili, Tom Aspinall, and Sean O'Malley. It would also be nice to see a chance for an American fighter have a shot at a title fight. Whether it be Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Cory Sandhagen, Sean Strickland, we need a revolution of the American mixed-martial artists and that can start at the White House card. That could also help build the UFC to a level they haven't seen in a decade. Regardless, I am excited to see great fighter become legends, newcomers become stars, but sadly not looking forward to the older guys hanging it up potentially this year.

Major Sporting Events

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence for the United States of America. We have some major sporting events that will be taking place this year. I said previously that the White House will be hosting a fight card for the celebration. The World Baseball Classic kicks off in March. The 2026 Winter Olympics will begin in February in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Philadelphia will be hosting the MLB All-Star Game as well as FIFA World Cup games.

Along with other die-hard sport fans, we just want to watch the absolute best athletes compete on the most well-constructed teams at the highest level. Personally, I want to see the Eagles go back to back next month, the Sixers to win their first title since 1983, and the Phillies to finally break through with their core group of stars.