Today's Sports Connections answers
By SportsMonkie Sports Desk · Puzzle #703 · Edited by Mark Cooper · Full spoilers below
This page always carries the current NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle — #703, Thursday, August 27, 2026. The four groups are TRANSGRESSION, TRANSACTION, DALLAS COWBOYS, _____ ERA. The full sixteen words, sorted into their groups with a short explanation of why each one belongs, are right below. Want to solve it yourself first? Use the progressive hints instead.
Today's answers, group by group
Tier 1 · Easiest
TRANSGRESSION
- FOUL
- PENALTY
- VIOLATION
- INFRACTION
Why: All four — FOUL, PENALTY, VIOLATION and INFRACTION — share one link: transgression. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
TRANSACTION
- TRANSFER
- EXCHANGE
- TRADE
- DEAL
Why: All four — TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, TRADE and DEAL — share one link: transaction. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
DALLAS COWBOYS
- BLAND
- PRESCOTT
- LAMB
- OVERSHOWN
Why: All four — BLAND, PRESCOTT, LAMB and OVERSHOWN — share one link: dallas cowboys. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 4 · Hardest
_____ ERA
- DEAD BALL
- STEROID
- NEW
- OPEN
Why: This is the wordplay group: DEAD BALL, STEROID, NEW and OPEN are joined by the pattern in the title ("_____ era"), not by any shared sport. It is the classic trap tier — several of these words look like they belong with a sports category above, which is exactly what the puzzle wants you to try first.
If you don't follow US sports
Sports Edition skews American, so a group can be obvious to a US fan and invisible to everyone else. The "why" line under each group names the league, the city or the player so the connection makes sense even if you have never watched the sport.
FAQ
What are today's Sports Connections answers (#703)?
The four groups for Thursday, August 27, 2026 are: TRANSGRESSION; TRANSACTION; DALLAS COWBOYS; _____ ERA. The full sixteen words and the reason each group fits are laid out above.
What time does the Sports Connections puzzle reset?
A new puzzle unlocks at midnight in your local time, so players in earlier time zones get the next day's grid first. This page updates to the new puzzle as soon as it is live.
How many mistakes can I make?
Four. Every wrong group of four counts as one mistake, and the fourth mistake ends the game and reveals the solution. There is no time limit.
Previous days' answers
Missed the last few puzzles? Here are the full answers for the previous days, newest first.
Sports Connections #702 — Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Tier 1 · Easiest
VULNERABLE SPOT
- ACHILLES' HEEL
- FLAW
- WEAKNESS
- DEFECT
Why: All four — ACHILLES' HEEL, FLAW, WEAKNESS and DEFECT — share one link: vulnerable spot. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
FAMOUS CYCLING RACES
- TOUR DE FRANCE
- IL LOMBARDIA
- GIRO D'ITALIA
- VUELTA A ESPAÑA
Why: All four — TOUR DE FRANCE, IL LOMBARDIA, GIRO D'ITALIA and VUELTA A ESPAÑA — share one link: famous cycling races. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
- BURNT ORANGE
- AUSTIN
- BEVO
- HOOK 'EM
Why: Everything here ties back to THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS: BURNT ORANGE, AUSTIN, BEVO and HOOK 'EM. The group rewards knowing the arc of one career rather than any single stat.
Tier 4 · Hardest
STARTS WITH AN NFL TEAM, IN SINGULAR FORM
- COLT MCCOY
- RAMBLERS
- LIONEL MESSI
- SAINT JOSEPH'S
Why: This is the wordplay group: COLT MCCOY, RAMBLERS, LIONEL MESSI and SAINT JOSEPH'S are joined by the pattern in the title ("starts with an nfl team, in singular form"), not by any shared sport. It is the classic trap tier — several of these words look like they belong with a sports category above, which is exactly what the puzzle wants you to try first.
Sports Connections #701 — Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Tier 1 · Easiest
AN AFC NORTH PLAYER
- BENGAL
- RAVEN
- BROWN
- STEELER
Why: All four — BENGAL, RAVEN, BROWN and STEELER — share one link: an afc north player. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
EUROPEAN CITIES TO HOST OLYMPICS, SINCE 2000
- LONDON
- PARIS
- MILAN
- TURIN
Why: All four — LONDON, PARIS, MILAN and TURIN — share one link: european cities to host olympics, since 2000. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS
- PORTO
- AJAX
- JUVENTUS
- REAL MADRID
Why: All four — PORTO, AJAX, JUVENTUS and REAL MADRID — share one link: champions league winners. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 4 · Hardest
NEW YORK GIANTS
- DART
- LIKELY
- BURNS
- HOLLAND
Why: All four — DART, LIKELY, BURNS and HOLLAND — share one link: new york giants. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Sports Connections #700 — Monday, August 24, 2026
Tier 1 · Easiest
MAKE A SHOT
- BURY
- KNOCK DOWN
- DRILL
- DRAIN
Why: All four — BURY, KNOCK DOWN, DRILL and DRAIN — share one link: make a shot. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 2 · Easy
FOOD SERVED IN A BASEBALL HELMET
- ICE CREAM
- NACHOS
- TENDERS
- FRIES
Why: All four — ICE CREAM, NACHOS, TENDERS and FRIES — share one link: food served in a baseball helmet. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 3 · Tricky
MEMBERS OF THE 700-HR CLUB, FAMILIARLY
- BARRY
- BABE
- HANK
- ALBERT
Why: All four — BARRY, BABE, HANK and ALBERT — share one link: members of the 700-hr club, familiarly. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
Tier 4 · Hardest
BANANA BALL TEAMS
- PARTY ANIMALS
- TAILGATERS
- BANANAS
- CLOWNS
Why: All four — PARTY ANIMALS, TAILGATERS, BANANAS and CLOWNS — share one link: banana ball teams. The group is knowledge-gated: you either recognise the theme on sight or you don't, so use the hints above rather than trying to reason it out from the words alone.
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