Connections: Sports Edition asks you to sort sixteen words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use informal expressions, professional roles, sporting labels, and hidden endings.
Connections: Sports Edition #778 Puzzle Overview: November 10, 2026
BAGEL, AGENT, and PROGRAM each have more than one meaning. Compare possible connections before committing to each set.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: BAGEL, BEAGLE, BOBCATS, PLAYER, HANDKERCHIEF, OWNER, DONUT, AGENT, ZIPS, MINUTEMEN, MILLION, NIL, GENERAL MANAGER, GOOSE EGG, CHIPPEWAS, PROGRAM.
Connections: Sports Edition Hints: November 10, 2026
Each of the four color groups below opens in four steps: hints, one word, the category name, then all four words. Stop at the step that gives enough help.
Yellow group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about what these expressions can mean on scoreboards.
- Each can describe having no points.
Step 2 · one word
GOOSE EGG
Step 3 · category
SLANG FOR ZERO
Step 4 · all four words
GOOSE EGG, DONUT, BAGEL, NIL
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about who helps settle professional pay.
- These roles take part when employment terms are discussed.
Step 2 · one word
GENERAL MANAGER
Step 3 · category
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
Step 4 · all four words
AGENT, GENERAL MANAGER, PLAYER, OWNER
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- These labels identify college athletic squads.
- These nicknames come from the same college athletic conference.
Step 2 · one word
ZIPS
Step 3 · category
MAC TEAM NICKNAMES
Step 4 · all four words
ZIPS, MINUTEMEN, CHIPPEWAS, BOBCATS
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look closely at how these words finish.
- Each ending spells out one professional football squad’s nickname with its plural ending removed.
Step 2 · one word
BEAGLE
Step 3 · category
ENDS IN AN NFL TEAM, IN SINGULAR FORM
Step 4 · all four words
BEAGLE, MILLION, HANDKERCHIEF, PROGRAM
Less common words explained
- MINUTEMEN: Militia members trained to be ready for duty at very short notice.
Connections: Sports Edition Answers: November 10, 2026
Step 4 of each group above holds its answer. The full solved grid and notes on today’s tricky words are folded below.
Full solved grid
Tricky words (spoilers)
GOOSE EGG, DONUT, BAGEL, and NIL are slang for zero. AGENT, GENERAL MANAGER, PLAYER, and OWNER are people involved in a contract negotiation.
BEAGLE names a dog, so it can suggest the blue group alongside BOBCATS. It belongs in purple because of its ending. ZIPS, MINUTEMEN, CHIPPEWAS, and BOBCATS belong together as MAC team nicknames.
Remove the opening letter from BEAGLE, the opening three letters from MILLION, the opening seven letters from HANDKERCHIEF, and the opening four letters from PROGRAM. Each remaining ending is an NFL team nickname in singular form.
Yesterday’s groups for 9 November 2026
- TOUCHDOWN: 6, TD, PAYDIRT, TUDDY
- LOUISIANA TEAMS: PELICANS, SAINTS, RAGIN’ CAJUNS, GREEN WAVE
- NEVER WON A SUPER BOWL: VIKINGS, FALCONS, TEXANS, BILLS
- SEA_____: HAWKS, SON, BISCUIT, GULLS
More Connections Sports Edition: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play Connections Sports Edition on The Athletic
Also today: Wordle · Connections · Strands · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle · NYT Crossword · NYT Mini · NYT Midi · Jumble · Spelling Bee · Letter Boxed · Parseword · Poeltl
Earlier days: 9 Nov · 8 Nov · 6 Nov · 5 Nov · 4 Nov · 3 Nov
Questions about Connections Sports Edition
How many tries does a player get in Connections Sports Edition?
The game ends after four mistakes.
Where can a person play Connections Sports Edition?
Play Connections: Sports Edition in a web browser on The Athletic’s section of The New York Times website.
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