Sports
Oklahoma QB John Mateer intent on bouncing back from 2025 setback
Jul 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Oklahoma star quarterback John Mateer had his 2025 season sabotaged by a broken thumb on his throwing hand but says he is at full strength entering the upcoming campaign.
Mateer had his throwing motion tweaked in the offseason and said he is stronger physically and mentally during his Monday session with reporters at Southeastern Conference Media Days at Tampa, Fla.
“It was not strong,” Mateer said of the thumb. “And the range of motion, I had to change how I held the ball.
“In the offseason you put in the work to be prepared, and I had a belief because of the work, and the work it didn’t matter. I don’t want to say it got taken away from me, but physically it wasn’t the same.”
He received early-season Heisman Trophy hype last season before an injury derailed his season and all but ended Oklahoma’s national title aspirations. The Sooners (10-3) did make the College Football Playoff before losing 34-24 at home to Alabama in the first round.
Mateer broke the thumb in a Sept. 20 game against Auburn and finished the contest. He underwent surgery and was recovering while the Sooners had a bye and a following game against Kent State.
Mateer was intent on playing against Texas – returning ahead of doctor’s forecasts just 17 days after surgery – and it didn’t go well. He was intercepted three times in a 23-6 setback and his struggles continued into late November.
“I’m glad I did it because it showed me that you could fight through a lot, even though I was obviously not 100%,” Mateer said. “It was a very difficult thing to do. I’m glad I did it — even though I failed.”
Mateer was a highly billed transfer after a huge 2024 season at Washington State in which he passed for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He also rushed for 826 yards and 15 scores.
But with the Sooners, he tossed just 14 scoring passes against 11 interceptions while throwing for 2,885 yards. He added 431 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Mateer said he also was living up the life as Big Man on Campus at a national powerhouse school.
He said he is scaling back that persona.
“There’s a lot of personal opportunities here at Oklahoma playing quarterback, and I don’t know if I was thinking too much about those, and then I got to the peak, and God was like, ‘No, that’s not why we’re doing this,'” Mateer said. “So I’ve been trying to scale back on the personal stuff. If it happens, it happens, but the team is what matters. You taste the playoff. That’s what I want. You get it, and they can’t take it away from you. It means so much to so many people.”
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables expects to see a much-improved version of Mateer this season.
“I just think we’re going to be a lot better around him,” Venables said. “And to his point, it’s hard to throw a football consistently or down the field, push it or throw it with the velocity when he can barely squeeze it.”
The Sooners open the regular season against visiting UTEP on Sept. 4.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jasper Philipsen wins Stage 17 of Tour de France
Premier Tech’s Jasper Philipsen reacts after winning stage 17 of the Tour de France. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool Jasper Philipsen won his first Tour de France stage of 2026 and the 11th of his career on Wednesday to extend a win streak by Belgian riders.
Philipsen’s victory in Stage 17 from Chambery to Voiron followed countryman Remco Evenepoel’s back-to-back triumphs in Stages 15 and 16, the longest streak for Belgium since 1981.
Philipsen, 28, completed the flat 174.7-kilometer trek just ahead of Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid and the Netherlands’ Olav Kooij.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia maintained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. His lead over Evenepoel is 4 minutes and 32 seconds, with Mexico’s Isaac del Toro in third place.
Stage 18 on Thursday is a mountainous 185.2-kilometer journey from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette. The 113th edition of the Tour de France concludes on Sunday in Paris.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Inter Miami sign Brazilian superstar M Casemiro
June 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Brazil’s Casemiro celebrates after the match. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Inter Miami announced the signing of Brazilian superstar midfielder Casemiro on Wednesday.
Casemiro, 34, is under contract through 2027 with an option until June 2029 following five years with Premier League side Manchester United. Inter Miami acquired his discovery priority from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Casemiro just helped Brazil reach the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, increasing his career totals to 91 caps and 10 goals with the national team. It was his third World Cup.
“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me,” Casemiro said.
“I’m incredibly grateful, and I can’t wait to get started so I can repay that trust — not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well. All I can say is thank you, and I’ll give everything I have to return the affection and confidence the club has shown me.”
Casemiro has recorded 73 goals and 61 assists in 663 club appearances with Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Spain’s Real Madrid, Portugal’s Porto and Manchester United. His 21 club trophies include five UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns with Real Madrid from 2013-22.
“Casemiro’s arrival reflects the vision and ambition that define Inter Miami,” said managing owner Jorge Mas. “We never settle. We’re always looking to grow, improve, and raise our standards every season. We’ve built a global club with the vision of becoming not only the best club in the United States, but also a benchmark globally.
“Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game,” Mas added. “After achieving virtually everything there is to achieve in fútbol, his decision to join Inter Miami shows that he shares our ambition and our commitment to the highest standards as we continue building for the future. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Inter Miami family.”
Casemiro now joins forces with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, his former rivals at FC Barcelona.
“I’m very proud to welcome Casemiro and his family to Inter Miami,” said co-owner David Beckham. “He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time. He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game, and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.”
Defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami (15-9-2, 31 points) are in second place in the Eastern Conference as they return from the World Cup break to host the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bobby Witt Jr. put on 10-day IL, likely sealing Royals' seller status
Jul 18, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) makes a diving stop during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. landed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday due to tightness in his lower back.
A starter for the American League in the All-Star Game last week, Witt left the Royals’ 4-3 win against the San Francisco Giants on Monday with back spasms. The roster move is retroactive to Tuesday.
Being without their best player for any length of time is likely the crowning blow for the Royals, who at 42-60 have a better record than only the Los Angeles Angels (41-60) and Colorado Rockies (41-61) heading into play Wednesday.
Because of the relative weakness of the AL Central, the Royals are 12 games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians. But with a little more than two months to play and a dozen games to make up, Witt’s injury should insure the Royals will be sellers at the trade deadline on Aug. 3.
Veteran starting pitchers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are projected to be coveted by contenders, though the Royals have said they are not inclined to move either right-hander.
In 94 games this season, Witt is batting .289 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs. He has 103 hits and 22 doubles, scoring 51 runs.
His 30 stolen bases lead the major leagues.
Witt is a three-time All-Star and the winner of two Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He won the AL batting title in 2024 when he led the majors with a .332 average.
Kansas City’s shortstop since 2022, Witt has a career average of .288 with 118 home runs, 412 RBIs and 178 stolen bases in 720 games.
In a corresponding move, the Royals promoted 32-year-old Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha. He is a well-traveled utility infielder who has not played in the major leagues since 2023.
He and Tyler Tolbert, a 28-year-old infielder hitting .328 in 38 games this year, are expected to share duties at shortstop.
The Royals also transferred right-hander Stephen Kolek to the 60-day injured list, designated center fielder Kameron Misner for assignment and traded right-hander Nate Pearson to the Houston Astros in exchange for right-hander Max Martin.
–Field Level Media
Jasper Philipsen wins Stage 17 of Tour de France
Inter Miami sign Brazilian superstar M Casemiro
