LIV Golf 1.0 — the era of big talk and bigger paychecks — is over. Whatever comes next for the breakaway tour, cut loose by Saudi Arabian funding and now on the hunt for outside investment, the days of "Golf But Louder" are done.
Without a doubt, LIV fundamentally changed the structure of men's professional golf, forcing the PGA Tour into reworking its entire structure, schedule and financial model. LIV altered the professional arcs of some of the game's greatest players, gave others the opportunity to destroy their own reputations, and provided a pathway back to prominence for the once-lost Anthony Kim. LIV also brought the concept of sportswashing into the mainstream of the American sports conversation, forcing sports fans to decide just how much politics they were willing to accept with their sports.
That's a ****** of an impact in just a few short years, but that also leads into another LIV lesson: the impossibility of competing with the established American sports framework. Even a league funded by bottomless oil wealth ultimately couldn't compete with a vulnerable legacy organization.
So what does that mean? Competing with the PGA Tour is a lost cause for LIV, so coexistence is now the only path forward. And if LIV is going to survive and thrive in the years to come, version 2.0 will need to learn from the mistakes of its predecessor. And oh, are there plenty of lessons to learn.
LIV Golf fired off the tee in 2021 with swagger, attitude and arrogance, largely mirroring the personality of firebrand Greg Norman. Longtime PGA Tour antagonists like Norman and Phil Mickelson spoke openly (and in court filings) of wanting to upend the Tour's entire business model, torching the very house in which they'd grown wealthy. That didn't sit well with Tour traditionalists, and the badass playacting came off as more silly than intimidating. You're smacking a little white ball around a field, gentlemen. Let's not pretend this is armed combat.

#golf #american #norman

NORMAN — Brent "Double Nickels" Venables is the oldest head coach in the SEC, but he was once a 28-year-old co-defensive coordinator on Bob Stoops' first OU staff.
Even younger than Ben Arbuckle, then 29, when Venables hired the former Washington State offensive coordinator to run OU's offense. Arbuckle, who's since turned 30 and is a month shy of 31, is set to enter his second season as the Sooners' OC.
Year 1 was as rocky as the mountains that bear his name. Oklahoma ranked ninth in passing, 13th in rushing and 14th in yards per play in the 16-team SEC. Quarterback John Mateer, who followed Arbuckle from Wazzu to OU, was ineffective after injuring his hand. OU's offensive line was green. The running game stagnated. The passing attack was void of big plays.
But now Mateer is healthy, and his supporting cast is more experienced.
Arbuckle included.

#mateer #coordinator #passing #norman

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma announced its football tailgating plans for the 2026 season on Wednesday.
The school is keeping the North Oval as the centerpiece of Sooners gameday and will continue to keep the area free and open for public tailgating, according to a release. Fans are encouraged to continue bringing their own tents, chairs and tailgating equipment following the success of last season's debut in the area.
OU also announced a new addition to its tailgating scene — turnkey packages at nearby Boyd Lawn. Fans looking for a hassle-free experience can now reserve professionally managed turnkey tailgating packages, which includes fully furnished tailgating setups, allowing groups to simply arrive and enjoy gameday without the work of setup or teardown.
"The response to opening the North Oval for public tailgating last season exceeded our expectations," OU president Joseph Harroz Jr said in a release. "Sooner Nation embraced the opportunity to gather on one of the most iconic places on campus, creating an incredible gameday atmosphere. As we continue to enhance the fan experience, we're excited to add a new turnkey tailgating option at Boyd Lawn while preserving the North Oval as a free tradition that every fan can enjoy."
More: OU football coach Brent Venables' seat has cooled, but not his intensity to succeed

#tailgating #north #gameday #boyd

Former Oklahoma Sooners running back Taylor Tatum spent two seasons at OU before transferring to Michigan this offseason. However, according to multiple reports, Tatum has left the Wolverines, and he's no longer on the Michigan football team.
Hailing from Longview (Texas) High School, Tatum was the No. 1 running back in the recruiting class of 2024, and a major recruiting win for the Sooners. He was a part of the running back rotation as a true freshman, but he fell out of the mix due to ball security issues and the emergence of Xavier Robinson. In 2025, Tatum battled injuries and barely played, registering just one carry.
With the Wolverines, Tatum had switched positions to defensive back and was competing for reps in the safety room at Michigan. Now, he's left the team, with the reason still unknown.
Tatum also played baseball for the Sooners and was set to do the same for the Wolverines, though it's unknown at this time if that will happen next baseball season. Oklahoma was set to face off against Tatum in Ann Arbor in Week 2, but he'll now leave the program having never suited up for Michigan.
During his time in Norman, the 5-foot-10, 212-pounder ran 57 times for 277 yards and three touchdowns, also catching five passes for 41 yards and a score. Essentially all of that production came in the 2024 season.

#Sooners #wolverines #left #team

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer has a chance to be the first Sooner quarterback since Josh Heupel in 2000 to win a national championship. This comes after Mateer elected to return to Norman rather than pursue an NFL career.
Mateer had a down year in his first year in Norman. He completed 62.2% of his passes for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 431 yards and eight scores. This comes after leading college football in 2024 at Washington State with 44 total touchdowns.
But there is some optimism for Mateer as the Sooners revamped the playmakers around him. It's due to those new players that ESPN's Greg McElroy believes Mateer could be in for a bounce-back season.
"He had to do a lot of it on his own," McElroy said on 'Always College Football.' "The run game last year was not what you were looking for. I mean, Venables even described it as not good. So, they go out and hire a great running backs coach who helped develop Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiyah Love... They upgraded the receiver room with Parker Livinstone from Texas and Trell Harris from Virginia. Remember those two names. I think those two names will be really good."
Mateer's 2025 season showed the challenges of transitioning to the SEC, especially when an offense lacks consistent playmakers around its quarterback. This season should look much different. Oklahoma has improved its running back room, added more weapons at receiver and returns an offensive line that gained valuable experience last season.

#year #mcelroy

In the race to build wealth, Suze Orman says many couples are falling behind — not because they're failing to save, but because they're failing to save smartly.
Orman writes in a recent blog post that if you're lucky enough to have a workplace retirement plan with matching contributions, you should always aim to max that out. However, that math gets "trickier" when you're married and both spouses' plans have different formulas.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going

#actually

Ever since Brent Venables became the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners in December of 2021, he's worked tirelessly to build the kind of defense in Norman that Sooner Nation can be proud of. It took time, but that vision has been realized over the last couple of seasons.
Venables' defensive chops are well-known in college football circle. Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy claimed he was the best defensive play-caller in the nation back at SEC Media Days during an interview with Brooks Austin of "The Film Guy Network."
"I mean the two years he's coordinated the defense at Oklahoma (2023 and 2025), they've won 10 games," Nagy said. "As the defensive coordinator, I don't want to hear any argument who the best one is. We can have the argument who the second-best one is."
Nagy isn't the only one who thinks highly of Venables' defensive prowess. On3's Crain & Cone ranked the top defenses in college football for 2026, and they placed the Sooners right at the very top of the list.
Of course, Venables is only part of the recipe. He's got a great staff around him on the defensive side of the ball, and there are some truly terrifying players that the Sooners will trot out this fall.

#defensive #best #nation

The Oklahoma Sooners made some key transfer portal additions this past winter, with many of them coming on offense. Once it was confirmed that quarterback John Mateer was going to be back in the saddle to run the show in Norman, the focus for OU turned to surrounding him with talent offensively.
One of those crucial portal additions was former Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone, who was a breakout player in Austin last year. Now, he crosses the Red RIver to the other side of the iconic rivalry, where he'll hope to help jump-start the Sooner offense.
According to ESPN's list of each top 25 team's x-factor for this upcoming season, Livingstone is the player for the Sooners that can heavily impact where Oklahoma ends up. The redshirt-sophomore should be slated into one of the outside receiver spots, likely the X-WR role that was held down by the combination of Keontez Lewis and Javonnie Gibson last season, and OU needs him to be an improvement piece there this fall.
"In the history of the Red River Rivalry, rarely ever has a player left the Longhorns for the Sooners. But former Texas receiver Livingstone -- quarterback Arch Manning's roommate last year -- could become a difference-maker for his new quarterback, John Mateer. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Livingstone, who had six touchdown catches as a redshirt freshman last year, should give Oklahoma a physical weapon on the outside alongside returning go-to pass-catcher Isaiah Sategna III and Virginia transfer Trell Harris, who was a third-team All-ACC selection last year." - Jake Trotter, ESPN.
With the speedy Sategna once again manning the H-WR role in the slot and Harris occupying the deep threat Z-WR role that Deion Burks held last year, Livingstone can use his size and physicality to offer OU something it didn't really have last year: a jump ball threat on the outside. Combine that trio with the likes of Jer'Michael Carter, Mackenzie Alleyne, Jacob Jordan, Ivan Carreon, and some promising youngsters, and the Sooners have a chance to be an improved WR group this year.

#year #livingstone #oklahoma #player

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer is coming off an inconsistent first season in Norman. Mateer joined the Sooners after a stellar season with the Washington State Cougars.
He was one of the most sought-after players in the portal before ultimately following offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman. He got off to a great start, throwing for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, while rushing for 190 yards and five scores in the first four games. The Sooners went 4-0 in that stretch, and Mateer was one of the leaders for the Heisman Trophy.
Mateer would suffer an injury to his throwing hand in that fourth game. That would require him to wear a brace on his thumb the rest of the season. He struggled, throwing for 1,670 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, while rushing for 241 yards and three scores in the final eight games of the season.
Despite those struggles down the stretch, ESPN's Paul Finebaum revealed he's a fan of Mateer.
"You know, (I) saw Mateer the other day, and I'm a fan," Finebaum said on WWLS The Sports Animal. "And if he can, you know, stay healthy, if (he) gets, you know, some protection and some weapons, which they didn't really have last year."

#season

John Mateer is entering his final season as a college football player. The Oklahoma Sooners' gunslinger is hoping this year will be his best.
Mateer joined the Sooners after an incredible season with the Washington State Cougars in 2024. He threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores. He was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal. Ultimately, he decided to follow his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, to Norman.
His first season was rocky. He threw for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 431 yards and eight scores. Mateer dealt with an injury to his throwing hand that derailed a promising start. On3's J.D. PicKell has been one of Mateer's biggest supporters. He said on "The Hard Count" that he believes Mateer is in for a big season.
"I think that John Mateer, going into his second year as the guy in Norman, and going into, I think it's like Year 4 in Ben Arbuckle's offense, will be so much better," PicKell said. "... I think he's going to be so much better from the neck up playing the game. He's seen the live bullets in the SEC now. He knows what it is to expect from the speed of the game."
If Mateer can improve his decision-making and regain the efficiency he showed at Washington State, he could take a massive leap in 2026. Oklahoma's defense gives the Sooners a championship-caliber foundation, but the ceiling of the team could ultimately depend on whether Mateer can become the difference-maker at quarterback that many expected him to be when he arrived in Norman.

#going

Good morning BBN!
Football season is quickly approaching as we are a little under six weeks away from kickoff at Kroger Field, but that has not stopped the news on the Basketball side of things.
With so much more positive mojo around the Kentucky Wildcats the last several months, that excitement hit another gear on Monday as the team released the dates for their conference schedule.
Although we already knew their opponents, we get a closer look at how it lays out. A few highlights include a trip to Norman to start SEC play and a tough trip to Gainesville to end the regular season.
Right in the middle of January and the start of February, the Cats hit a stretch that includes trips to Texas and Ole Miss, while welcoming Alabama and Tennessee to Rupp Arena.

#season

The 2026 SEC media days have come and gone this week in Tampa, Florida, and that means we're one step closer to the college football regular season.
As per usual, the SEC released the Preseason Media Poll All-SEC team on Friday, which was voted on by the media that was on hand covering this week's event. After the Oklahoma Sooners had just three players make the all-league predictions a year ago, OU was much more well-represented in 2026.
On the first team, both kicker Tate Sandell and long snapper Ben Anderson represented the Sooners. Sandell returned after winning the Lou Groza Award last season, while Anderson has established himself as one of the league's best long snappers over the course of his career.
OU had eight players selected to the second team. Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III, offensive lineman Michael Fasusi, defensive linemen David Stone and Taylor Wein, linebacker Kip Lewis, defensive backs Eli Bowen and Peyton Bowen, and kicker/punter Grayson Miller all got the nod.
Sategna returns as OU's top wide receiver after showing off his explosiveness last year. Fasusi had an impressive true freshman season in Norman, establishing himself as Oklahoma's starting left tackle. Stone and Wein were breakout stars for the Sooners last year on the front line of the defense. Lewis continues to be OU's emotional leader on defense and is the longest-tenured Sooner. The Bowen brothers are back for another year patrolling the Oklahoma secondary, and Miller returns after becoming OU's starter at punter early last season. He put together an impressive year in 2025.

#year #last #sandell #anderson

With the 2026 edition of SEC media days wrapping up in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, the regular season is just over a month away. The Oklahoma Sooners will kick off fall camp in a couple of weeks, all in preparation for the season-opener against UTEP on September 4th.
Head coach Brent Venables, quarterback John Mateer, defensive lineman Taylor Wein, and offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis were the quartet that represented OU during their availability on Monday. While the selections of Mateer and Wein were fairly expected, it was the choice of Pierre-Louis that raised more than a few eyebrows in Sooner Nation. Venables was asked about Pierre-Louis' inclusion in the group, and he glowed about the third-year guard.
"Eddy, he's an alpha," Venables said. "Eddy is a guy that's had to work incredibly hard. I think he was the top-rated guard by many recruiting outlets coming out of high school. Eddy had some things he needed to work on fundamentally, from his body standpoint, flexibility, things of that nature. Eddy has been somebody that has shown up in the facility from the day he got to Norman, Oklahoma with tremendous gratitude."
Venables had previously pointed out that it was difficult to choose the three players who would represent the Sooners in Tampa, lauding the leadership in his locker room.
"One of the many reasons that gets us excited about this year's team is finding the three guys and telling several other guys that were more deserving they weren't going to make the cut," Venables said. "The depth of the leadership we have in our locker room right now is as good as we've had, better than we've probably had here in the five years at Oklahoma. Really excited about that."

#eddy #wein

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables has long been viewed as one of the brightest defensive minds in college football. Since taking over in Norman, Venables has had to find the right balance between overseeing the entire program and continuing to lead the defense he built his reputation on.
When Venables first took over as head coach, Ted Roof called the plays defensively. It has been rumored that Venables took over play calling in Year 2, but nothing has been confirmed on that front. Then in Year 3, he hired Zac Alley to call the defense. Alley left after one season to become the defensive coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers. So, Venables returned to calling the defense. It might not be a coincidence that the two seasons Venables allegedly called the defense, Oklahoma went 10-3 both years, whereas the two years he didn't, the team went 6-7 both years.
Venables' ability to balance his responsibilities as a head coach while still leading the defense has earned respect throughout the SEC, including from Ole Miss Rebels head coach Pete Golding. He faced a similar transition after serving as Ole Miss' defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach following the regular season. During SEC media days, Golding revealed that Venables was the first person he reached out to for advice on managing both roles.
"He was my first phone call," Golding said via OU Nightly. "There's so much respect for him and the job that he's done… I knew that he had been through it. Didn't do it in Year 1 and did it in Year 2. Brought in the protege and didn't do it in Year 3... He's like, 'look, man, ******* ody's going to call it like you. It's your system. You've done a great job.'"
Venables has spent his career building elite defenses, and Oklahoma's recent success has shown the value of his direct involvement. While balancing play calling with being a head coach is a difficult challenge, Venables has found a way to make it work.

#defense #didn 't

The Oklahoma Sooners took to the podium for the 2026 edition of SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida on Monday. Joining head coach Brent Venables to represent OU were redshirt senior quarterback John Mateer, redshirt junior defensive lineman Taylor Wein, and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis.
While Mateer was at media days last year, it was the first time at the event for both Wein and Pierre-Louis. Naturally, both players were asked about their starting quarterback, and both gushed about what Mateer means to the program.
Wein has been going against Mateer in practice for the past couple of seasons, watching from the other side of the ball as Mateer leads the unit. It's been a period of rebuild for the offense after the 2024 disaster, but Wein believes in Mateer and in his ability.
"A very excellent quarterback," Wein said. "He plays very, very consistent. I know that he's very, very self-motivated, just like a lot of the guys on the team, and he does a good job just attacking his weaknesses. I've seen John completely elevate his game and completely transform as a player and his mentality, and it's only elevated the whole offense, and it's brought a huge pulse to the offense, and we're excited. We know John has a very good mindset and he's competitive, and it's actually really funny going against him at practice every day, he's the number one dude talking smack. We're going back and forth and whatnot. It's a really good thing. So, we're excited."
Pierre-Louis will now start alongside Mateer on the offensive side of the ball, and he will work to protect the star quarterback and help lead an offensive resurgence. Growing up in Tampa, Pierre-Louis was a fan of the Sooners, watching from hundreds of miles away during the Baker Mayfield era in Norman. He compared Mateer to Mayfield, who now quarterbacks the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

#louis #quarterback #we 're #redshirt

Raptors trade idea keeps Kawhi Leonard in mind, but lands All-Star who is coming off career years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Raptors are in one of the stranger situations in the NBA at the moment because of the whole Kawhi Leonard saga.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, until the Leonard situation gets resolved, there will be questions about whether they can realistically trade for him, or whether the deal will even go down as reported.
One way to fix some of these problems would be to go out and land other players. At the very least, the Raptors would know they have some other talent coming in. One trade idea was recently floated to bring back Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, two above-average players from the Chicago Bulls.
"Immanuel Quickley ($32.5 million) and Jakob Poeltl ($19.5 million) are both drawing above-value contracts for 2026-27," Alex Kirschenbaum wrote. "To get off Poeltl's money and return Powell to the Raptors, Quickley and Poeltl could be shipped out to Chicago in exchange for Powell and Claxton."

#claxton

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2026 season with one of the most talented cornerback duos in college football. Junior Eli Bowen and sophomore Courtland Guillory both earned freshman All-American honors during their first seasons in Norman.
Guillory emerged as a key contributor last season, earning a starting role early in the year while Bowen missed time due to an injury. However, when Bowen returned, it wasn't Guillory's job he took; instead, it was on the opposite side. That was a testament to how impressive the former three-star prospect had been throughout the season.
Guillory finished the year with 41 tackles, one tackle for loss, and seven pass deflections. His performance led On3's J.D. PicKell to suggest Guillory could enter 2026 as the best defensive back in the SEC.
"The one underclassman they're going to play is Courtland Guillory, sophomore corner," PicKell said. "I've said it before, he might be the best DB in the SEC, period. Now, he has to play that way, but I have no reservations about leaving No. 4 out there on an island and letting him do his thing."
Guillory has already shown he belongs among the best young defensive backs in college football, but 2026 will provide his biggest test yet. Playing in the SEC means facing some of the best receivers in the country every week, and Guillory will have plenty of opportunities to prove that PicKell's high praise is justified.

#bowen

Heading into the 2026 season, few players will face more attention than Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer. The Sooners' quarterback arrived in Norman with massive expectations after a breakout season for the Washington State Cougars.
Mateer threw for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 431 yards and eight scores. However, those overall numbers don't tell the full story of Mateer's first season in Norman. The first four games, he threw for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, while rushing for 190 yards and five scores. In the eight games following that, he threw for 1,670 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, while rushing for 241 yards and three scores.
The big factor behind the split was the thumb injury he suffered on his throwing hand during the fourth game of the season. The biggest question entering 2026 is whether the injury was the primary reason for his struggles or if the increased level of competition also played a role. On3's J.D. PicKell believes a healthy Mateer will be the key to unlocking Oklahoma's offense this season.
"Y'all know how I feel about John Mateer," PIcKell said. "There are so many takes out there about what he wasn't when he had the thumb injury. Hey, if he's playing like he was in September a year ago, if the vibes from the Manning Passing Academy carry over to this year, Oklahoma is going to be good on offense."
Mateer's 2026 season will likely determine how high Oklahoma's ceiling can be. The Sooners have one of the best defenses in college football, but to compete for championships in the SEC, they will need consistent production from their quarterback. If the version of Mateer from the beginning of last season returns, Oklahoma could have the offensive weapon it needs to complement its elite defense.

When the Oklahoma Sooners hired Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops to replace former head coach John Blake ahead of the 1999 season, they ushered in a whole new era of success and consistency in Norman. Since then, OU has often enjoyed high-level winning, and they've typically been among the sport's most stable programs.
Stoops got the program back to its old ways, the way things were under Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer back in the day. He retired and handed the keys to Lincoln Riley, who left after just five seasons for USC. Enter Brent Venables, who was Stoops' longtime defensive coordinator and also excelled in that role at Clemson. He's been the head ball coach at OU since the 2022 season.
That means that the Sooners have had just three full-time head coaches since 1999, which is remarkable stability in college football. However, most of the other programs in the SEC can't claim that kind of stability.
Today, we're going to take a look at each SEC team's head coaches in that time period (1999-present) to see which programs have had the most and least stability. We'll include interim head coaches as well, along with the newcomers for 2026.
Mike DuBose: 1997-2000 (Record: 24-23)

The Oklahoma Sooners appear to have many of the ingredients needed to contend for a national championship. After going 10-3 and returning to the College Football Playoff last season, expectations are rising in Norman. Oklahoma also returns much of its core, tying for No. 12 nationally in returning production.
Those factors typically give teams a legitimate opportunity to compete for a national ***** le. The biggest obstacle is Oklahoma's schedule, which ranks as the second-toughest in college football, trailing only the Arkansas Razorbacks. Some of the key games include road games against the Michigan Wolverines and the Georgia Bulldogs, a neutral-site game against the Texas Longhorns, and home games against the Ole Miss Rebels and the Texas A&M Aggies.
Those are all teams that have College Football Playoff aspirations, and three of them made the field last season. So, the question now is what chances does Oklahoma have at winning its eighth national championship? ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), a measure of a team's strength meant to be the best predictor of its performance going forward for the rest of the season, gives the Sooners a 2% chance to win it all.
How does the SEC stack up in ESPN Football Power Index rankings?
That ranks Oklahoma No. 12 in college football and No. 6 in the SEC, behind Texas, Georgia, the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, and Texas A&M. Three of which the Sooners play. Despite Oklahoma's returning production and momentum from last season, ESPN's projection suggests the Sooners remain a tier below the sport's top championship favorites entering 2026.

Joel Lorenzi: Norman Powell says he wants to help the Bulls young guys find their paths. “Everybody’s super young. I think Im the only 30-year-old on the team. So just help them, guide them. Focus on the details and how to improve and play winning basketball.”
x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “Everybody’s super young. I think Im the only …

Joel Lorenzi: Norman Powell on the flexible nature of his deal: “I go in every situation wanting to be where I’m at and help win. Looking at the business of it, I’ve been around so long that it crossed my mind. But I’m focused on being in the moment.” Said he wanted to return to Miami but is understanding of the apron’s effect on teams and wants to be where he’s valued.
x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I go in every situation wanting to be where I’m at …

The 2027 recruiting class for the Oklahoma Sooners remains at 27 after running back commit Keldrid Ben reaffirmed his pledge to OU on Friday. Running backs coach Deland McCullough is keeping a player on board who originally committed to McCullough's predecessor, DeMarco Murray.
Ben, who is from Montgomery (Texas) High School, has been committed to OU since December 1st. The four-star prospect checks in at 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds. He's the No. 86 overall player in the class, according to Rivals and a consensus four-star prospect. He has shut down his recruitment, which had been competitive after he ran for 18 touchdowns as a junior in 2025. On the ground, he piled up over 1,500 yards.
Ben joins fellow Texan Jakoby Dixon, who was McCullough's first add through recruiting, as the two RB commits in Oklahoma's 2027 class. Head coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy have been hard at work ****** embling a top-flight group, aided by strong success on the field in 2025.
According to 247Sports, Ben is the 14th-best running back in the class, the 39th-best player in the state of Texas, and the 225th-best player in the nation for 2027. He is an important piece of the class that Venables and Nagy are building together in Norman.
Contact/Follow us SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on XAaron_Gelvin.

Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis has established himself as one of the top players on one of the best defenses in college football. Lewis had a standout 2025 season, leading the team with 76 tackles while finishing third on the team in tackles for loss.
However, Lewis' impact extends far beyond his production on the field. He has also become one of the most respected leaders in college football. That is why Lewis' decision to return to Norman for his redshirt senior season was such a major victory for the Sooners.
In a video Oklahoma football shared on social media, Lewis explained why he chose to return and what continues to motivate him. Much of that motivation comes from feeling overlooked despite being one of the top players on an elite defense.
"Last season, felt like I did really, really good," Lewis said. "I wasn't awarded on any teams or anything like that. So, that kind of gives me a little fire going on underneath. See what voters are not seeing. I've got some flames to be put out next season. I feel like I'm one of the best in the country, so it kind of (disappoints me)."
Lewis enters the 2026 season with something to prove, despite already having an impressive resume. His production, leadership and impact on Oklahoma's defense have made him one of the most valuable players on the roster.

The Oklahoma Sooners, with head coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy leading the way, have ***** embled quite the 2027 recruiting class, and it's only early July. Currently OU has 27 total commits, with 13 on offense, 14 on defense, and zero on special teams.
Oklahoma's latest pledge came on Tuesday in the form of Hutto (Texas) High School's Jaiden Fields, who picked the Sooners over Texas A&M, Stanford, SMU, and TCU. Fields is a versatile athlete, but he'll play safety in Norman.
With OU landing another commit, the Sooners are keeping pace in a tightly contested SEC recruiting race. According to 247Sports Composite and their team recruiting rankings for the SEC, the Sooners have the second-best class in the league, trailing only Texas A&M. OU is in tight quarters with rival Texas in the rankings, as three former Big 12 Conference schools currently sit atop the recruiting rankings in the SEC.
What's also impressive is that OU has built this strong class despite losing some players to the decommitment list. Oregon DL pledge Zane Rowe, Cal RB pledge Jaxsen Stokes, Cal WR pledge Demare Dezeurn, and Ole Miss WR pledge Tra'Von Hall were all once committed to Oklahoma.
With Venables and Nagy at the helm, the Sooners have been hard at work putting together what could end up as a historic class for Oklahoma. Although there's still a few months to go before signing day, there's a lot to like about the haul OU is poised to bring in during the '27 cycle.

The Oklahoma Sooners and head coach Brent Venables are taking a creative approach to help quarterback John Mateer reach his full potential. Mateer has all of the physical tools to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football, but he struggled with some of the mental aspects of playing the position.
Mateer struggled with reading defenses last season and admitted during the year that he was having trouble seeing the field clearly. On top of that, he had a thumb injury on his throwing hand, which affected his grip and the way he threw the football.
Mateer naturally has more of a sidearm delivery, but the thumb injury forced him to adjust his grip and hold the football differently. That affected his accuracy, which likely also affected his confidence.
So, when he elected to stay in Norman for another season, Venables wanted to find ways to get the most out of Mateer's ability. That started with watching film together, and giving him the defense's viewpoint.
“I try to give him the defensive lens,” Venables told George Stoia at SoonerScoop. “I study offenses a lot more than I study defenses, and have forever. So I’m giving them a defensive lens: what are the things that you can see? A lot of it is things he’s already heard from his offensive coaches. So I don’t want to say what I’m telling him is something completely new and foreign to him.”

While free agency is not over, things have slowed down after a furious first few days. And now the attention turns to Summer League action, which begins with smaller tournaments in California and Utah this week before the entire NBA meets in Las Vegas on July 9.
Summer League and regular-season play are two entirely different animals, but the action gives fantasy managers a small glimpse into how teams hope to use their rookies. Here are ten players to watch over the next two-plus weeks.
Ja Morant, Norman Powell and other offseason moves affecting fantasy basketball in 2026-27
Between trades and players deciding to stay put, there has not been as much star power in this summer’s free agency window.
Raphielle Johnson

The Chicago Bulls made an interesting move on Wednesday, signing 2026 NBA All-Star guard Norman Powell from the conference rival Miami Heat.
This move comes after the Bulls also traded for Nicolas Claxton from the Brooklyn Nets and selected former North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson at No. 4 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. Following these few moves, the Bulls are beginning to develop a new look under first-year executive Bryson Graham.
Powell agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Bulls after averaging more than 21.0 points per game for the second year in a row last season.
Point Guard: Josh Giddey
Shooting Guard: Norman Powell

Norman Powell, a 33-year-old former second-round draft pick who has received All-Star consideration in both conferences over the past two years, has agreed to a two-year, $45 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, according to ESPN.
Powell averaged 21.7 points (on 47/38/83 shooting splits), 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 **** ists in 29.6 minutes per game for the Miami Heat this past season, making his first All-Star team.
A season earlier, Powell averaged 21.8 points (48/42/80) a night as a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, counting himself among the NBA's All-Star snubs that season. His Clippers pushed the Denver Nuggets to seven games in a first-round series in 2025.
Powell's Heat failed to make the playoffs last season, as he suffered a groin injury after the All-Star break, and Miami struggled to score as a result. He never fully recovered and played just 19 minutes off the bench for Miami in a play-in loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
There was some hope in Miami that the Heat could retain Powell, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal in 2021. They have, after all, agreed to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, forming a should-be contender with Bam Adebayo also in the fold. But the deal for Antetokounmpo hard-capped the Heat at the first apron (around $209 million), leaving them just $18 million to fill out a roster now devoid of top-end talent.

At Northwestern University, where he is a professor, Bill Savage teaches a course that examines baseball in American narratives. He is also a Cubs fan and season ticket holder. So it’s fitting that he is giving a talk next month at the Art Institute ******* led “Norman Rockwell and the Chicago Cubs — The Making of Baseball’s ‘Lovable Losers.’”
The Art Institute recently acquired Rockwell’s 1948 painting “The Dugout,” originally created for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. It depicts, per the museum’s description, “a springtime doubleheader that (Rockwell) attended during which the hometown Boston Braves swept the visiting Chicago Cubs.” Chicago’s North Side team members sit slumped in the dugout. A batboy stands in the foreground looking miserable. And the Boston fans behind them, yelling jeers, could not be having a better time.
The painting helped solidify a perception about the Cubs that has stuck with them ever since, regardless of their actual standings or even a World Series ******* le 10 years ago.
What’s that about?
Savage says one of his friends is adamant that “you win it all, or you’re a loser. So if you say, ‘Well, the Cubs are pretty good,’ you’re an apologist for failure. But this is where it becomes a bigger story about American culture, where second place is the same as last place. Americans claim to root for the underdog, but reality doesn’t bear that out.”