Oklahoma Sooners News: Castiglione retiring, Sooners win gold with USA, CFB26 is here

OU athletic director retiring

News shattered Monday morning that Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione will retire from his full-time role as OU's AD during this upcoming 2025-26 academic year. Entering his 28th year, he was the longest-tenured AD in major college sports. ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the news before OU president Joseph Harroz Jr. later released a statement confirming the news and also unveiled more details.

According to Harroz, Castiglione will not fully retire until June 30, 2028. Until then, after OU finds a successor, Castiglione will serve as Emeritus Athletics Director. Harroz also announced that Randall Stephenson will lead the search to hire OU's next athletic director.

We already released a list of early top candidates to become OU's new athletic director.

OU will host a press conference at 9 a.m. CT Tuesday, when Castiglione will publicly announce his decision. Harroz and Board of Regents Chair Anita Holloway are also expected to speak.

Sooners win gold with Team USA

A pair of Sooners earned gold medals as Team USA won the FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Team USA beat Brazil 92-84 in the final on Sunday.

Team USA's roster included OU center Raegan Beers, who led the Sooners in scoring last season. Beers posted four points and a rebound in the gold medal game.

OU women's basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk was also an assistant on the Team USA staff.

EA Sports releases College Football 26

The wait wasn't nearly as long as last time, but the early release for EA Sports' College Football 26 was Monday. The full release is Thursday.

Even before the game was out, we got a preview of some ratings. EA Sports ranked OU as the No. 17 team in the country with an 85 overall rating. Quarterback John Mateer, with a 91 overall rating, was included in CFB26's top-100 players and was in the top 5 at his position.

Read more about the Oklahoma Sooners