Sooners QB Murray wins Heisman Trophy
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy last night, edging Alabama’s Tua Tagvailoa and setting up a College Football Playoff matchup of Heisman winner and runner-up. The fourth-ranked Sooners play the top-ranked Crimson Tide in the Orange Bowl semifinal Dec. 29 in the seventh bowl matchup of Heisman winner and runnerup, and first since second-place finisher Vince Young and Texas beat Reggie Bush and Southern California in the 2006 Rose Bowl. This season, Murray stepped into the starting job at Oklahoma held by last year’s Heisman winner and first overall NFL draft pick, Baker Mayfield. Oklahoma is the first school with have Heisman-winner quarterbacks in consecutive seasons and the fifth overall with winners in back-to-back years.
Giants’ Beckham ruled out
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been ruled out for today’s game against the Redskins with a quadriceps injury. Beckham appeared on the team’s injury report Friday with a bruised quadriceps and practiced on a limited basis. He was downgraded to out yesterday . . . . Buffalo defensive end Jerry Hughes was fined $53,482 by the NFL for confronting an official in the tunnel after the Bills-Dolphins game last weekend. Hughes accused the official of calling him a vulgar name. The league also fined Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan $26,739 for yelling at referee Jerome Boger and his crew after the Jets-Titans game . . . . The Bills promoted receiver Da’Mari Scott to the active roster for their game against the New York Jets today. Browns cornerback Terrance Mitchell has been activated from injured reserve after missing eight games with a broken right wrist.
Ex-Sox star Napoli retires
Mike Napoli, who helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2013, announced his retirement after 12 years in the majors. The 37-year-old Napoli did not play last season because of a knee injury. Napoli batted .246 with 267 homers and 744 RBI over 1,392 career games. He also played in the World Series with the Indians in 2016 and Rangers in 2011 . . . . Gary Woodland and Charley Hoffman shot an 8-under 64 in modified alternate-shot play for a share of the lead in the QBE Shootout in Naples, Fla. Woodland and Hoffman birdied the final three holes to match the teams of Emiliano Grillo-Graeme McDowell and Brian Harman-Patton Kizzire at 19-under 125, with a better-ball round left at Tiburon Golf Club.
U.S. women draw Sweden again
The defending champion United States is grouped with Sweden again for the Women’s World Cup next summer in France. The draw, which determined the group stage for the 24 teams set to play in soccer’s premier tournament, was held at a gala event in Paris. The No. 1-ranked U.S. team landed in the same group with Sweden for the fifth straight World Cup and the sixth time overall. Also in Group F are Thailand and Chile, which is making its World Cup debut. The United States will open the tournament against Thailand in Reims on June 11 . . . . Lionel Messi scored twice from free kicks in a league match for the first time in his career, leading Barcelona to a 4-0 rout of Espanyol in the Spanish league.