The Longhorns hold off the Cowboys to begin conference play

Big 12 Report: Texas takes step in right direction

Big 12 Report: Texas takes step in right direction
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Results that matter

 

Texas 36 Oklahoma State 30

The Longhorns held off the Oklahoma State Cowboys for their first Big 12 win of the season. The Cowboys held a slight lead for a while but Sam Ehlinger and company were way too much for the Cowboys defense. This is a really solid win for the Longhorns as Oklahoma State has one of the best offenses they will face outside of Oklahoma. It was really important for Ehlinger after the disappointing performances against the Cowboys in the past.

SMU 41 TCU 38

Not the best showing for TCU as they drop a pseudo-rivalry game. They got smoked in the first half and had to play catch up but it wasn't enough. Nobody is sure if TCU is going to figure it out on offense and their defense isn't near as good as it has been on occasion. This is a bad loss for Gary Patterson's bunch.

Studs of the week

Texas QB Sam Ehlinger

Ehlinger balled out against the Cowboys. He was amazing after failing more than a few times against the Cowboys in the past. He looked every bit the leader and playmaker the Horns need him to be.

Iowa State QB Brock Purdy

Finally some offensive excellence from Purdy, even if it was against ULM. He finished with 435 through the air and four touchdowns. The Cyclones have had a disappointing start but what they want to accomplish in the Big 12 is still in front of them. If they get this Brock Purdy they will be a tough out for a lot of teams.

Must-watch game: Baylor hosts Brock

 

Iowa State at Baylor

This wouldn't have been the matchup if Texas Tech had a healthy QB. They don't so a refreshed Brock Purdy takes on fellow gunslinger Charlie Brewer in Waco. This has shootout potential and the winner could have the inside track on a top four finish in the conference. We could see Brock and Brewer combine for a ton of yards and touchdowns.

Who better ball?

 

Texas Tech's Quarterback

Alan Bowman is down and whoever starts for Texas Tech has a tall task. Head coach Matt Wells better have them ready to play or the Red Raiders will get embarrassed in Norman. The Sooners can score at will, even with Tech playing slightly better on defense than recent memory. If the Texas Tech chosen starter doesn't play well it will be a long trip back home.

Big 12 Rankings

1. Oklahoma

2. Texas

3. Oklahoma State

4. Baylor

5. Kansas State

6. Iowa State

7. West Virginia

8. TCU

9. Kansas

10. Texas Tech

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The Astros beat the Rangers, 5-4. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Zack Short hit a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning after Christian Walker tied it with a sacrifice fly and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Saturday night.

Short hit a 1-1 pitch to right field off Hoby Milner after Robert Garcia (1-5) walked two to load the bases.

Texas took a 4-3 lead when Adolis García hit the first pitch from Bennett Sousa (3-0) for a single — scoring automatic runner Marcus Semien.

Kyle Higashioka hit a solo home run off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to tie it 3-3. It was the first blown save for Hader after 25 straight to begin the season.

Jose Altuve hit his 17th homer — a two-out solo shot in the first off Jacob deGrom to tie it 1-1 after the Rangers scored an unearned run on Framber Valdez’s wild pitch.

Yainer Diaz homered for the 14th time for a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Mauricio Dubón hit his sixth homer off Jacob Webb for a 3-1 lead in the seventh.

Semien hit his 11th homer to cut it to 3-2 in the eighth.

Valdez allowed an unearned run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks in six innings. The Astros have won his last 12 starts with him getting the win in nine of them.

DeGrom allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in six innings with eight strikeouts.

The Rangers struck out 19 times — two short of the club record for an extra-inning game.

Key moment

Short entered as a pinch runner in the ninth and was just 4 for 17 before his game winner.

Key stat

Houston hasn’t lost a season series with division rival Texas since 2016.

Up next

Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 1.62 ERA) starts Sunday’s rubber game opposite Astros RHP Hunter Brown (9-3, 2.21).

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