Chip Kelly - and Scott Frost - are still looking for wins. Harry How/Getty Images
The Red River Rivalry is nationally relevant
The Longhorns and Sooners are ranked for the first time since 2012 going into game but they’ve taken two different paths to get to this point. The Sooners are undefeated but have been kind of a afterthought this season and it has nothing to do with their play. The offense has been dominant outside of the close call against Army and Kyler Murray is a legitimate Heisman candidate. The Sooners just haven’t played a schedule so far that would draw any national interest. That finally changes this Saturday in the Cotton Bowl as they will see a Texas team that has righted the ship since a disappointing Week 1 loss to Maryland. The last two weeks the Longhorns have beaten two ranked teams at home in USC and TCU and are in the top 20 for the first time in Tom Herman’s tenure. The best thing for the rivalry would probably be a Longhorns win. A victory would let the college football world know that Texas is a legit contender in the Big 12 this season. A good defense is important to a championship team and Texas has that but the college game is one where you have to score. Can Texas score enough to keep pace with one of the best offenses in country in the Sooners? We’ll find out Saturday.
Scott Frost and Chip Kelly are a combined 0-8
That record is startling when you compare it to the energy that was created in both the Nebraska and UCLA fanbases when the Frost and Kelly hires were announced. Frost was the golden boy coming back home to reignite a program that had slipped into mediocrity. Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State remain on the schedule for a Husker’s team that had a players -only meeting this week. Huskers fans are praying this season ends with mediocrity.
Frost’s former boss is having just as tough a time in Westwood. UCLA fans watched Chip Kelly run up, down and over them and others in the PAC-12 for years. That same success for Oregon continued when Kelly took a job in the NFL. You can understand why they were excited. I don’t think they expected to be the worst team in the conference through the first five weeks of the season. With no Oregon State on the schedule the Bruins have a real shot to go winless in Kelly’s first season. They’re best chance for a win might be when Arizona comes to the Rose Bowl on Oct. 20.
Hate Watch Game of Week: FSU vs Miami
This one is easy. I’ve never rooted against a team more than I have the Florida State Seminoles. Miami vs Florida State is the rivalry that molded my love for college football. I grew up in California and Canes against Noles was a big game throughout my childhood. That meant noon kickoffs on the East Coast and early 9 a.m. starts in the Los Angeles area. Back then a nationally televised at that time meant your team was a major player. National title implications plus family bragging rights meant I was locked in on those games from start to finish. I can’t stand the Noles and hope they lose every game so Saturday won’t be anything new. A loss for them on Saturday will just mean more.
Hate Watch Record 2-3
After starting off 2-0 by simply rooting against Miami’s in-state rivals, diversifying my hate has resulted in three straight losses. The latest being a heartbreaker for Penn State to Ohio State. The Nittany Lions blew a two-score lead at home to the Buckeyes in the fourth quarter. I’d like to say thank you to Penn State Head Coach James Franklin for taking the ball out of his best player’s hand with the game on the line. I know Trace McSorley was the best player on the field in the second half, but that is clearly no reason to trust him with the game’s most important play. Full sarcasm on.
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Astros GM Dana Brown joined the Astros flagship on Wednesday and discussed several trending topics impacting the club right now.
Are they open to changing the batting order?
It's no secret Alex Bregman is off to another slow start. But how much longer can you bat a guy at cleanup who has 5 RBIs and no home runs on the season? When asked about it, Brown sounded open to the idea of moving Bregman until he starts heating up.
“Yeah, I think at some point Joe will make an adjustment there,” said Brown. Overall though, he sounds more concerned with the team's inability to hit with runners in scoring position. He's not happy with the quality of their at-bats in critical situations. He also made it clear that Espada is in charge of the lineup, just like Dusty Baker was before him.
That didn't take long!
The Astros lineup has been released for game two against the Cubs. Notice Bregman is hitting second and Yordan Alvarez is batting third.
The Astros against Jameson Taillon: Altuve 4, Bregman 5, Alvarez 7, Tucker 9, Diaz DH, Peña 6, Singleton 3, Caratini 2, Meyers 8
Arrighetti RHP
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 24, 2024
Injury updates
Cristian Javier heading to the IL was a “cautionary” move with the team having so many days off. Brown said Javier missing only two starts felt like the smart move. Pitching him too soon in a cold environment like Chicago felt too risky. And Framber Valdez could return to the rotation after the series in Mexico City.
Jose Abreu can't be the best option at first base
Brown addressed the Abreu situation just like Espada did on Tuesday. They both talked about “mixing and matching” and how they've already done some of that this year. But Abreu was in the lineup again on Tuesday, and once again did not record a hit. You have to wonder if Espada and Brown are being pressured to start Abreu. But then again, Brown made it clear that the guys getting opportunities when Abreu sits, aren't coming through either. He's not wrong. Singleton is getting the start on Wednesday, and Dubon (who has the third-most RBIs on the team) is sitting once again.
Is there any accountability for players that don't perform?
Brown responded by saying, “I do think these guys are taking this seriously.” He also mentioned there are some players in the minors playing well, and at some point they'll have to make a move. “There's some urgency in that respect,” said Brown. This comment applied to both position players and pitchers. Which makes me think JP France better get things going. Dana said in passing several times that you're not giving your team a legit chance to win by allowing five runs in the first inning. Even if you do settle down over the next few innings.
Playing with a sense of urgency
Brown was asked if the team's approach would be the same if they were 5.5 games back with only 30 games left to play. This response was very interesting.
He said, “Dubon would sneak in there a little more” and they would play the guys that are more consistently producing. That statement made me feel much better. Brown and Espada see the same things we see. Dana pointed out that you try to give your best hitters a chance to get going early in the year. If that doesn't work, you look for other options. Clearly, the Astros aren't to the point in the season when winning each game is the top priority. The MLB season is a marathon.
“You can't start sprinting too early,” said Brown. If the Astros were in a better division, you wonder if they would feel differently. They keep saying they're only 5.5 games back in the division, which is true. But he never mentioned that the team is ten games under .500.