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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4 important elements that could tip the scales in Texans-Colts matchup
Oct 25, 2024, 2:30 pm
This week, the Houston Texans take on the Colts in a matchup with division supremacy on the line. If the Texans are able to come away with a victory, they will own the tiebreaker over Indy and enjoy a comfortable lead in the division.
However, a loss to the Colts means the Texans will be in a virtual tie with Indy in the AFC South. So what do the Texans need to do to secure a win?
On offense, they'll have to do a much better job of protecting CJ Stroud. In their last game against the Packers, Stroud faced immense pressure on third downs, with 12 of his 14 dropbacks resulting in pressure.
During one series, Stroud was flushed from the pocket and forced to scramble on three straight plays. They have to clean up the protection, or it will be another long day for the offense.
Fortunately for the Texans, this game is at home. So hopefully the communication issues the Texans o-line dealt with on the road last week won't be an issue at NRG.
Rushing attack
Houston can't afford to rely solely on Joe Mixon and the run game to carry the offense. While Mixon has been terrific, contributing significantly in recent weeks, the Texans will need a balanced attack. Which means Stroud must have time to operate in the pocket.
Bulls on parade
The defense last week was another story for the Texans. They played well against Green Bay, limiting them to 24 points. This week, they face a very different type of quarterback. Anthony Richardson is dead last in passer rating and completion percentage, so that's definitely working in their favor.
We know what Richardson can do with his legs, and Indy is expecting running back Jonathan Taylor to return from an ankle injury, so the rushing defense will be tested.
Richardson's accuracy is certainly a weakness, but he does throw a good deep ball that gave the defense problems in Week 1 this season.
What does Vegas think?
The Texans are favored by 5 points and the total is set at 45.5 points.
This is one video you don't want to miss as we share our in-depth breakdown of the game, as well as our predictions for Sunday's contest.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
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Fans of Houston sports and Houston food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm November 11 at 8th Wonder. Find out more about it here.