Hey, Ed. Del needs you to lose again this week. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Has Texas finally found an identity on offense?
Questions about the Longhorn’s return to the elite of college football seem to be never ending and really miss the point. The only time Texas was great in my lifetime they had a clear identity. It was a somewhat fortunate and not likely to be sustainable identity, but it worked. Build your program around two legends at QB and watch the program flourish. That is somewhat tongue in cheek as Texas had great players everywhere when Mack Brown had it going. It really is remarkable though that Vince Young and Colt McCoy both were the starting quarterbacks at Texas in such a short amount of time. Texas has been looking for their next quarterback heir ever since. The inability to find the next great one got Mack Brown fired and is partly why Charlie Strong got fired too. Beating Oklahoma doesn’t mean Sam Ehlinger is the next in line. His play in a single game against a bad defense shouldn’t be the focus. How Texas won that game should be.
Texas was the bully in that game. They beat up Oklahoma for three-plus quarters on both sides of the ball. The Longhorn defense under Todd Orlando has that reputation. The Longhorns offense does not. That beat up another blue blood program when they dominated USC earlier in the year as well. It isn’t just the Texas offensive line that are bullies on offense. They have big strong wide receivers that outmuscled and ran through smaller Sooner defensive backs on the perimeter all game long. If Texas is actually “back” it will be about establishing a consistent identity on both sides of the ball that permeates throughout the program. This past Saturday against the Sooners was a great start.
Hate Watch Record 3-3: Miami beats FSU 28-27
The game was ugly for almost three quarters if you were a Miami fan. Losing to your hated rivals is one thing. Losing to them at home when you’re a two touchdown favorite could ruin a season. Florida State’s season-long issues along the offensive line bore themselves out in the second half as the Seminoles were shut out and amassed a total of 45 yards of total offense in after halftime. Two turnovers by Florida State inside their own 30-yard line gave the crowd in Miami and the team life. After being down 27-7 late in the third Miami stormed back to win 28-27. The victory is Miami’s second straight in the series after losing seven in a row to their in-state rivals.
Hate Watch Game of the Week: Georgia vs LSU
I can’t even pretend like this is based on anything other than a LSU loss helps my team’s chances. If Miami’s slim hopes of making the college football playoff are to get better, LSU losing more than one game this season has to happen. The Tigers lost to Florida on the road last week but their resounding win over Miami in Week 1 would make them an obvious choice if it came down to picking between the Tigers and the Canes for a playoff spot. LSU also has a schedule the rest of the way where winning out would assuredly put them in the playoffs. Rooting for Georgia is simply pragmatic.
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The Astros closed out their latest road trip with a winning record, a feat made more impressive considering the turbulence at the back of the rotation. Brandon Walter and Ryan Gusto both endured rough outings, with Walter in particular getting tagged hard. Still, Houston salvaged the finale, thanks largely to Mauricio Dubón’s breakout performance. The utilityman launched two home runs to power an offense that’s quietly been heating up for weeks.
But even with a solid finish, not everything is trending upward.
Josh Hader, who’s been one of the game’s most reliable closers this season, has begun to show signs of vulnerability. He’s allowed a home run in three of his last six outings. While his overall numbers remain strong, the long ball—a problem that plagued him last year—is starting to creep back into the picture.
As the Astros return home, the schedule offers no breather. They’ll face the Phillies and Cubs before a brief trip to Colorado to take on the struggling Rockies. After that comes a marquee series against the defending champion Dodgers in Los Angeles. With three of their next four opponents being legitimate World Series threats, the coming stretch looms large.
Can the bats keep pace?
If the last month is any indication, the Astros have reason to feel optimistic. Christian Walker has started to show signs of life after a quiet start to the season, hitting .260 with a .762 OPS and five home runs over the past 30 days. José Altuve has been scorching with a .302 average and .901 OPS in that span, while Jeremy Peña has taken things to another level, batting .384 with a 1.009 OPS.
As a team, the Astros rank 7th in OPS, 5th in runs, 3rd in batting average, and 7th in home runs over the last 30 days. It’s a surge that’s come at the right time—and one they’ll need to sustain.
The injury picture is also starting to shift in Houston’s favor.
Cristian Javier threw a 20-pitch live BP today in West Palm Beach. According to Joe Espada, he was up to 95 mph.
Luis Garcia should throw a live BP next week.
Spencer Arrighetti is still not throwing off a mound yet.
Yordan Alvarez has not resumed hitting.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 20, 2025
Joe Espada told The Athletic's Chandler Rome that Christian Javier recently threw a live batting practice session, touching 95 mph as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. JP France has thrown multiple live BPs and could be ready to help if things continue to progress with his shoulder. Luis Garcia, however, remains further away despite undergoing surgery more than two years ago. He's expected to throw a live BP this week.
Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) should be able to return in August, and Lance McCullers has resumed throwing and is currently on the 15-day IL with a foot sprain.
The Astros are winning. The offense is rolling. The reinforcements are on the way. But with a brutal stretch looming, the team’s margin for error is about to be put to the test.
There's so much more to cover! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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