HOLD YOUR HORSES

Texas coach tells No. 2 Longhorns 'we are entitled to nothing' after big win at Michigan

Texas coach tells No. 2 Longhorns 'we are entitled to nothing' after big win at Michigan
Coach Sarkisian is saying all the right things. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Texas had barely settled back home after a dominant win at Michigan when coach Steve Sarkisian had a direct message for his No. 2 Longhorns.

“We are capable of anything. We've got a really good team," Sarkisian said. “We are entitled to nothing.”

To prove his point, Sarkisian showed his team video of Northern Illinois’ game-winning kick and the Huskies storming the field against then-No. 5 Notre Dame in last weekend's biggest upset.

Texas hosts UTSA (1-1) on Saturday night, and Sarkisian wants to snuff out any hint of complacency that could lead to a close game, or worse, against a Roadrunners team that should be overmatched across the field.

“Human nature is human nature. So what did I do this morning? I walked them through the Notre Dame scenario,” Sarkisian said.

That scenario was Notre Dame earning a tough road win at Texas A&M and earning praise as a team worthy of the College Football Playoff, only to be humbled at home a week later.

Texas' dominant win at Michigan vaulted the Longhorns to their highest national ranking since they finished the 2009 season No. 2 after losing to Alabama in the national championship game.

UTSA and Texas met in 2022 when the Roadrunners were seen as program on the rise coming off a Conference USA championship and Texas was still climbing out of its 5-7 finish in 2021, Sarkisian's first year.

The Roadrunners eyed an upset that day before Texas won in a rout 44-20. UTSA now limps into Saturday's matchup on the heels of a 49-10 road loss at Texas State.

Sarkisian did his best Monday to insist the Roadrunners are still a threat.

“The worst opponents or the toughest to play are the ones that are wounded or backed into corner,” Sarkisian said.

Texas plays three straight at home, and won't play its first SEC game until Sept. 28 against Mississippi State. After the UTSA matchup, the Longhorns play Louisiana-Monroe.

“If you keep dwelling on Michigan, you'll lose sight of who's right in front of you,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said. “The SEC will come soon enough. UTSA is good enough to have our full attention.”

That's not lost on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who led the Longhorns into the College Football Playoff last season.

“It's a good feeling,” beating Michigan, Ewers said. “It's only Week 2. I want to have this feeling all the way through January.”

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 1-0. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Cooper Hummel hit a solo home run in the eighth inning and Framber Valdez and two relievers combined for a four-hitter in the Houston Astros' 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

There was one out in the eighth when Hummel connected off Ranger Suárez (6-2) on his opposite field shot to the bullpen in right-center field.

Valdez (9-4) scattered four hits across seven scoreless innings.

Bryan Abreu struck out one in the eighth and Josh Hader struck out two in the ninth for his 20th save.

The Phillies had a chance to get on the board in the sixth. J.T. Realmuto reached on a throwing error by third baseman Isaac Paredes with one out in the inning and stole second base. Valdez walked Otto Kemp but Edmundo Sosa grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Astros were hitless until Yainer Diaz singled on a grounder to right field to start Houston’s sixth and Hummel followed with a single to right field. Mauricio Dubón grounded into a double play that left Diaz at third before Suárez walked Jeremy Peña. But Suárez struck out Paredes to escape the jam.

Suárez yielded four hits and a run with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Key moment

The home run by Hummel was his second since he was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on June 14.

Julia Morales caught up with Hummel after the big win!

Key stat

Suárez is the first Philadelphia starter to earn nine straight quality starts in his first 10 starts of the season since Aaron Harang did so in 2015, according to stats provided by the Phillies from the Elias Sport Bureau.

Up next

Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.81 ERA) opposes LHP Colton Gordon (2-1, 4.54) when the series continues Wednesday night.

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