What a difference a year makes.

The Austin Gamblers continued their midseason swoon, losing 174.25-0 to the Texas Rattlers on night two of Gambler Days weekend Saturday at the Moody Center in Austin. Queensland, Australian native Brady Fielder led off by scoring 88 points aboard Miller Time.

“I’m really happy with my ride tonight,” Fielder said. “I got a great bull in Miller Time. I felt like he tried me on. I’m just thankful I got the job done.

“Being in this spot after winning the championship is an unfamiliar spot for us. We just have to come together as a team, and I think we are doing that. We’re getting better and better each time. A win like this can build confidence, I suppose, and make you better heading into the next one.”

It was all the Fort Worth-based Rattlers would need as the Gamblers’ struggles to produce points continued. The Gamblers could not produce a qualified ride in five chances, six when counting Jose Vitor Leme’s re-ride attempt, extending a streak of nine consecutive efforts without points. The Rattlers applied pressure when Claudio Montaha Jr. scored 86.25 points aboard Off The Tracks giving Texas 1 174.25-0 lead with just two riders remaining for the Gamblers.

No. 4 rider Lucas Divino came ever so close to getting the Gamblers on the scoreboard. He appeared to successfully ride Hoobastank, but Rattlers coach Cody Lambert challenged the ride and after review, Divino was found to have slapped the bull with his free hand, resulting in a no score.

“I thought I had a good ride,” Divino said afterward. “I didn’t know that I had touched him. I didn’t feel it.”

Even Leme, the star rider, failed to score for Austin. He was unable to cover aboard Homeboy, then when granted a re-ride the two-time league MVP failed to cover again. The match was billed as a battle for bragging rights in the Lone Star State between the defending league champ Rattlers and the two-time regular season champion Gamblers.

In reality, it was a battle between two struggling teams, each hoping to gain some momentum for a stretch run. The Rattlers may have had extra motivation after a scary injury to rider Brady Oleson.

Oleson a night earlier was thrown from Fast Flow. He was taken from the arena via stretcher and spent the night in a hospital.

“It gives you some extra motivation, I think,” Fielder said. “To see a teammate take a fall like that and come out for tonight’s match a man down, I think that is in the back of your mind a bit. It makes you want to perform all the better.”

The Rattlers improved to 5-8 on the season. The Gamblers, after having won four in a row, dropped their fourth straight and now stand at 6-7 on the year. They will try to rebound Sunday against the Missouri Thunder.

Saturday’s action started off with a matchup between the top two teams in the league. The undefeated Carolina Cowboys, whose streak of 11 games without a loss was a PBR record, were challenged by the second pace Kansas City Outlaws.

It was no contest. The Outlaws dominated and put an end to the Cowboy win streak with a 264.75-89.5 victory.

Qualified rides came from leadoff rider Sandro Batista (88.5 points) atop Shameless and Heitor Goiano (88.25 points) aboard Modified Ride. Carolina answered when Daylon Swearingen earned 89.5 points for covering Mr. Right Now. But Outlaw closer, Cassio Dias — one of the best in the business — put it out of reach with an 88-point ride atop Powerstroke.

Dias would prove to be the star of Saturday, capping the night with a win in the individual shootout (77 points riding Do Dat Eddie). The win moved Kansas City to 9-4 on the year while Carolina remains in first place at 10-1-1.

The Friday night darling New York Mavericks took on fellow expansion team the Oklahoma Wildcatters in the second game of the evening. The Mavericks took the early lead when Leonardo Castro successfully rode Don’t Come Easy for 86 points.

Former Gambler Cort McFadden closed the gap for Oklahoma when he posted a score of 85.75 atop Hunting Trip. But Oklahoma closer Josh Frost came up short, lasting just 7.46 seconds aboard Bandito Bug, clinching the win for the Mavericks.

New York’s closer Mauricio Gulla Moreira then added 88 points by successfully making the eight atop Body Roc for a 174-85.75 victory. The win was the sixth in their last nine games for the Mavericks, who started the year 0-4. They now stand at 6-7. Missouri slides back to 6-7.

The Missouri Thunder bested the Nashville Stampede 174.5-173.5. The two teams started out like gangbusters with three straight qualified rides to begin the game. Cody Jesus (89.50 on Jam Jam) and Alan de Souza (84 points atop Hard Candy) produced the points early for Nashville. Andrew Alvidrez (88.25 points on Whiplash) got the Thunder off to a good start.

Then the bulls took over, bucking six straight riders and putting the game in the hands of Missouri closer Paulo Eduardo Rossetto. Needing 85.5 points for the win, Rossetto came through with a qualified ride aboard Sweet John, good for 86.5 points and the win. Missouri improved to 6-7. The 2022 champion Nashville Stampede fell to 7-7.

Gambler Days weekend concludes Sunday with full slate of games at the Moody Center.

As the 2024 Texas high school football season draws near, the American-Statesman is ranking the best players by each position group.

High school reporters Rick Cantu and Colby Gordon will start with offensive linemen and end with quarterbacks next week.

Top 10 linebackers in the Austin area

(Players listed in alphabetical order)

Easton Aird, Lake Travis Cavaliers

Overshadowed last fall by the rest of the Cavs’ stars on the defensive side of the ball, he still made 76 tackles. Aird should have an even more productive season as a senior. 

DEFENSE IS GOOD BUT: No. 2 Lake Travis believes passing prowess will spur trip back to state

Jackson Clowdus, Elgin Wildcats

A unanimous first-team all-district pick a year ago after 67 tackles, this senior will lead the Wildcats’ playoff push this fall.

Tieson Ejiawoko, East View Patriots

Ejiawoko, a junior, recently committed to Texas Tech. He was the district defensive newcomer of the year last fall and seems ready for an explosive season.

MORE RANKINGS: Top 10 defensive linemen in the Austin area

Garrett Lindgren, Liberty Hill Panthers

A tackling machine who had 104 stops as a junior, he might surpass that number with a good Liberty Hill defensive line in front of him and being a year smarter, bigger and faster. 

[ As No. 7 Liberty Hill’s offense revs up to speed, its defense will lead the way in 2024 ]

Will Peeler, Austin High Maroons

A first-team all-district selection in a district that included Westlake, Lake Travis, Bowie, Anderson and Johnson, this senior is everywhere on defense for the Maroons. 

Jahiem Porter, Cedar Park Timberwolves

If you don’t know about Porter, you will soon. He made 90 tackles last year, has an offer from North Texas and seems poised for a breakout junior year. 

A STATE TITLE CONTENDER? Why Cedar Park comes in at No. 9 in our area countdown

Elliott Schaper, Westlake Chaparrals

The Statesman’s defensive player of the year last fall should be a monster for the Chaps again. Coming off a season in which he had 108 tackles and nine sacks, the senior committed to Duke over the summer. 

REVENGE ON THEIR MINDS: No. 1 Westlake football hopes to redeem itself after 2 straight trips to state semifinals

Seth Warren, Georgetown Eagles

A third-team all-Central Texas pick as a junior ago after making 107 tackles, he’ll lead what should be a very good Georgetown defense this season. 

OUR RANKINGS: Strong defense, solid WRs makes Georgetown a top-10 team

Gage Webb, Anderson Trojans

Made 93 tackles a year ago in just 10 games and could be even more dominant as a senior this fall when the Trojans drop to Class 5A. 

MORE RANKINGS: Top 10 offensive linemen in the Austin area

Logan Wicketts, Cedar Park Timberwolves

Teams up with Porter to give the Timberwolves a dynamic duol tallied an impressive 108 stops as a junior last fall. 

Also keep an eye on: Brandon Bradshaw, Pflugerville; Ousman Jabateh, Connally; Trae Small, LBJ; Trevin Candeh, LBJ; DeMarreo Alba, sr., Glenn; Joaquin Reynolds, McCallum; Caleb Nicholas, Liberty Hill

Numerous factors impact the 2024 US News & World Report university rankings for universities in the state of Texas and other colleges from around the country. US News & World Report ranks colleges according to various essential criteria.

1. Surveys of teachers and high school counselors are a primary way that academic reputation is found.

2. Student selectivity, where the level of selectivity is affected by factors such as SAT/ACT scores, high school class rank, and the acceptance rate.

3. The salaries, class sizes, and degrees of faculty members are all part of faculty resources and are analyzed in their rankings.

4. The university’s financial resources, such as its endowment and how much each student spends, can affect the resources that are available.

5. Student outcomes as this includes the number of students who graduate or stay in school and the length of time it takes to get a degree.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Texas’ academic ranking in the SEC

Reasons why Texas universities are ranked so highly in comparison to some other state’s university rankings.

• Universities in Texas have excellent academic programs in science, business, engineering, and other fields.

• Funding for research is high through out universities across Texas as the state is a hub for research, and many universities there get big grants from public and private groups.

• Strong alumni networks are large as many universities in Texas have large and influential alumni networks that offer helpful resources.

• Support from the state itself as Texas has a long history of investing heavily in its public universities, contributing significantly to their success.

• The tough competition in Texas’s higher education system pushes schools to be the best they can be generall speaking.

Now here is a look at the top nine state of Texas universities and where they are ranked in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2024.

Texas Tech University campus

Rankings: 216. National Universities (tie) | 116. Top Public Schools (tie)

Overview: Texas Tech University is a public institution that was founded in 1923. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,579 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,839 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas Tech University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #216. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,852; out-of-state tuition and fees are $24,092. More Info

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Jim Nantz cheers on the Houston players from the University of Houston

Rankings: 133. National Universities (tie) | 70. Top Public Schools (tie)

Overview: University of Houston is a public institution that was founded in 1927. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 37,943 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 895 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Houston’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #133. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,870; out-of-state tuition and fees are $27,110. More Info

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Rankings: 115. National Universities (tie) | 58. Top Public Schools (tie)

Overview: The University of Texas at Dallas is a public institution that was founded in 1969. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,617 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 500 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The University of Texas at Dallas’ ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #115. Its in-state tuition and fees are $16,412; out-of-state tuition and fees are $44,812. More Info

TCU Horned Frogs fans

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Rankings: 98. National Universities (tie)

Overview: Texas Christian University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 10,523 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 307 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas Christian University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #98. Its tuition and fees are $57,220. More Info

A student walks on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas

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Rankings: 93. National Universities (tie)

Overview: Baylor University is a private institution that was founded in 1845. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,213 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 1,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Baylor University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #93. Its tuition and fees are $54,844. More Info

The campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas

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Rankings: 89. National Universities (tie)

Overview: Southern Methodist University is a private institution that was founded in 1911. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,056 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 234 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Southern Methodist University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #89. Its tuition and fees are $64,460. More Info

Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in College Station, Texas

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Rankings: 47. National Universities (tie) | 20. Top Public Schools (tie)

Overview: Texas A&M University is a public institution that was founded in 1876. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 57,512 (fall 2022), its setting is city, and the campus size is 5,200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas A&M University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #47. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,413; out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,607. More Info

The University of Texas Tower

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Rankings: 32. National Universities | 9. Top Public Schools

Overview: University of Texas at Austin is a public institution that was founded in 1883. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 41,309 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 431 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Texas at Austin’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #32. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,698; out-of-state tuition and fees are $41,070. More Info

Engineers at Rice University REUTERS/Go Nakamura

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Rankings: 17. National Universities

Overview: Rice University is a private institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,494 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 300 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Rice University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #17. Its tuition and fees are $58,128. More Info

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