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AP Top 25: Texas back at No. 1, Texas A&M returns after huge Week 6

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AP Top 25: Texas back at No. 1, Texas A&M returns after huge Week 6


It was a week of upheaval in The Associated Press college football poll, with Texas returning to No. 1 on Sunday after a one-week absence following Vanderbilt’s monumental upset of Alabama.

The Commodores’ win as more than three-touchdown underdogs caused the Tide to drop from No. 1 to No. 7. The last top-ranked team to fall so far was Ohio State, which plunged to No. 11 in 2010 following an October loss to Wisconsin.

Texas, which had an open date, received 52 out of 61 first-place votes and became the first team in two years to bounce in and out of the top spot in a span of three polls. The Longhorns also were just the third team since 2008 to be voted No. 1 after not playing the day before.

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Ohio State beat Iowa for its fourth straight easy win, received nine first-place votes and moved up a spot to No. 2.

Oregon and Penn State each rose three spots, with the Ducks up to No. 3 and the Nittany Lions fourth. Georgia remained No. 5.

Miami (Fla.), which came back from a 25-point second-half deficit to beat Cal, 39-38, rose two spots to No. 6.

The mayhem wasn’t limited to Alabama.

Six of the 18 AP Top 25 teams that played lost to unranked opponents (33%), the highest mark since six of 16 (38%) lost the first week of October 2020.

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The Tide were among four teams in the top 11 to lose to unranked opponents — the first time that’s happened since October 2017.

Tennessee lost to Arkansas and went from No. 4 to No. 8. Michigan lost to Washington and went from No. 10 to No. 24. USC lost to Minnesota and went from No. 11 to out of the Top 25. The Trojans were first among teams also receiving votes.

Texas A&M soundly beat Missouri at home in the only Top 25 matchup. That earned the Aggies a promotion from a tie for No. 25 to No. 15 and the Tigers a demotion from No. 9 to No. 21.

The Big Ten dominates the top five, but the SEC maintains its grip on the top 10. No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 Penn State are bookended by the SEC’s Texas and Georgia. The SEC also has Alabama, Tennessee and Ole Miss in the top 10.

Double-digit drops by Missouri, Michigan and USC mark the first time since Nov. 13, 2016, that three teams fell 10 or more spots in the same poll. That week it happened to Auburn (8 to 18), Texas A&M (10 to 23) and North Carolina (15 to receiving votes).

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The biggest upward movers were Texas A&M (25 to 15), Clemson (15 to 10) and Iowa State (16 to 11).

SMU (5-1) was rewarded for knocking off Louisville on the road and enters the rankings at No. 25. The Mustangs have appeared in the Top 25 all but one season (2022) since 2019. Louisville (3-2) has lost two of three and dropped out.

Pittsburgh won at North Carolina to start 5-0 for the first time since 1991 and enters the rankings at No. 22 for its first appearance in two years.

USC (3-2) has lost two of its first three Big Ten games and is out, as is UNLV, whose first-ever Top 25 appearance was spoiled by an overtime home loss to Syracuse.

SEC: 9 (Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, T-18, 21).

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Big Ten: 6 (Nos. 2, 3, 4, T-18, 23, 24).

Big 12: 4 (Nos. T-11, 14, 16, T-18).

ACC: 4 (Nos. 6, 10, 22, 25).

Mountain West: 1 (No. 17).

Independent: 1 (No. 11).

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Here’s the full top 25:

1. Texas 
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Penn State 
5. Georgia 
6. Miami (Fla.) 
7. Alabama 
8. Tennessee 
9. Ole Miss 
10. Clemson
T-11. Iowa State
T-11. Notre Dame 
13. LSU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Utah 
17. Boise State
T-18. Kansas State
T-18. Indiana 
T-18. Oklahoma
21. Missouri 
22. Pittsburgh
23. Illinois 
24. Michigan
25. SMU

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Tips on protecting plants and property as North Texas homeowners prepare for freeze

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Tips on protecting plants and property as North Texas homeowners prepare for freeze


Tips on protecting plants and property as North Texas homeowners prepare for freeze

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Tips on protecting plants and property as North Texas homeowners prepare for freeze

01:41

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NORTH TEXAS — In a couple of days, temperatures are expected to drastically drop. This weekend is a good time to get prepared.

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Richardson homeowner Stephanie Brownell is now preparing her home for freezing temperatures while it’s still pleasant outside.

“I don’t like cold weather, so I’ve come out and I wrapped all my faucets and then put covers on them,” she said.

She’s also moved all her potted tropical plants inside.

“So for this freeze you’re going to want to bring in anything that’s tropical, tender vegetation such as house plants, and things like that,” Fort Worth Botanic Garden Senior Director of Horticulture Keith Brock said. “Most of your annuals will be fine.”

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He said based on the forecast, water your plants now if you can.

“Water has insulating quality,” he said. “It also makes sure that plants are not under stress because like water, you want your plants in good shape when we get these kinds of temperatures. I would start no later than tomorrow.”

He said for the most part, outdoor plants don’t need to be covered. However, if there’s any concern based on the type of plant you have, you can always throw a frost cloth or an old sheet on it.

Brownell said her gardenias are vulnerable to the cold. She’s making the preparations now, hoping they pay off in the coming days.

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Texas expected to host Florida State transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday

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Texas expected to host Florida State transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday


After a quiet period in the NCAA transfer portal around the holidays, the Texas Longhorns are active again with a report from 247Sports that head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are expected to host Florida State Seminoles transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday.

The son of 10-year NFL veteran and former Florida State standout Marvin Jones, the younger Jones has one season of eligibility remaining. Jones previously took a visit to Oklahoma.

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A 6’5, 255-pounder out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage in the 2022 recruiting class, Jones was ranked as the No. 24 player nationally and the No. 3 edge, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He chose Georgia over 32 other offers, taking official visits to Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma, and USC.

In Athens, Jones tallied 16 tackles, including 5.5 for loss with 2.0 sacks, playing in 12 games in 2023, including a start in the SEC Championship Game, recording 12 tackles, 4.5 for loss with 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry as a sophomore.

Jones transferred back to his home state to play for his father’s alma mater as a junior, but departed Tallahassee after the Seminoles finished last in the ACC with a 2-10 record overall and 1-7 mark in conference play. At Florida State, Jones started in nine of his 11 appearances despite some injury issues, totaling a career-high 25 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. Jones totaled 16 pressures and 17 defensive stops, including two sacks among four total pressures against Cal.

Texas has a need for edge at the edge position with the departure of Barryn Sorrell following the 2024 season and the entrance of junior Justice Finkley into the NCAA transfer portal. 247Sports ranks Jones as the third-best available defender in the portal.





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Memphis basketball vs North Texas: Prediction, picks, injury updates and odds

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Memphis basketball vs North Texas: Prediction, picks, injury updates and odds


The Memphis basketball team’s early season schedule has been one of the strongest in the country.

It has also featured an array of contrasting styles and looks. Coming off a commanding road victory over an FAU team that is more offensive-oriented, now the Tigers (11-3, 1-0 AAC) turn their attention to North Texas (11-3, 1-0), which prefers to focus more on defense.

The Mean Green travel to Memphis for a game Sunday (4 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2). It will be the only regular-season meeting between the two.

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North Texas is coming off a come-from-behind win at home over UAB on Tuesday. The Blazers were the preseason favorite according to a poll of the AAC’s coaches to win the league. The Tigers earned a win over FAU on Thursday.

Here are three things to keep an eye on ahead of Sunday’s game.

The ‘blessing’ of having Dain Dainja

Memphis big man Dain Dainja feasted on FAU in the second half, scoring all 16 of his points during a 6:54 span.

The former Illinois and Baylor player is averaging 11.4 points per game (fourth on the team), and he’s doing it off the bench.

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Coach Penny Hardaway has called it a “luxury” to have a player of Dainja’s caliber playing a reserve role. On Thursday, he went with a new word.

“What a blessing to have Dain Dainja coming off your bench,” he said. “At any time, he can get going. When he got his fourth foul, I left him out there and went with the two bigs (Dainja and Moussa Cisse). They did really well. Dain adds a different layer, because he can score the ball in bunches.”

How to capitalize on momentum

Memphis’ Tyrese Hunter said there was plenty of room for improvement after the FAU win.

The senior guard, who scored 20 points, rattled off a list of things: Keep the confidence level high, pay attention to the scouting report, and maintain the same energy level for a full 40 minutes.

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But there was one item very clearly at the top of the list.

“Learn from your mistakes,” he said.

The Tigers committed 19 turnovers and gave up 25 points off those miscues. They also gave up 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points for FAU.

North Texas basketball scouting report

It’s all about the defense for North Texas.

The Mean Green are second in the nation in steal percentage (15.1%). Eight different members of the roster have registered 10 or more steals through 14 games, led by Latrell Jossell’s 23.

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But the Mean Green can create turnovers in other ways. North Texas is fourth in the country in turnover percentage defense (24.4%), and its opponents are averaging 15.1 turnovers per game.

The latter is a top-50 mark in Division I. But Memphis has overcome turnover-minded teams. The Tigers committed 13 turnovers versus Ole Miss and 16 against Missouri but won both of those home games comfortably.

Scoring points is not something North Texas emphasizes. The Mean Green has put up more than 73 points just twice since early November and has only topped 80 points once this season against Mississippi Valley State. That’s partially because of personnel. But it’s also a result of coach Ross Hodge’s philosophy. North Texas plays at one of the five slowest paces in the country, which was also the case last season.

Memphis basketball score prediction vs. North Texas

Memphis 77, North Texas 68: The Mean Green can be a feisty bunch. But the Tigers at home will be more than they can handle.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.

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