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Have questions as the Texas Longhorns football team enters the SEC? We have answers.

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Have questions as the Texas Longhorns football team enters the SEC? We have answers.


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Summer camps have kicked off across the SEC, which means the start of a football season unlike any other is just a few weeks away. For the first time, 12 teams will qualify for the College Football Playoff. Texas hopes to earn a spot after going 12-2 a year ago and qualifying for its first CFP.

Got questions about the Longhorns and their debut season in the SEC? We have some answers.

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Wait, the SEC? Is this part of the college realignment I’ve been hearing about?

Why, yes, it is. After a courtship that lasted years, Texas — along with Red River rival Oklahoma — finally left the Big 12 and joined the SEC on July 1, giving the nation’s best football conference 16 teams.

How is joining the SEC good for Texas?

More money in the coffers is always good for any athletic department, and Texas’ move to the SEC will approximately double what the athletic department made in television revenue as a member of the Big 12. And yes, the SEC is really good at football. In fact, SEC schools have won 13 of the past 18 national championships.

More: Texas Longhorns offensive coordinator Kyle Flood enjoying depth on offensive line

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Where does Texas fit in with the rest of the SEC?

The SEC did away with its two divisions after expansion, since the conference wants to ensure all league members play each other at least once in a four-year span. And they haven’t committed to a long-term plan when it comes to scheduling. All the Longhorns know is that they will play Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi State in each of the next two seasons. Also, SEC officials have all but guaranteed that Texas will get rivals Texas A&M and Oklahoma every year.

Who will be tougher to beat: Oklahoma or Texas A&M?

Well, the Sooners have a pretty salty defense, but they’re replacing quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who lit up the Longhorns in a 34-30 Oklahoma win last season. At least Texas will have half the crowd behind it when the teams meet again in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Oct. 12. That won’t be the case when the Longhorns visit Texas A&M on Nov. 30. It’s been 13 years since the last game between the bitter rivals, and the Aggies will be out for blood.

More: Even without complete continuity on defense, Pete Kwiatkowski ready for Texas’ 2024 season

Are those the most challenging SEC games on the schedule?

Unfortunately for Texas, nope. Georgia, which has won two national championships in the past three seasons, will visit Austin on Oct. 19. The Bulldogs will probably start the season as the nation’s No. 1 team, and they boast a loaded roster as well as a sizable chip on their shoulder pads after being passed over for one of the four CFP spots a year ago.

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What makes Georgia so good?

The Bulldogs might have the best defense in the nation, and they might just have the country’s best quarterback in Carson Beck — if it’s not Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns’ three-year starter. In fact, the Heisman Trophy race might come down to this game. Whoever performs best and gets the win could be the front-runner.

Besides A&M and OU, what SEC road trips does Texas have?

Two more, and both seem manageable. Although a visit to Fayetteville, Ark., is never pleasant for Texas, the Razorbacks look a bit down. And Vanderbilt seems to always be down; surviving a Friday night on Nashville’s Lower Broadway looks tougher than a Saturday game against the Commodores.

More: Best of the SEC: How Texas linebackers stack up as we rank all 16 conference teams

Who’s the most dangerous of the other three SEC teams visiting Austin?

It’s not Mississippi State, since the Bulldogs are again rebuilding behind first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. Florida has the name brand and winning legacy, but the Gators haven’t found much traction under third-year coach Billy Napier. But watch out on Nov. 23 for Kentucky and one of the best defensive front sevens in the country. Longtime coach Mark Stoops is one of the nation’s top defensive minds, and the Wildcats could make things uncomfortable for a Texas squad that might be peeking ahead at the trip to College Station.

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What if Texas makes the SEC title game?

Since there are no more divisions in the conference, the top two teams in the standings will meet for the SEC title and an automatic berth in the CFP. That means Texas could face Georgia in a rematch if the Longhorns can navigate their tricky conference schedule. Ole Miss and Alabama will make a strong case for the SEC title game, too; head coach Lane Kiffin has added to a talented Ole Moss roster with an impressive portal haul while new coach Kalen DeBoer inherits a loaded Alabama squad from the retired Nick Saban. And keep an eye on Missouri, an SEC dark horse with a proven quarterback in Brady Cook.



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Texas

Spitting Image Of Mediocrity: Boston Red Sox Slug Texas Rangers In The Nose

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Spitting Image Of Mediocrity: Boston Red Sox Slug Texas Rangers In The Nose


ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers aren’t just treading water, they’re starting to slip under.

The Boston Red Sox had 16 hits, including six for extra-bases, to outslug Texas 11-6 Friday at Globe Life Field.

The Rangers (52-58) have lost three consecutive games and dropped to six games below .500. Both the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners won to push Texas to 5.5 games back in the American League West.

Jose Urena was charged with seven runs on eight hits in four-plus innings Friday against the Red Sox.

Aug 2, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jose Urena (54) throws during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

José Ureña stepped up to fill a rotation hole on Friday but it did not go well. The right-hander was touched for seven runs on eight hits in four-plus innings. Wilyer Abreu’s two-run homer in the second gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. After Texas reclaimed a 3-2 lead after a two-run third, Boston scored four times in the fourth after starting the inning four consecutive hits. Nick Sogard’s two-run single gave Boston a 6-3 lead. Jarren Duran led off the fifth with a triple to right and that was it for Ureña.

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Corey Seager was 3 for 3 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's loss to the Red Sox.

Aug 2, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) hits a home run during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Seager was 3 for 3 with two home runs and three RBI. It’s Seager second multi-homer game of the season. He also had two homers at Minnesota on May 26. Seager became the 14th shortstop in MLB history (since 1901) to record five or more seasons of at least 20 or more homers. Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. is the all-time leader with 12 such seasons.

Left-hander Cody  Bradford could be an option to start Saturday's game against the Red Sox.

Apr 10, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) leaves the game against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers have yet to announce Saturday’s starter against Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck (8-7, 2.79) at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and X.





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Flesh-eating bacteria on rise along Texas Gulf Coast, authorities warn

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Flesh-eating bacteria on rise along Texas Gulf Coast, authorities warn


An outbreak of a flesh-eating bacteria along Texas’ Gulf Coast has infected nearly a dozen people, authorities warned.

Officials in Galveston County said 11 cases of vibrio infections have been reported so far this summer, compared to only two at this time last year, according to a report by Houston-area news outlet KHOU Channel 11. Of those infected, eight were from out of town.

Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in coastal waters, including salt water and brackish water, a mixture of salt and fresh water. It is found in higher concentrations in the summer when water temperatures are warmer.

Vibrio can cause two kinds of illnesses. The more common is caused by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and dehydration.

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The other, potentially more serious infection occurs when an open wound comes into contact with coastal waters. Most of the cases in Galveston were the result of contact with water, a spokesperson for the Galveston County Health Department said in an email Friday.

Symptoms can include fever and redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration and discharge of fluid around the wound, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the worst cases, the bacteria can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies, which is why vibrio is frequently called a “flesh-eating bacteria.” Such severe infections are rare and tend to occur in people with pre-existing conditions that cause weakened immune systems, health authorities say.

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The conditions of those infected are not known. Galveston officials said in the release they are working to identify the source of the infections and implement measures to prevent additional cases.

“There’s no need to panic,” Dr. Phillip Keiser, CEO of the Galveston County Health District, said in a statement. “Use common sense: avoid raw seafood, practice good hygiene, and stay informed to keep safe.”

People who experience severe gastrointestinal issues or wound infections following exposure to seawater should seek prompt medical attention, as early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to managing symptoms and preventing complications, the county said.

Texas school district to allow pro-Trump parking spaces, reversing earlier decision



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North Texas enters the weekend with the hottest day of the year

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North Texas enters the weekend with the hottest day of the year


Same heat alerts, different day: Triple-digit heat sticks around North Texas

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Same heat alerts, different day: Triple-digit heat sticks around North Texas

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NORTH TEXAS – Plan for the hottest day of the year Friday with a forecast high temperature of 103 degrees.

The cloud cover in place Friday morning was from storms in Oklahoma overnight and into the morning being blown down into North Texas. 

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Storms developed Thursday along a frontal boundary that is slowly moving south. With the northerly flow aloft on the east side of the mid to upper-level high pressure, the clouds Friday morning and the front are both moving southward.

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However, drier air in the mid-levels will scour out any cloud cover, making for an afternoon of full sunshine and hot temperatures. High temperatures will warm to the triple digits for most of North Texas and feel slightly warmer than that thanks to lower dew points.

If temperatures in North Texas reach 103 degrees on Friday, not only will it be the hottest day of the year so far but also the tenth 100-degree day in 2024. North Texas is well behind the average of 20 100-degree days this year but will quickly approach that number in the week ahead. Friday is a day to pay attention to any heat illness warning signs as this dangerous heat builds.

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Since the high temperature is forecast up to 103 degrees and a feels-like temperature up to 107 degrees, the National Weather Service extended the heat advisory that was issued on Monday until 8 p.m. Friday for most of North Texas.

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CBS News Texas


There isn’t much relief in sight with this weak front on the way. Rain chances dropped to just 10% for Saturday. A front is expected to move into North Texas early Saturday morning and continue to move south through the day. There are better rain chances in the forecast for Central Texas later Saturday afternoon as the front stalls to the South. The “cool down” won’t really happen until Sunday when high temperatures drop to the upper 90s.

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This weekend will be a hot one but a good one for the kids to get in some pool time before heading back to school. Then the  August heat dome builds next week with triple-digit heat on the way each day of the forecast.

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