Texas
Searches for VPN Skyrocket in Texas After Pornhub Shuts Down Access in State
Searches by Texas users for the term “VPN” jumped more than fourfold after Pornhub and its parent company’s network of other pornography websites disabled access in the state this week, according to Google data.
VPNs, or virtual private networks, establish an encrypted connection between a user and the public internet — and they can also mask the location of user, making it appear as if they’re accessing the internet from another state or country.
A number of Texans evidently have a newfound interest in location-spoofing VPN services, coming after Pornhub and other affiliated adult websites on March 14 blocked access to users in the state to protest Texas’ age-verification law requiring pornography sites to institute age-verification measures to ensure only adults 18 and older are able to access them.
A new message displayed Thursday on Pornhub (and other sites operated by parent company Aylo) to users with internet addresses registered to ISPs in Texas explained that it was disabling access to comply with the law. The company claims it has long supported age-verification access measures, but criticized the Texas law as “ineffective, haphazard and dangerous” because it forces users to provide identification every time they visit an adult-content platform rather than verifying users’ ages on their devices.
“Until the real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Texas,” the message on Pornhub and other Aylo sites said. “In doing so, we are complying with the law, as we always do, but hope that governments around the world will implement laws that actually protect the safety and security of users.”
Of the 20 metro areas tracked by Google, the highest search interest in VPNs over that the past seven days was in Dallas-Ft. Worth, followed by Houston, Austin, Waco-Temple-Bryan and San Antonio.
Here’s the Google Trends chart showing relative search interest in the term “VPN” over the past seven days in Texas:
Aylo is owned by Canadian private-equity firm Ethical Capital Partners, which acquired Pornhub’s predecessor company MindGeek for undisclosed financial terms last year.
In a statement, Alex Kekesi, Aylo’s VP of brand and community, said about the situation in Texas: “This is not the end. We are reviewing options and consulting with our legal team… We will continue to fight for our industry and the performers that legally earn a living, and we will continue to appeal through all available judicial recourse to recognize that this law is unconstitutional.”
Pornhub and Aylo’s network of other sites — which include Brazzers, RedTube, YouPorn, Mofos and Reality Kings — are also blocked or restricted in at least seven other U.S. states where similar laws have been enacted: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Virginia and Utah.
Texas
Texas A&M vs. Louisville volleyball final score, stats highlights
Jordan Thompson talks growth of volleyball in USA, LA Olympics
Jordan Thompson explains how the growth of volleyball in America has created opportunities for college stars to avoid playing overseas to continue their career.
After dropping the first two sets, No. 3 seed Texas A&M (25-4) stormed back to beat No. 2 seed Louisville (26-6) 3-2 in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament Friday night.
Texas A&M moves on to play Sunday against either No. 1 Nebraska or No. 4 Kansas, who play at 9:30 p.m. ET Friday night. Here’s how the Sweet 16 heavyweight match played out:
FINAL: Texas A&M wins 3-2, taking final set 15-12.
No. 3 Texas A&M completed a reverse sweep against No. 2 Louisville to advance to the regional final for the first time since 2001 after winning the fifth set, 15-12. The Aggies were able to swing the momentum of the game with their blocking ability, led by Ifenna Cos-okpalla’s 12 total blocks.
Texas A&M’s Logan Lednicky (20 kills, 10 digs on .245 hitting), Kyndal Stowers (16 kills, 11 digs on .282 hitting) and Emily Hellmuth (12 kills on .226 hitting) each recorded double-digit kills.
“We just weren’t finishing the last end of the set,” said an emotional Lednicky, who was three blocks away from a triple double. “We’re like, we’re not letting them sweep us. We know how to grind, we know how to dig it. We saw it in the TCU match and we did just that last one.”
Tensions boiled over in the fifth set. Louisville head coach Dan Meske earned a yellow card for swatting the ball because he thought the referee missed a carry call during a long rally Texas A&M won to go up 12-10.
Louisville’s Chloe Chicoine finished with a game-high 26 kills hitting .300 in the loss.
No. 3 Texas A&M took a 17-8 lead after holding No. 2 Louisville to a -.143 hitting percentage to start the fourth set with its defensive prowess. The Aggies stretched their lead to as many as nine points, but Louisville went on a 7-1 run to come within three points of Texas A&M. The Aggies didn’t relinquish the lead this time. Texas A&M finished the fourth set on a 4-0 run to force a decisive fifth set.
Texas A&M held Louisville to .000 hitting in the fourth set. The Aggies hit .267 and recorded nine blocks. Texas A&M’s Logan Lednicky (18 kills on .333 hitting), Kyndal Stowers (14 kills on .243 hitting) and Emily Hellmuth (10 kills on .200 hitting) each have double-digit kills. Ifenna Cos-okpalla is up to 11 blocks.
The Aggies are going for the reverse sweep, the team’s first since September 2024.
No. 3 Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison said his team needed to do a better job at finishing at the end of the set if they wanted to extend their season against No. 2 Louisville after giving up leads in the first two sets. The Aggies did just that in a third set that featured 15 ties and five lead changes.
The Aggies had a 23-21 lead in the third set before Louisville tied it up at 23-23 following back-to-back kills from Chloe Chicoine. Texas A&M’s Kyndal Stowers responded with a pair of kills herself to give the Aggies the set, 25-23.
Texas A&M’s Logan Lednicky (14 kills on .333 hitting), Stowers (11 kills on .259 hitting) and Emily Hellmuth (10 kills on .261) each have double-digit kills as the team is collectively hitting .292.
Meanwhile, Chicoine is up to 19 kills on .405 hitting. Cara Cresse added seven blocks.
New set, same scenario. Much like the first set, Texas A&M was the first team to reach 15 points. The Aggies had a 21-16 lead in the second set, before Louisville staged another comeback. The Cardinals went on a 9-1 run to take the lead and clinch the second set, 25-22, to take a 2-0 lead over Texas A&M.
Louisville capitalized on 14 total blocks and three aces. Chloe Chicoine (11 kills on .400 hitting) and Payton Petersen (10 kills on .563 hitting) led the Cardinals in kills.
Logan Lednicky has nine kills, while Emily Hellmuth and Kyndal Stowers each have seven kills for Texas A&M.
No. 3 Texas A&M had control of the first set and was the first team to 15 points, but No. 2 Louisville went on a 5-0 run to tie it up at 17-17. Five more ties ensued before Louisville ultimately created some separation to take the first set, 25-23. Louisville hit .457 and had two players with six or more kills — Payton Petersen (seven kills on .778 hitting) and Chloe Chicoine (six kills on .600 hitting).
NCAA volleyball tournament regionals schedule
All times Eastern
Friday, Dec. 12
Saturday, Dec. 13
Sunday, Dec. 14
- TBA | No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Wisconsin
- Regional final, TBD
NCAA women’s volleyball bracket
Find the full NCAA women’s volleyball tournament bracket on the NCAA website.
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Texas
UConn vs. Texas Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel
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The No. 5 UConn Huskies (9-1) will attempt to continue a five-game winning streak when they host the Texas Longhorns (7-3) on Friday, December 12, 2025 at PeoplesBank Arena. The contest airs at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Keep reading to get all you need to know ahead of wagering on the UConn-Texas matchup.
UConn vs. Texas How to Watch & Odds
- When: Friday, December 12, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)
UConn vs. Texas Prediction
The Huskies are holding opponents to just 60.4 points per game while averaging 91, giving them one of the strongest scoring margins in the country. Their defense has been particularly sharp, limiting opponents to 37.4% shooting from the field.
Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. continue to set the tone. Ball is averaging 15 points per game, and Reed Jr. has provided steady interior production with 14.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. Their consistency has been central to the Huskies’ early-season dominance.
The Longhorns have shown they can score, averaging 85.8 points per game, but their defense has struggled, allowing opponents to shoot 48.5%. That could be an issue against a UConn offense that moves the ball well and attacks efficiently.
UConn’s home court-advantage and Texas’s 2-2 road struggles tilt the matchup toward the Huskies.
- Pick ATS: Texas (+16.5)
- Pick OU: Over (145.5)
- Prediction: UConn 81, Texas 69
Prediction provided by FOX Sports’ Sports AI. Download the FOX Sports App for free access to Sports AI.
UConn vs. Texas Betting Insights
Betting Line Implied Predictions
- Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the matchup is Huskies 81, Longhorns 64.
- The Huskies have a 95.9% chance to win this meeting per the moneyline’s implied probability.
- The Longhorns have an 8.3% implied probability to win.
Key Spread Facts
- UConn has compiled a 3-7-0 record against the spread this season.
- Texas has won six games against the spread this year, while failing to cover four times.
- UConn has covered the spread once this season (1-4 ATS) when playing as at least 16.5-point favorites.
Key Total Facts
- The Huskies and their opponent have broken the 145.5-point mark four times this year.
- Longhorns games have gone over 145.5 points on eight occasions this season.
- The total for this matchup is 145.5 points, 23.4 fewer than the combined scoring average of the two teams.
Key Moneyline Facts
- UConn has won six of seven games when the moneyline favorite this season (85.7%).
- Texas has split the two games it has played as underdogs this season.
- UConn has played as a moneyline favorite of -2326 or shorter twice this season, and won both.
- Texas has not entered a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +1103.
UConn vs. Texas: Recent Results
| Date | Favorite | Spread | Total | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/8/2024 | Longhorns | -1.5 | 141 | -121 | +101 | 76-65 UCONN |
UConn vs. Texas: 2025-26 Stats Comparison
| UConn | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored Per Game (Rank) | 79.8 (137) | 89.1 (21) |
| Points Allowed (Rank) | 61.7 (10) | 73.2 (189) |
| Rebounds (Rank) | 9 (234) | 11.7 (49) |
| 3pt Made (Rank) | 7.7 (203) | 8 (175) |
| Assists (Rank) | 17.9 (38) | 14.6 (179) |
| Turnovers (Rank) | 8.8 (10) | 11.5 (167) |
UConn 2025-26 Key Players
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Ball | 10 | 15 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2 |
| Tarris Reed Jr. | 5 | 14.8 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0 |
| Alex Karaban | 10 | 13.4 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Silas Demary Jr. | 10 | 10 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Eric Reibe | 10 | 9.6 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Texas 2025-26 Key Players
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matas Vokietaitis | 10 | 15.9 | 6.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0 |
| Dailyn Swain | 10 | 15.7 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Jordan Pope | 10 | 12.5 | 2.1 | 3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| Tramon Mark | 10 | 9.9 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1 |
| Simeon Wilcher | 10 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.6 |
FOX Sports used technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar to create this story.
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Texas
Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl
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