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What Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said about Arkansas

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What Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said about Arkansas


What Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said about Arkansas

Arkansas football continues its 2024 season against No. 3 Texas in just four days at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, and Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke to the media Monday to preview the matchup.

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In their debut SEC season, the Longhorns have dominated most competition besides a 30-15 loss to Georgia and a 27-24 nail-biting win against Vanderbilt. Texas has defeated teams like Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Florida handily.

Under Sarkisian’s leadership, Texas has accumulated a 33-15 (17-10 Big 12, 4-1 SEC) overall record with a 12-win, College Football Playoff season a year ago. This season, the Longhorns boast the No. 9 total offense (465.2 YPG) and No. 10 passing offense (301.1 YPG) in the country.

This will mark the 80th meeting between the two teams, as Texas leads the series 56-23. The Razorbacks have won the last two matchups, with the most recent coming in 2021, a 40-21 victory in Fayetteville.

Here’s everything Sarkisian had to say about Pittman, the Razorbacks and his team:

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On Arkansas’ 2021 win over Texas being an eye-opener:

Sarkisian: “In going back, I always try to revisit some of those games even from years past just to get a sense and a feel. The frustrating part of that game more than anything is, we didn’t play great. But then you look up and you watch the game, you forget it’s the middle of the third quarter and it’s 16-7 and we were playing hard, we just weren’t playing great.

“I think it’s two-fold, yeah we obviously wanted to upgrade as best we could the roster, especially from a depth perspective. And then as the game wore on, a couple explosive plays kind of kicked into play, unfortunately we didn’t make some of our own. But the competitiveness of our team, I thought we fought in the game. But naturally, okay, what do we need to do? I thought it was good, not only for myself but for the staff and for our players to say, ‘okay, that’s an SEC team.’

“At the time, they weren’t at the top of the SEC, there were some pretty good teams still there. So we had a hill to climb to get where we wanted to get to, so it feels pretty good knowing that we’re going in there this year with what we think is a little better roster. A little better understanding from a coaching staff perspective of what’s going to be needed in that environment. It’s a very tough environment. But what’s going to be needed from an emotional and mental standpoint, but also from a physical standpoint.”

On the Arkansas-Texas rivalry being underrated:

Sarkisian: “I think it might be underrated nationally. I don’t know if it’s going to get the same exposure that it would nationally. But I would tell you, internally it’s getting the same amount that’s needed, that it deserves. This rivalry has been going on for a long, long time. I was joking with the team this morning, I don’t know what Darrell Royal did to Arkansas back in the day, but they absolutely hate our guts and I think we learned that the first time around when we went there.

“You watch some of the clips of the end of that game and Joe Tessitore is talking about Arkansas hates Texas more than they like themselves, and he might be right. So, I think from our perspective, internally, we understand and value this rivalry. It’s great to have back, great for the state of Texas, great for the state of Arkansas.

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“I wish nationally it probably got the exposure that this thing deserves. There’s been some great games historically that these two teams have butted heads on. Obviously we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”

On Sarkisian’s first time facing a Bobby Petrino offense in 1996:

Sarkisian: “Man, you know what I remember in that game? And this might take a minute. So in that game, at the end of the first half, we were kind of in one of those situations where, how much time is on the clock? There might have been 15 or 20 seconds, we were out of timeouts. We took a timeout, we’re on the sideline.

“Here’s myself, here’s Norm Chow, our offensive coordinator, Robbie Bosco, everyone’s trying to decide what to call. There can be no aggreance on what was happening. And LaVell Edwards, rarely would he step in on the play calls, he’s very CEO-like. He said, ‘Well Sark, what do you want to run?’ And I can’t remember what I said, then he goes, ‘Well that’s what we’re running.’ Then he walked off and so it was the first time I got to call a play in my life.

“But the value in that, what I do remember is like, when you can really start to trust your players and the players feel your trust as a coach, you start to get more out of them.”

On Arkansas QB Taylen Green:

Sarkisian: “First of all, he’s huge. A guy his size and can run the way that he runs, sometimes you don’t think he’s covering as much ground as he is, but the stride length is so long that he’s able to cover ground. The explosive plays that he uses with his legs, his ability to make all the throws down the field.

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“Coach Petrino is an elite offensive play caller and offensive schemer, so they put him in really good positions when they’re in the zone-read game, the quarterback run game. They put him in really good positions for the shots down the field and the dropback pass game, so you have to defend a lot of offense. Then when you get a guy like him running it, it can be extremely challenging.”

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Ex Texas Longhorns 5-Star Johntay Cook Announces Transfer Commitment

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Ex Texas Longhorns 5-Star Johntay Cook Announces Transfer Commitment


Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Johntay Cook has found his next home.

And it is with a familiar foe.

According to reports from On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Cook has committed to the Washington Huskies, picking the Big Ten team over pursuit from Florida.

The Longhorns, of course, fell to the Huskies in the 2023 College Football Playoff semi-finals, coming up just short of a national title appearance as a result.

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The 5-foot-11, 175-pound speedster had originally been predicted to stay in the SEC and sign with the Florida Gators. That said, with the Huskies, he should have a tremendous opportunity to be the No. 1 receiver in the program.

Texas Longhorns receiver Johntay Cook II (1) makes a touchdown catch over UTSA safety Elijah Newell

Texas Longhorns receiver Johntay Cook II (1) makes a touchdown catch over UTSA safety Elijah Newell (22) during the game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. / Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cook II, a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, had just eight catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns this season. He had three catches for 35 yards and two scores in the win over UTSA on Sept. 14.

There was an expectation entering the 2024 season that Cook II would see an increased role after minimal usage as a freshman but has instead become buried on a depth chart that features Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, DeAndre Moore Jr., Silas Bolden, and true freshman standout Ryan Wingo.

Cook ranked as the No. 31 player in the nation, No. 3 wide receiver and No. 5 player in the state of Texas for his class. As a transfer, he ranks as the No. 44 player available in the portal and the No. 14 wide receiver.

Cook ends his Longhorns career with just 16 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns across two seasons.

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Other Texas Longhorns News:

MORE: Arizona State’s ‘Stud’ RB Cam Skattebo Has Attention of Texas Longhorns’ Defense

MORE: Texas Ex’s Could Play Big Role For Arizona State in Peach Bowl vs. Longhorns

MORE: Texas’ Steve Sarkisian Named Finalist for George Munger College Coach of the Year

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MORE: Texas Longhorns in Contention for Two Top 2026 Recruits

MORE: Urban Meyer Believes Texas Longhorns Beat Arizona State For One Reason



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Marshall takes on Texas State, seeks 5th straight home win

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Marshall takes on Texas State, seeks 5th straight home win


Associated Press

Texas State Bobcats (6-4) at Marshall Thundering Herd (5-6)

Huntington, West Virginia; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

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BOTTOM LINE: Marshall will try to keep its four-game home win streak intact when the Thundering Herd face Texas State.

The Thundering Herd have gone 4-2 at home. Marshall ranks ninth in the Sun Belt in team defense, giving up 66.7 points while holding opponents to 39.3% shooting.

The Bobcats are 4-1 on the road. Texas State has a 1-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

Marshall averages 71.8 points, 6.1 more per game than the 65.7 Texas State gives up. Texas State averages 3.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.6 fewer makes per game than Marshall allows.

The matchup Sunday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Aislynn Hayes is averaging 17.7 points for the Thundering Herd.

Jaylin Foster is scoring 10.0 points per game and averaging 7.1 rebounds for the Bobcats.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Court orders Biden admin to stop selling border wall materials, was 'illegally subverting' laws: Texas AG

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Court orders Biden admin to stop selling border wall materials, was 'illegally subverting' laws: Texas AG


The Biden administration on Friday said it would stop selling off materials slated to be used to build a border wall ahead of the incoming Trump administration, which has promised to bring back tougher efforts to combat illegal immigration.

The Biden administration confirmed to a court that it will agree to a court order preventing it from disposing of any further border wall materials over the next 30 days, allowing President-elect Trump to use those materials, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. 

The Biden administration has been auctioning off border wall parts since at least 2023, with parts listed for sale on auction marketplaces, after it abruptly shut down most border wall construction in 2021.

GOP SENATOR MOVES TO BLOCK FEDS FROM DISPOSING OF BORDER WALL MATERIALS AMID AUCTION BACKLASH 

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Piles of unused border fence sit at one of the border wall construction staging areas on the Johnson Ranch near Columbus, N.M., on Monday, April 12, 2021.  (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

President-elect Donald Trump then urged the Biden Administration to stop. Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump’s representatives. 

“We have successfully blocked the Biden Administration from disposing of any further border wall materials before President Trump takes office,” Paxton said. 

“This follows our major victory forcing Biden to build the wall, and we will hold his Administration accountable for illegally subverting our Nation’s border security until their very last day in power, especially where their actions are clearly motivated by a desire to thwart President-elect Trump’s immigration agenda,” he added. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS

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Paxton presser

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017.  (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

In a news release, Paxton’s office said that if the Biden administration disposes of border wall materials purchased with funds subject to an injunction in violation of a court order, “it would constitute unethical and sanctionable conduct and officials could be held in contempt of court.”

Texas has said it intends to do all it can to help the incoming administration build the wall at the southern border when Trump enters office.

The Biden administration abruptly ended border wall construction in January 2021 after 450 miles had been built in the first Trump administration. While border hawks say a wall is a critical tool to stopping illegal immigration, some Democrats have said a wall project is xenophobic and ineffective.

HOUSE OVERSIGHT REPUBLICANS INVESTIGATING BIDEN ADMIN’S SALE OF BORDER WALL PARTS: ‘WASTE AND ABUSE’ 

Trump at a part of the border wall

President Donald Trump tours a section of the border wall, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in San Luis, Ariz. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The auctioning off of border wall parts began in 2023 with parts listed for sale on GovPlanet.com, an online auction marketplace. The Defense Department’s logistics agency told media outlets that the excess material had been turned over for disposition by the Army Corps of Engineers and was now for sale.

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Those auctions have continued, with officials in Arizona telling Fox News Digital that auctions have been occurring weekly for some time. The practice drew attention last week when The Daily Wire published video showing unused wall parts being transported on flatbed trucks in Arizona, even though the materials could be used in the next Trump administration. 

Trump previously called Biden’s efforts to sell unused border wall materials at a discounted rate “almost a criminal act.”

Trump said the auctions would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to re-purchase the large steel bollards and concrete. He called on President Biden to “please stop selling the wall” and suggested his team would obtain a restraining order to halt the sales.

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“What they’re doing is really an act, it’s almost a criminal act,” he said. “They know we’re going to use it and if we don’t have it, we’re going to have to rebuild it, and it’ll cost double what it cost years ago, and that’s hundreds of millions of dollars because you’re talking about a lot of, a lot of wall.”

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Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw, Brooke Singman and Peter Pinedo contributed to this report. 



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