AUSTIN – It’s been a whirlwind week for Texas after knocking off top-ranked Ohio State and moving up to No. 1.

The Longhorns open SEC play next week at Tennesee, but first, there is the little matter of the UTSA Roadrunners who come to Austin on Saturday night.

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In College Station, the Aggies are opening SEC play against Knoxville, and it’s the much-anticipated Lane Kiffin and LSU vs. Ole Miss.

Columnists Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls tackle the week’s top 10 questions:

1. What does Texas need to work on against UTSA in its last tuneup before starting SEC play at Knoxville?

BOHLS: It’s pretty clear that it’s the Longhorns’ running game that needs to be tapped because it ranks a lowly 88th nationally and had just 35 yards on the ground in the first half against the Buckeyes. The Roadrunners are 2-0 but have proven to be very vulnerable in their rush defense, ranking 133rd in the country after allowing Texas State to run for 289 yards and a 5.8 yard average.

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GOLDEN: The Longhorns have to tighten up that run game. Sure, they got after Ohio State in the fourth quarter in that Central Texas heat with the Midwesterners’ tongues dragging the ground, but the run was comatose for the first three quarters, one week after they averaged only 4.4 yards per carry against overmatched Texas State. It has to be more consistent throughout if Texas is going special places this season.

Nine things and one crazy prediction

2. Should Steve Sarkisian pull all his starters at halftime if the Longhorns go up by 21?

BOHLS: Won’t happen. Now if it were 28 points or even more, I’d play the first-teamers for a series or two in the third quarter and then lift ’em to watch the rest of a 52-17 beatdown.

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GOLDEN: Not a chance. I expect the mainline guys to remain in the game through at least half of the third quarter because the Horns are still trying to develop winning habits, regardless of the competition. If they’re up 42-7 midway through the third, then it will be time to pull out the big dogs and get them ready for Knoxville. It’s also important to continue to get backup quarterback K.J. Lacey some live reps in case Arch goes dinged. UTSA won’t pose a threat. Horns win, 58-10.

HEAR ME OUT: Which Texas college football team do you like to hate the most?

3. Could Kentucky surprise Texas A&M at Kyle Field?

BOHLS: Uh, no. Oh, the Wildcats could score, but the Aggies defense has been overwhelming so far. It scored on a pair of pick sixes last week against Arizona State. Remember, Alabama outscored Kentucky 32-0 in the second half. I see A&M winning 28-14.

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GOLDEN: It’s not happening. Will Stein will eventually bring a winner to Lexington, but this is the year for growing pains. The Aggies haven’t played lights out just yet, but they will put on a strong performance this week. Quarterback Marcel Reed has to remember his legs are his friend. When he runs, this offense goes to another level. The Aggies win, 34-24.

4. Does Lane Kiffin come into Oxford and add insult to Ole Miss’s injured feelings?

BOHLS:

He does not. LSU does have a big edge in manpower and coaching acumen although Sam Leavitt’s four picks are tied for the most in the country. So the Rebels get their revenge when Trinidad Chambliss, who threw only three interceptions all of last year, and No. 1 SEC rusher Kewan Lacey both go off for a 32-28 victory.

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GOLDEN: LSU has the potential to be monstrous, if talented but nicked quarterback Sam Leavitt cuts down on the turnovers. He has two touchdowns and four interceptions through two games. The Grove’s prodigal son would love nothing more than to hang a 50 burger on his former employer but the Rebels and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss have an explosive offense as well. Get ready for a shootout with LSU taking a 41-35 win.

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5. What will decide the SMU-Louisville game?

BOHLS: Isaac Brown goes off. The stud running back, whom Texas courted in the offseason, has struggled so far, averaging just 3.3 yards a carry, but shows up in a big way as Kevin Jennings will throw two picks and the Cardinals win 27-24 to show Miami it’s not the only power in the ACC.

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GOLDEN: Turnovers. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is a gunslinger but with that arm talent comes the tendency to force it at times. His two interceptions in the opening win over Florida State made that game closer than it should have been. Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz has Louisville rolling with 639 yards passing with four touchdowns and no picks so far. This has the feel of a Louisville upset.

6. What’s your upset of a Top 25 team?

BOHLS: Not much to choose from with a lot of blowouts expected. I’ll say a 2-0 West Virginia team stuns No. 25 Virgina by containing Cavs running quarterback Beau Pribula and unleashing former OU quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who has run for three scores, passed for three and is completing 76.2 % of his throws without an interception.

GOLDEN: I just spoke on it. In what could be the most entertaining game of the weekend, I’m taking Louisville to turn back No. 16 SMU, 38-35.

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7. Who is your most pleasant surprise and biggest disappointment?

BOHLS: I’d say Mississippi State (2-0) is my biggest surprise team, jumping to a 2-0 record after clipping Minnesota. Without question, no top 10 team has been more disappointing than Oregon, which barely beat Boise State and got embarrassed in Stillwater by Oklahoma State, but Oklahoma’s right there.

GOLDEN:

Biggest surprise has to be Mississippi State. They’re tons better than the team that started 4-0 before going 1-8 down the stretch to miss out on its first non-losing season since the great Mike Leach led them to an 8-4 finish in 2022. Disappointing? The Michigan Wolverines, who used stoppage time – who knew that existed in American football? – to remain undefeated in what was one of the biggest gaffes in modern history. Western Michigan won that game, 12-7. Michigan is perpetrating a fraud as the No. 19 team in the country with No. 24 Oklahoma, who pulled a no-show in Ann Arbor last week, not far behind.

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8. Whom should Florida State start vetting as its next head coach when Mike Norvell gets axed?

BOHLS: If I were the AD – and that job is already open – I’d circle SMU’s Rhett Lashlee and try to pry him out of Dallas. He’d probably say no, so then I’d go hard after Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, who just happens to be a former Seminoles offensive coordinator.

GOLDEN: Florida State legend Deion Sanders comes to mind but I worry about this health. I would place a call to Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, whose $4 million buyout after Dec. 1is peanuts. Dillingham, 36, was Norvell’s former graduate assistant at Memphis before working as his offensive coordinator in Tallahassee.

9. Is Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor the next LaNorris Sellers or Trinidad Chambliss?

BOHLS:

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 I’ll say he’s much closer to Chambliss. This kid can play. Taylor is a 6-4, 230-pound quarterback who has scored seven touchdowns and averaged 363 yards a game in total offense.

GOLDEN:

He’s definitely more Trinidad than LaNorris. Huge upside. Taylor is lifting this program and is playing his way into dark horse Heisman Trophy contention but sadly, coach Jeff Lebby will struggle to keep him in StarkVegas. The NIL money is so big now.

10. Which commercials are better, Dr Pepper or AFLAC?

BOHLS: No question. Dr Pepper wins going away. I did dig Ben Affleck in the latest plug for the insurance company. What took ’em so long to sign him on. But very weary of Nick Saban and Prime Time because they’re just not funny and no competition for the Boz.

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GOLDEN: It’s not even close. DP’s Fansville commercials have become a phenomenon and continue to push the envelope with Oklahoma legend Brian Bosworth leading the way as the crusty town sheriff. They keep it interesting by subtly poking fun at real issues in college football like the transfer portal and questionable officiating.

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This article originally published at A familiar problem for UT, A&M’s SEC opener and Kiffin vs. Ole Miss | A Texas take on college football.

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed the unlikely comfort food he would turn to during sleepless nights in the middle of Test matches, recalling how the pressure of his favourite format often left him nervous and craving a late-night snack.Rohit, who played 67 Tests for India between 2013 and 2024, opened up about his midnight cravings on his television show, ‘Family Full House with Rohit Sharma’. He revealed that his mother’s homemade banana wafers became his go-to comfort food during those long nights on Test match duty.“Haan, hoti toh hai. Main jhooth nahi bolunga, lekin jab bhi main Test match khelta tha, andar bahut nervousness hoti thi. Toh Test match ke time khaas karke, kyunki yeh mera favourite format tha, Test match khelna,” Rohit said.The former opener called time on his Test career last year after scoring 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score in the format was 212.

‘Nervousness mein mujhe neend nahi aati thi’

Rohit explained that the demands of Test cricket often made it difficult for him to switch off after a day’s play.“Kyunki Test match khelna aasaan format nahi hai. Koi bhi format aasaan nahi hota, lekin Test match ke apne alag-alag challenges hote the. Toh Test match ke liye main hamesha nervous rehta tha aur nervousness mein mujhe neend nahi aati thi, toh raat bhar main jaaga rehta tha,” he said.Those sleepless nights, in turn, often brought with them the urge to eat something.“Toh aap jaage rehte ho toh kuch na kuch khaane ka mann karta tha. Toh main hamesha mere saath mera comfort food rakhta tha, jo meri mummy hamesha bana ke deti thi, woh tha banana wafers,” Rohit said.The snack came with a personal touch. Rohit revealed that the banana wafers were made by his mother, who used a baking method rather than frying them.

His mother’s homemade midnight snack

“Woh fried nahi hota tha. Meri mummy ke kuch tareeke the, woh bake karti thi usko aur woh main hamesha apne saath leke chalta tha. Toh kabhi bhi mann karta tha toh usse kha leta tha,” he said.For a batter who spent years dealing with the mental and physical demands of the longest format, the simple homemade snack offered a familiar taste of home during the intensity of Test cricket.

Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a two-time Asian Games gold medalist, was initially supposed to be India’s flagbearer alongside Manu Bhaker, but was replaced last-minute. “Technical issues” was cited as the official reason by the IOA.

A PTI report suggested that Toor had to be replaced as he did not receive his official kit in time, which will force him to miss the event.

Arsenal are “open” to allowing teen sensation Max Dowman to leave the club on loan, if the circumstances are right.

The 16-year-old is back in the spotlight this week after he marked his first appearance of the season with a brace in Arsenal’s 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich.

Mikel Arteta is keen to protect the youngster and wants him to continue to be involved in a squad which is probably the strongest in the Premier League.

However, the Spaniard accepted in his news conference on Friday that the Gunners will evaluate “every six months” the possibility of Dowman leaving on loan.

Luton manager and former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is said to have spoken to Arteta about the prospect of bringing Dowman to his League One side on a temporary deal.

Dowman will be eligible to complete a loan switch when he turns 17 on December 31, with the transfer window opening the following day.

And Arteta said: “We haven’t really listened to any of the possibilities because we were crystal clear that we wanted to have Max in the squad, that we wanted him to be part of the pre-season and then start to see where we are from there.

“We will evaluate every six months where we are and what is the best thing for him to do and then make the right decision.

“It depends on a lot of factors. What he needs, and what the team needs as well, the availability we have in the squad, the minutes that he is playing and the qualities of those minutes. We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and to impact the team.”

Another of the club’s prospects, Ethan Nwaneri, joined Marseille on a loan deal last January. Arteta said that Nwaneri, 18 at the time, needed to “swim with the sharks”. After he returned from France Nwaneri was sent out on loan again, to Borussia Dortmund, for this season.

Asked if Dowman might be “too young” to go out on loan, Arteta continued: “There have been many cases of that age when they have gone out and been successful and others not.

“In my particular case, I was 17 when I went to Paris (St Germain). It depends on the atmosphere that you find there, and how much the coach believes in you as to whether you go there just to be part of a squad or play minutes. Which country, it depends. But now he is in a good place, let’s keep him here.”

Dowman will be pushing for a first Premier League outing of the campaign at Brighton on Saturday as Arsenal bid to retain their 100 per cent record.

But when asked if the teenager has been “knocking on his door” to play, Arteta replied: “The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office.

“Then you just leave out the arguments. When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that’s the best way, that’s the best signal for the manager. That’s the best signal for his team-mates, too.

“And what Max did the other day, alongside all the other players as well that haven’t played many minutes this season, was really impressive.”

Pawan Sehrawat and Manu Bhaker (Image credit: X

NEW DELHI: India kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat could not sleep after learning that he would carry the Indian flag at the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony.Sehrawat was named India’s co-flag-bearer alongside double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker after a late change. Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who was earlier named as a flag-bearer, was ruled out due to technical issues.The 2022 Asian Games gold-medal-winning captain said the honour made him so excited that he stayed awake through the night.

‘I did not sleep last night’

Sehrawat said he still had enough energy to carry the Indian flag despite not sleeping.“It is a very proud moment for me. We have a practice schedule. Normally, I practise according to the schedule set by our coaches or the IOA. I did not sleep last night. Today, I went to the gym in the morning and came here.“I have been awake for the whole night. But I still have the energy to carry my nation’s flag in my hands. It is a proud situation for me,” Sehrawat said in an IOA video.

Only elder brother knew

Sehrawat said he did not tell anyone about the news immediately. He only informed his elder brother, Ankur, after receiving a call from him during the night.“I told everyone in the morning (flag-bearer news). I did not tell anyone, not even my close ones. I told everyone in the morning. I only informed my elder brother, Ankur. I texted him last night because he gave me a call in the night,” he highlighted.

‘I will go with the Olympic medallist’

Sehrawat will share the honour with Manu Bhaker, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics.The kabaddi star said he was proud to walk alongside the decorated shooter at the opening ceremony.“I have met her before. She is a very motivated athlete. It is a proud moment for me as well. I will go with the Olympic medallist as the flag bearer.“It is a good moment for me to go with such a big athlete. When I met her for the first time, she gave a very motivating speech. She came to meet the entire Indian team. Today will be our second meeting,” he said.

LSU and Ole Miss will play one of the year’s most hyped games in Oxford on Saturday.

Is Lane Kiffin playing games with Sam Leavitt’s injury status?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin makes predictions for a couple of big Big 12 games.

ASU takes on Kansas (in London) while West Virginia seeks a statement win against No. 25 Virginia.

Northwestern over Colorado? Arizona State over Kansas?

Spencer wraps today’s show, laying out his best bets for the week after going 4-1 with last week’s picks.

00:00 Discussing Lane Kiffin’s play style
06:08 Improving the secondary’s performance
07:28 Discussing quarterback Sam Leavitt
15:56 Overseas college football impact
19:11 West Virginia’s impressive rushing stats
24:58 NC State coach on the hot seat
26:49 Kamario Taylor’s first SEC game
30:32 Discussing Louisville vs. SMU game

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

The Ineos founder has spoken just months after apologising for comments suggesting that the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes the UK is ‘on the slide’ and that politicians must act to deal with ‘immigration and benefits problems’. Ratcliffe, whose petrochemical giant Ineos owns a large stake in United, landed himself in hot water in February after claiming the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’.

Ratcliffe apologised for those comments, stating: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth. My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.

“My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.”

Greater Manchester Mayor at the time, now Prime Minister, Andy Burnham called out Ratcliffe, describing the comments as ‘inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory’. United’s Muslim Supporters’ Club also criticised the billionaire, stating: “It was inflammatory, it was divisive and it was just totally uncalled for.”

Since then, Ratcliffe has kept out of the political spotlight, until now. Speaking to the BBC in Denmark at the launch of the EU’s first carbon capture and storage system (CCS), he said: “Unfortunately at the moment, the UK is on the slide and it is quite difficult to see how we arrest it.

“Ultimately we need two things, we need politicians who are tough enough to deal with some very difficult problems, and we know what the problems are, and we need politicians who will make decisions which are good for the country, not good for themselves and their party. We haven’t had one of those for a very long time.

“Nobody is tough enough to deal with the immigration problem, nobody is tough enough to deal with the benefits problem, but somebody needs to do it because otherwise it ends in a bad place, doesn’t it.”

Ratcliffe added: “In America they applaud people who create wealth. Unfortunately the UK has got a bit of a green eye towards wealth at the moment.”

Last Sunday, United fans protested against Ratcliffe and the Glazer family’s ownership of the club. This was after the club stripped 685 fans of their season tickets, and sent warnings or sanctions to a further 464 supporters, to crack down on what the club describes as ‘ticket touting’.

“I hope Jim Ratcliffe’s watching this now, because my message to that man is sell this football club,” Steve Crompton, spokesperson for The 1958 told the Manchester Evening News last weekend.

The 73-year-old Failsworth billionaire was a supporter of Brexit during the EU referendum. However, since 2020, he has been a tax resident in Monaco. He concluded that ‘things would have to get better,’ before he returned to the UK.

Craig Williams, distinguished as the only jockey to have achieved Australian racing’s ‘Super Slam’—the prestigious Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper, and The Everest—has recorded victories in races of greater magnitude than the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Despite this, the highly decorated rider has consistently placed significant importance on the 1400-metre handicap, scheduled for Caulfield this Saturday.

His father, Allan, was successful in the race, formerly known as the Marlboro Cup, aboard Private Talk in 1979, and later trained Black Rogue to win the VicHealth Cup in 1993.

This deep family connection made Williams’ first win in the race aboard Barely A Moment in 2005 a particularly cherished moment.

“Every race we win is special, but because there is some family history through this race, a bit of lineage, then it is really quite special,” Williams remarked.

“Dad won it as a jockey then he trained the winner, Black Rouge, and I was a young kid at the time, dreaming of being a jockey, and I remember being part of that process.

“I’m only where I am now because of my upbringing and the people support me, so it is special.”

With a remarkable eight victories already in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the 49-year-old jockey is now in contention to match an Australian Group 1 record aboard Lady Shenandoah this weekend.

The only jockey to have secured more wins in a specific Group 1 race is George Moore, who achieved nine victories in the George Main Stakes, now referred to as the King Charles III Stakes.

Williams is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, having secured victory aboard Kimochi in 2024 and then Sepals last year.

This achievement marks the third time Williams has won the race in successive years. His initial back-to-back wins were with Rewaaya, followed by wins on Response and Toorak Toff in 2010/11.

His other successes in the event came via Stratum Star in 2015 and Behemoth in 2020.

Behemoth set the metric weight-carrying record by carrying 60kg to victory, while Rewaaya won with 51kg. Williams’ ability to ride at 52kg last year highlights how his capacity to make weight affords him more opportunities in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes than many other riders.

“It gives me a great opportunity every year to try and find the right horse,” Williams explained.

“But you still need the right horse, the right-handicapped horse.

“I’ve drawn great barriers, bad barriers, and I’ve been lucky enough, with my manager, that those opportunities have made us be very successful in the race.”

Lady Shenandoah, commencing from the inside barrier—the same position from which Rewaaya achieved victory—will carry 56kg for trainer Chris Waller. Williams considers this weight to be advantageous for the five-year-old mare, given her three Group 1 victories.

The daughter of Snitzel has not registered a win since her most recent elite-level triumph, the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in March of the previous year. Nevertheless, she heads to Caulfield following a strong first-up fourth place in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), won by the champion mare Autumn Glow.

“Her run first-up was excellent and she’s very well off in the handicap I would say with 56 kilos, only four kilos off the minimum, being a three-time Group 1 winner,” Williams stated.

“She’s the right sort of horse to be winning this year’s Sir Rupert Clarke.”

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes stands as one of two $1 million Group 1 races at Caulfield this Saturday, sharing the platform with the weight-for-age Underwood Stakes (1800m), a race Williams also won last year aboard Sir Delius.

He is without a ride in this year’s Underwood Stakes, thus preventing a third consecutive win in that event, and he expresses a dislike for watching any Group 1 race from the sidelines.

Williams has amassed 90 Group 1 victories across six countries, and he is not alone in his anticipation of him reaching the century mark before his career concludes.

“Dr David Young, who puts me back together when I get smashed up, he says, ‘I’ve got you back together because I want you to get those 100 Group 1s’,” Williams shared.

“He’s a big driving force and that is one of our goals, to get to 100 Group 1s.

“Then we’ll reassess and make another goal later on.”

Lady Shenandoah is favoured to propel Williams closer to his century goal, currently priced at $4.80, with Regal Award ($7), Angel Capital ($7.50), and Evaporate ($8) also being prominent contenders.

Check out the latest Australian betting sites for the best racing odds on the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.