Local news and fun, every day 6am.
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed
Game Preview: Longhorns do-or-die against Oklahoma State Cowboys

The up-and-down Longhorn season will face a tough test Saturday, as Texas will travel to Stillwater to face arguably the best team in the conference—undefeated #6 Oklahoma State.
This season has been one of the most turbulent college football seasons ever for the Texas Longhorns. Between COVID-19 precautions, "The Eyes of Texas" controversy, and the lack of consistency and discipline on the field, Longhorn fans didn't think this season could get much worse. With Head Coach Tom Herman on the "uncomfortably warm" seat, the news of #1 quarterback and recruit in the 2022 class Quinn Ewers de-committing from Texas late Wednesday night makes Saturday's game all that more important for Herman and his staff.
https://t.co/q0aBYAKhLT— Quinn Ewers (@Quinn Ewers) 1603937386.0
The Texas offense has been running efficiently under Herman and Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich. Senior Quarterback Sam Ehlinger has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for seven more. Ehlinger is second in the conference in passing yards and the Longhorns offense is second in yards per game trailing only 3-2 Oklahoma Sooners. Texas averages the most points per game in the conference, but all those pretty offensive stats don't tell the whole story with the Longhorns.
The 3-2 Longhorns have looked like one of the most inconsistent teams not only in the Big 12, but college football. The defense is bottom third in the conference allowing 32 points per game and being a middle of the road defense against the rush and the passing attacks of opposing teams. That's why fans have pinpointed this weekend's game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys as the do-or-die game for Herman and his Longhorns.
Literally the only reason I still trusted Herman was the Ewers Commitment and that's gone. If they lose to OSU fire… https://t.co/uDrgB7wkKM— Disappointed (@Disappointed) 1603988389.0
For Texas, they face an Oklahoma State defense that is statically the best in the conference. They have been able to hold opponents under 12 points per game on average and have shot up the AP Polls to #6 in the country after their win over Iowa State last weekend.
The defense, lead by senior linebacker Malcom Rodriguez and junior cornerback Kolby Harvell- Peel have a balanced defensive scheme, one that Head Coach Mike Gundy has built up over the past few seasons. It also helps that the Cowboys have one of the more experienced defensive units in the conference—experience that breeds confidence.
On the offensive side of the ball, Oklahoma State is one of the rare Big 12 teams that has done more running the ball than throwing it. Junior running back Chubba Hubbard is one of the more difficult backs to bring down in the conference because of his size and ability to allude tacklers. Sophomore quarterback Spencer Sander is more of a game manager than a big arm quarterback like the Longhorns defense has struggled with earlier in the season, so if the Texas defensive line can stop the run game they will have a good chance of keeping this one close.
Oklahoma State won four of the last five matchups with Texas until the Longhorns snapped the streak last year. Th… https://t.co/5qexIRCjJI— Winsipedia (@Winsipedia) 1603980600.0
Oklahoma State has won seven of the last ten meetings against the Longhorns and have a roster full of talented players, most of who are from Texas and were never even recruited by Herman or the 'Horns. This is a game of an undefeated Cowboys vs. a Longhorns roster that is playing for a chance at the Big 12 championship, or at least for their head coaches job.
The Longhorns will play at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on FOX.
- Excitement, tensions build as Austin expects 18k fans at first Texas ... ›
- Longhorns fans will mask up at home games University of Texas ... ›
- Texas Longhorns jump into AP's top 10 after Saturday win - austonia ›
- Texas Longhorns football coach Tom Herman job on the line after ... ›
- Game Preview: Longhorns face off against #13 Cyclones - austonia ›
- Game Preview: Longhorns face off against #13 Cyclones - austonia ›
- Game Preview: Longhorns face off against #13 Cyclones - austonia ›
Popular
Austin FC kept rival FC Dallas to a draw Saturday night as it pulled off a 2-2 comeback. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Despite a 2-0 deficit, there was a pot of gold for Austin FC after all as it celebrated its annual Pride Night with rainbows and a 2-2 comeback draw to FC Dallas Saturday night.
After three FC Dallas losses last season, the Dallas derby draw marks the first time Austin FC has tied against its Copa Texas rival. Austin continues to edge over FC Dallas as it sits at 3rd in the MLS West.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the match:
A somber start
¡Ya Basta! Enough! End Gun Violence. #uvaldestrong
— Los Verdes (@LosVerdesATX) June 26, 2022
📷 @arubiophotospic.twitter.com/3PiVdTPtik
Decked out in colorful hues for LBGTQ+ Pride, Verde fans started the match on a somber note as they held up banners to take a stand against gun violence before the match.
As the national anthem began, fans held up banners with the names of each child that was killed in the Uvalde school shooting and a plea to "end gun violence."
The supporters' section was also dotted with Pride flags and a "Bans off Our Bodies" banner in protest of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
(Claire Partain/Austonia)
FC Dallas earns a 2-0 lead
Paul Arriola is there to put it away and put @FCDallas ahead! pic.twitter.com/Z4AMmM6lp3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
That sober tone continued onto the pitch. With midfielder Daniel Pereira's absence due to a red card, the Verde and Black lost two goals to FC Dallas by the 70th minute of play.
FC Dallas played it sneaky for the first half of the match, giving Austin FC plenty of room to hold possession as it waited to strike on a Verde error. That mentality proved dangerous for Austin as Dallas' Paul Arriola took advantage of Brad Stuver's deflection to score the first goal of the night in the 57th minute of play.
Dallas struck once more as Brandon Servant pushed past the Verde line to score the second goal of the match.
#DTID double their lead!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
The substitute Brandon Servania with a fine finish within five minutes of coming on. 💥 pic.twitter.com/IZm0YsPxG5
Austin FC strikes back
Sebastián Driussi pulls one back!#AustinFC are still in this one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yoi0x768jb
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
But energy quickly returned to Austin's favor thanks to Designated Player Sebastian Driussi, who scooted past several FC Dallas defenders alongside Moussa Djitte to snag an unlikely first goal for Austin.
A full Verde comeback
Late drama in this Texas Derby!@AustinFC ties it up, Danny Hoesen with the diving header. 😱 pic.twitter.com/Jk2f4fIEXG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 26, 2022
Austin's subs proved deadly as momentum returned to the home team toward the end of the match. A well-placed cross from Nick Lima—and a diving header from a fresh-legged Danny Hoesen—helped the team secure the draw with a second Verde goal in the 84th minute of play.
Hoesen, who was Austin's first starting striker last season, has now scored two goals with the team after a yearlong injury stuck him on the bench.
- First-ever match at Q2 Stadium as the USWNT takes on Nigeria ... ›
- Shop queer at these 7 LGBTQ-owned businesses all Pride Month long ›
- Austin FC sees 'Fright Night' in 2-1 FC Dallas loss as 'Best in Texas ... ›
(Bob Daemmrich)
Hours following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion, on Friday, about 1,000 people gathered in Republic Square with signs calling for change.
The rally, organized by the group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights Texas, started at the federal courthouse on Republic Square on Friday at 5 p.m. before the crowd marched to the Texas Capitol. More protests are expected to ensue over the weekend.
People showed up with all types of signs like Mindy Moffa holding up, "Keep your filthy laws off my silky drawers."
Austin joined cities across the country that saw protests for a women's right to an abortion after the ruling.
According to a recent UT poll, 78% of Texas voters support abortion access in most cases.
Sabrina Talghade and Sofia Pellegrini held up signs directed at Texas laws. A Texas trigger law will ban all abortions from the moment of fertilization, starting 30 days after the ruling. When state legislators passed the trigger law last summer, it also passed laws for more protection of firearms, including the right to open carry without a permit.
Lili Enthal of Austin yells as around 1,000 Texans marched to the Texas Capitol.
From the Texas Capitol, Zoe Webb lets her voice be heard against the Supreme Court ruling.
- Most restrictive abortion law in U.S. affects Texas women - austonia ›
- U.S. Supreme Court rules there's no right to abortion, setting up ... ›
- Vela plans resolution to prevent police from investigating abortion ... ›
- Texas' growth may be slowed by abortion ban, poll reports - austonia ›
- 78% of Texas voters think abortion should be allowed in some form ... ›