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For the first time since 1998, Texas and Oklahoma are meeting as unranked teams. For Brent Venables, who is preparing for his first game in the rivalry as a head coach, he hopes the Sooners treat it as any other week on the schedule.

“Hopefully we’re not more excited to play this one than somebody else,” Venables said at his weekly news conference. “We shouldn’t prepare for this game any different we do any other game. And if we are, if I allow that, then I’m not doing a good job of leading. We shouldn’t do extra this week or be more committed this week. We should be habitual in how we get ready to play.”

The timing of the game isn’t ideal, with the Sooners’ defense struggling, including giving up the second-most points by an unranked opponent in program history in a 55-24 loss to TCU on Saturday. The Horned Frogs ran up 668 yards of total offense and averaged 8.8 yards per carry on 41 rushing attempts.

And starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel is in the concussion protocol after taking a late hit to the head on a slide in the second quarter. Venables did not give any new update on Gabriel, and just said that three quarterbacks will be taking snaps this week in case Gabriel isn’t ready to play. Pitt transfer Davis Beville, who went 7 of 16 for 50 yards, replaced Gabriel against TCU, and General Booty, a junior-college transfer, made a brief appearance during the game as well, but did not attempt a pass. Venables said that true freshman Nick Evers is also in the mix this week.

Venables compared the adversity facing his team to last year’s Clemson team when he was serving as defensive coordinator. After six straight conference titles, the Tigers started 4-3, then rallied to a 10-3 finish.

“Everyone wanted to burn everything down. We’ve got the worst players and coaches in America in the history of the game,” Venables said. “But that team made a decision to get better and not allow themselves to be influenced by the outside noise, only be influenced by straining to do everything you can to improve every day.”

Oklahoma won’t be the only team coming into the game with a mystery at quarterback. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday that he won’t say whether Quinn Ewers, who suffered a shoulder sprain in Week 2 against Alabama, would play, or if Hudson Card, who went 21-27 for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a win over West Virginia on Saturday, would be the starter.

“My philosophy is pretty simple: Play the guy that I think gives us the best chance to be successful, whether he’s the starter, the backup or the hot hand,” Sarkisian continued. “Whoever I think is going to give us the best chance to be successful and put us in position to win the ballgame, that’s who we’ll play.”

The Sooners are 10-3 against the Longhorns since 2010, including last year’s 55-48 victory that marked the most points in the 117 years of the rivalry. The Longhorns had a 28-7 lead after the first quarter in Sarkisian’s first game in the matchup, but the Sooners mounted the second-largest comeback in school history.

Venables was an assistant for Oklahoma in 13 of these games previously. He said he has challenged the team to look forward to the game at noon Saturday in the Cotton Bowl rather than worrying about the Sooners’ recent struggles.

“I want the focus to be on what’s ahead,” Venables said. “You know, what’s in front of us right now, going down to Dallas and the challenge. That is where all of our focus is right now.”

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

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‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

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'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

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‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

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'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”

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