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NEW ORLEANS — Texas players came up with a “Revenge Tour” theme headed into this season, specifically making it a point to take down the teams that beat them last year.

The tour started with Alabama in September, then featured wins over TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. One final stop remains: Washington, the fifth team to beat Texas in 2022. But the stakes are exponentially higher than in their matchup in the Alamo Bowl last December.

Texas and Washington play in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Monday night with a national championship game spot on the line.

“Obviously this is for a national championship, this rules it all, but that’s been the theme of this year is we obviously wanted revenge,” Texas edge rusher Barryn Sorrell said Thursday during the first media availability of the week. “It’s for all the guys that were here during that 5-7 year. We took some very tough losses and we took some very tough criticism behind it as well, so taking those moments and using it as fuel to get these wins.”

Indeed, coach Steve Sarkisian has led the Longhorns to their first CFP appearance after three tough years building the program. Texas went 5-7 in 2021, then 8-5 last year — going 3-3 down the stretch. But with veterans returning across the board, players knew that they could take this program even higher — and used all the losses a year ago to push them there.

The transformation has been evident beyond quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has completed more than 70% of his passes and thrown for more than 3,000 yards. Perhaps most emblematic of the turnaround this year has been the way Texas has played upfront, starting with its defensive line.

No longer willing to accept being just good enough, that unit played with a cohesiveness the players credit with not only another year in the system but playing together. As a result, Texas has dictated games with Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat setting the tone. Sweat won the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in football, but if you ask him, he should have been a finalist for the Heisman after physically imposing his will week after week.

If there is one spot to point to that could be the difference in their matchup this year, this would be it.

Especially since Washington’s unit won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best offensive line.

“I’m not concerned at all,” Murphy said. “I give credit to those guys. They’re a good group of guys, great unit. But at the end of the day, it’s not about what they do. It’s about what we do. They look good on tape. I’m not taking nothing away from those guys. Come January 1, it’s going to be a great battle.”

Sweat added, “Let me see how I can say this. They’re a great group of guys, the O-line. I mean, they won awards. They’re just awards to me. You know what I mean? And they’ve got to face guys like us, so we’ll see how it goes down.”

Sweat also described Washington as “just another O-line. They’re here to win, just like we’re here to win. I mean, like I said, everybody will see Monday.”

During his first media availability later Thursday, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was asked whether the Texas defensive line reminded him of anyone the Huskies had played this season. He bristled at the suggestion that Texas had the better front and defended his offensive line.

“I’m not gonna lie, the D -ine is good, but at the same time, they haven’t played our O-line,” Penix said. Their whole defense, they do a great job, and they definitely play good ball, but we’re not playing the 49ers D-line or the Eagles D-line, so we’ll be good.”

Asked the key difference between the defensive front they played last year in the Alamo Bowl, Penix said, “I don’t know. It’s different seeing it on film and then being in the game. You’re watching a game against Texas Tech, K-State, all the teams they’ve played, and I don’t feel like those teams have the offensive line that we have. We’ll have to see when it comes game day.”

Washington left tackle Troy Fautanu did not want to get into the back and forth, saying only, “One thing that I think of when I go into games like this is: Respect all, but fear none. Their defensive line is really good, but we’re going to be ready. Just trust me.”

Texas has improved its run defense from a year ago, allowing just 80.8 yards per game, third best in the country. It also has 32 sacks on the season and in their game against Washington a year ago, one thing stood out: Texas had zero sacks on Penix.

Of course, Penix is hard to bring down — he has been sacked only 11 times this season. “That’s definitely been an emphasis, to get to him,” Sorrell said.

The challenge is one Texas has embraced. Facing a team that beat them last year has only increased their desire to show just how much further the defense has come from a season ago.

“It’s going to be a totally different ballgame this year,” Murphy said. “I feel like we’re a way better team. It’s a totally different defense from last year. This is what we wanted, so having this opportunity we’re going to try and take advantage of it for sure.”

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.

He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.

Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.

Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.

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A’s Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

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A's Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.

Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.

“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”

Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.

His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.

The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.

Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.

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Mets recall Acuna from Triple-A, DFA Jankowski

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Mets recall Acuna from Triple-A, DFA Jankowski

BALTIMORE — The New York Mets recalled 23-year-old utility man Luisangel Acuna from Triple-A Syracuse before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

The brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., Luisangel Acuña went 13-for-45 (.286) for Syracuse after the Mets optioned him in late June.

Capable of playing second base, shortstop or the outfield, Acuna had batted .241 in 65 games before going to the minors.

“He was a big part of this team the first couple of months,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters. “We got to a point where we felt like, ‘Hey, let’s get him some everyday playing time. ‘And now it’s time for him to be back up here, continuing to help us win baseball games.”

In a corresponding move, the Mets designated outfielder Travis Jankowski for assignment.

Acuna was on the bench for New York’s first game of the doubleheader.

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