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August 27, 2023

College football preview: Meet UH's starting QB

Your daily sports update from the Houston Chronicle.

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Texas Sports Nation's Daily Playbook

Today's starting lineup

The college football season kicks off in earnest this week, and UH will be playing in the Big 12 at long last.

The Cougars have a new quarterback, Donovan Smith, and he's quite familiar with the league after playing at Texas Tech.

Joseph Duarte has a profile of Smith and how he has worked to fit in at a new school.

Up the road in College Station, the Aggies and Jimbo Fisher are again the subject of great expectations and failures to meet them. Jerome Solomon looks at why Jimbo's seat isn't hotter. Brent Zwerneman explains how the doubters are driving the A&M coach.

And in Austin, it is the last year in the Big 12 for Texas. Can Steve Sarkisian lead them to a final conference title?

With the national title game being played in NRG, Brent Zwerneman takes a look at each of the 13 FBS teams in the state and if we could see any of them in Houston in January.

Turning to baseball, the Astros bounced back from a tough loss against the Tigers. Hunter Brown tried a new delivery and the offense awoke for 14 hits.

The Needville Little League's quest for a U.S. championship came up short against a team from El Segundo, Calif. It was Needville's first loss of the World Series and put it in the third-place game today against Taipei.

The Texans are in New Orleans to play the Saints. It's another chance for players on the bubble to make an impression. Jonathan M. Alexander describes life on the fringe.

And at the U.S. gymnastics championships, Asher Hong won the men's title. He is the youngest champion in over 10 years. Danielle Lerner profiled the former Cypress Academy star earlier this week.

Stat of the day: 129. Games out of 130 that Alex Bregman has played this season, tops in the majors.

Reid Laymance HeadshotReid Laymance
Sports editor
reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com
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College Football Preview

University of Houston quarterback Donovan Smith poses for a portrait on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in Houston

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Pairing of UH, transfer QB Donovan Smith looks like ideal fit

The former Texas Tech starter, whose victories included a double-OT win over the Cougars last year, made it a preseason mission to bond with new teammates. 


Astros / MLB

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Photo by: Lon Horwedel/Associated Press

Hunter Brown debuts a new delivery

Hunter Brown tried something new and held the Tigers to two runs in five innings with nine strikeouts.


Texans / NFL

Darius Joiner, who played at three colleges including Duke, has been cut and re-signed by the Texans in the past four months. Sunday's preseason finale in New Orleans represents a final audition of sorts for him as a player on the roster bubble.

Photo by: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

'You have to be gritty': Inside life for players on NFL bubble

The Texans' preseason finale Sunday in New Orleans is a last chance for players on the bubble to make an impression. They describe what it's like to fight for a job daily.


Little League

El Segundo, Calif.'s Brody Brooks (14) is greeted by Needville, Texas' Dayln Martin (6) as he rounds second base after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of the United States Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Photo by: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

Needville falls in U.S. title game

California hit two home runs to beat Needville in the United States championship game. Needville will play in the tournament's third-place game Sunday.


Gymnastics

Asher Hong of Stanford runs toward the vault during a podium training day for the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

Photo by: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

The boy who would be Spider-Man now an Olympic hopeful

Once so small he struggled to clear his vaults, 19-year-old Asher Hong, who trained in Houston, won the all-around title at U.S. championships.


Dynamo / Dash

Houston Dash forward Michelle Alozie (22) celebrates after scoring against the Orlando Pride during the second half of an NWSL match at PNC Stadium on Friday, June 3, 2022, in Houston. The Dash won 5-0.

Photo by: Godofredo A. Vásquez/Staff Photographer

Michelle Alozie's equalizer gives Dash a draw with Current

The Dash, currently ninth in the NWSL standings with 20 points, are hoping to advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

  • Dynamo 3, Real Salt Lake 0: Houston defeated Real Salt Lake on Saturday, snapping the Dynamo's 11-match winless streak in the series and ending RSL's nine-match unbeaten run.

High School Football

Katy tight end Colton Sanders, left, celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter of a non-district high school football game at Rhodes Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Katy.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman/Staff Photographer

Katy holds on to beat Clear Springs

The Tigers led 27-3 after the third quarter before a spirited Chargers flourish fell short. 


Worth a read

• 49ers duck reckoning over Trey Lance for now but there could be hell to pay. (San Francisco Chronicle)

• Caleb Williams is ready for his encore. (Washington Post)

• Overtime Elite has been an unconventional, yet successful, route to NBA. (Boston Globe)

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