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Today's starting lineup
One of Houston's most remarkable single-season sports turnarounds is complete. A year after finishing with just three wins, the Texans ended a three-season playoff drought by beating the Colts in a winner-take-all showdown Saturday night in Indianapolis. Jerome Solomon says the DeMeco Ryans/C.J. Stroud-led squad has Houston believing in its NFL team again. Who's next for the Texans? We look at their playoff scenarios in play today. We have our weekly Texans report card and turning point and take a closer look at the game-winning, 12-play drive. And check out the postgame celebration with Ryans' locker-room speech. Please scroll down for more coverage.
Alperen Şengün makes the decisive play in crunch time as the Rockets beat the Bucks to end their homestand on a winning note.
In its Big 12 basketball opener, unbeaten UH sends a message to the rest of the conference with a beatdown of West Virginia,
The College Football Playoff championship game is just a day away at NRG Stadium. We look at the prolific quarterbacks on each side: Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who have left considerable legacies at their schools. Former Oilers star Warren Moon, arguably Washington's greatest football alumnus, is bullish on his Huskies. Washington's Jaivion Green. the lone Houston native in the title game, relishes his chance to play at home. And Michigan running back Blake Corum, no strange to big games against Washington, looks for a sweet repeat.
Stat of the day: 5. NFL rookie head coach/quarterback duos to make the playoffs in their first season together: The Ravens' John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco (2008), Falcons' Mike Smith and Matt Ryan (2008), Jets' Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez (2009), Colts' Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck (2012) and Texans' DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud (2023).
 | Greg Rajan, Texas Sports Nation editor |
NFL Week 18: Texans 23, Colts 19
Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer
'It was gritty, it was tough, it was special.'
The Texans made the plays in the fourth quarter to beat the Colts and improve to 7-3 in games decided on the final possession, with none bigger than Saturday's to reach the playoffs.
- Reason to celebrate: Nothing seems to faze rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans so it's time for Houston to enjoy the NFL again, writes Jerome Solomon.
- Who's next? The Texans are in the playoffs for the first time in four years, so it's time to look at scenarios to see who they'll face.
- 12 plays to playoffs: A closer look at the go-ahead drive during the fourth quarter that helped put the Texans in the playoffs.
- 'Go as far as we want to go': What DeMeco Ryans said in his 60-second speech to his players after they celebrated in the locker room after their big win in Indianapolis.
- Report card: The Texans are in the playoffs for the first time in four years. We grade their victorious Week 18 performance against the Colts.
- Turning point: The Texans-Colts game came down to a key fourth-down play that seemed like a curious call by the Colts given what had been working for them,
- Utter jubilation: As ESPN cameras were preparing to capture the Texans' celebration after beating the Colts, Texans foundation vice president Hannah McNair, wife of CEO Cal McNair, showed her sheer joy in a moment on SportsCenter.
- How it happened: The Texans clinched a playoff berth with a dramatic road win in Indianapolis. Here's how it played out.
- 'I'm glad we went for two': How playing to win in last year's season finale at Indianapolis ended up being the best thing for the Texans, even if few thought that at the time.
Rockets / NBA
Photo by: Kirk Sides/Staff Photographer
Defensive duel goes their way
With the game on the line, the Rockets' Alperen Şengün solved the Bucks' defense and made a play that helped seal the victory Saturday night.
- Just enough: The Rockets held off the Bucks to end the team's longest homestand of the season with a victory.
- What might have been: How Bucks center Brook Lopez came close to signing with the Rockets last offseason, but he has no regrets about his choice.
College Basketball
Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer
Serving notice
In its Big 12 opener, UH sent a message to the teams in its new league with a thrashing of West Virginia.
- LSU 68, Texas A&M 53: LSU upsets Texas A&M as the Aggies shot 18% from the 3-point line in their SEC opener.
- Texas Tech 78, Texas 67. Texas Tech's Pop Isaacs led the Red Raiders to a win over No. 20 Texas a day after he was named in a lawsuit alleging sexual assault of a minor.
College Football Playoff
Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Staff Photographer
One last chance
Michael Penix Jr. has Washington on the cusp of its first national championship in 32 years. He also has one last opportunity to prove his doubters wrong in the CFP title game.
- High on Huskies: Former Oilers quarterback Warren Moon, arguably Washington's greatest football alumnus, is bullish on his alma mater's chances against Michigan, whom he once beat in a Rose Bowl.
- At home for the title: Former Lamar standout Washington's Jaivion Green is savoring his opportunity to play in his hometown for the national championship game.
- The ring's the thing: J.J. McCarthy has been called Michigan's greatest quarterback but all he's consumed with is getting a championship ring.
- Wanting to see a rerun: Two years after he had a big game against Washington, Michigan's Blake Corum is looking for a reprise with all the marbles at stake.
Worth a read
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