A Banner Saturday for Central Texas Sports
It was a day to remember for sports fans across Central Texas, with three storylines unfolding from Knoxville to Q2 Stadium.
Longhorns Survive in Knoxville
The No. 1 Texas Longhorns knocked off No. 14 Tennessee 20-17 in their first-ever visit to Neyland Stadium, improving to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play.
Texas’ defense was the story, racking up 10 sacks — the second-most in program history — with edge rusher Colin Simmons tying a school record with five sacks on his own.
Unfortunately, Simmons made headlines for another reason.
Quarterback Arch Manning threw for 201 yards, and running back Raleek Brown punched in two touchdowns, including the game-winner with just under six minutes to play.
The win extended Texas’ streak of top-25 victories to 16 since 2023, the most of any FBS program in that span.
AL West Race Goes to the Wire
Central Texas’ Major League Baseball rivals are set for a winner-take-all finish.
The Texas Rangers kept their season alive with a 6-2 win over Minnesota on Saturday, while the Houston Astros routed Oakland 13-2 behind a Jeremy Peña two-homer, four-RBI day and a three-run blast from Yordan Alvarez.
Both clubs sit at 80-81, tied atop the American League West entering Sunday’s regular-season finale. Houston holds the tiebreaker via the season series, meaning Texas needs a win at Minnesota and an Astros loss to Oakland to snatch the division title away.
Austin FC Rallies for Draw, Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive
Austin FC pulled off a stunning comeback Saturday night at Q2 Stadium, erasing a three-goal deficit to draw San Diego FC 3-3.
San Diego led 3-0 after 64 minutes, but Brandon Vázquez pulled Austin within two in the 73rd minute, and veteran forward Christian Ramirez scored twice in a four-minute span late in the match to complete the improbable rally.
The point keeps Austin’s fading playoff hopes flickering as the regular season winds down.
More expanded coverage of the Longhorns, MLB’s AL West race and Austin FC can be found further down this blog post in the SPORTS section.
Sources:
- University of Texas Athletics — No. 1/1 Football secures first conference win at No. 14/13 Tennessee
- Associated Press via CBS Austin — No. 1 Texas outlasts No. 14 Tennessee 20-17 in Knoxville
- Yahoo Sports/AP — Rangers push the AL West race to the final day of the regular season
- WSKO-AM — Astros enter final day tied atop AL West after rout of A’s
- Yahoo Sports — San Diego FC’s three-goal lead vanishes in draw with Austin FC
Austin City Council District 1 candidate Misael Ramos was arrested Saturday on Manor Road and later released from Travis County Jail on a riot participation charge.
According to Texas DPS troopers, the arrest was based on a warrant tied to a North Austin protest that occurred six days earlier, following the shooting of 28-year-old Venezuelan national Wilber Garces Perez by an ICE agent.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced regarding internal changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement procedures, alongside an explicit denial from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The recent shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Austin has led to questions about hospitals’ legal obligations when treating ICE detainees with traumatic injuries. (KUT 90.5)
A panel discussion from the Texas Tribune Festival exploring the current state of ICE detention centers in Texas and the broader implications of federal immigration enforcement:
Seven months after settling a major class-action lawsuit with civil rights advocates, Travis County is providing legal counsel to virtually every eligible arrestee at initial bail hearings.
Reports released this month by the ACLU of Texas show a 99% success rate in placing attorneys alongside low-income defendants at first appearance—a drastic turnaround for a county that faced years of litigation over denying representation. (Austin Chronicle)
To advance local water conservation, Austin City Council approved up to $4 million in additional funding for Austin Water’s GoPurple incentive program. The funds will help commercial and residential developments offset capital costs for reclaimed water infrastructure and onsite recycling. (Austin Free Press)
An update on construction of Austin’s new convention center:
Theme park fans and speed junkies descended on Southeast Austin on Saturday for the grand opening of COTALAND, a trackside amusement park at the Circuit of the Americas featuring record-setting coasters, immersive family rides, and active Formula 1 circuit experiences.
WEATHER
SATURDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The first Nor’easter of the fall continues to drench the East Coast with intense storm conditions as damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding plague communities this weekend.
Past Democratic waves have swept across the country without unseating Texas Republicans statewide. This year, polling and unease among GOP leaders suggest the state could be more vulnerable. (Austin American-Statesman)
Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico traded barbs over the gas tax Saturday as high gas and diesel prices become a top midterm issue. (Texas Tribune)
Back at the historic Clay Pit in downtown Austin for another live podcast with our friends at the Asian Texans For Justice Action Fund.
Who knew the job of County Judge could be this sexy? We heard from four genuine Texas political rock stars nominated for that key role in four of our state’s most densely-populated counties on the challenges that lie ahead for those major urban areas, and specifically the role that Asian Texans – the fastest-growing group of Texas voters – will play in 2027 and beyond.
(Episode from September 26, 2026)
Voter registration backlog raises election questions – Just weeks before the November election, counties across Texas are scrambling to process thousands of delayed voter registration and address update records after a state data transmission error went undetected for nearly a year. Adam Schwager examines what caused the backlog, how counties are responding, and what voters should do to ensure their registration information is correct before Election Day.
On this edition of “Inside the Investigation,” our team examines the push for stronger hospital safety measures following a deadly Austin crash and KXAN’s reporting on risks at hospitals across the country. KXAN’s Arezow Doost and Matt Grant highlight the impact of the investigation, a Texas senator’s plans to re-file a hospital safety bill and the questions that remain.
(Episode from September 26, 2026)
This week on Texas Matters — forgotten songs from Texas prisons. Heartfelt tracks written, performed, and recorded by incarcerated men. The resurrected recordings from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s tell us about crime and punishment, rehabilitation, and the humanity of the men locked inside.
(Episode from September 26, 2026)
If you’re looking for a house to purchase or a place to rent, you’re probably feeling squeezed. Mortgage rates have hit seven percent – and a new study shows that renters across the economic spectrum are having trouble paying rent. What’s happening in the housing market?
(Episode from September 24, 2026)
A 17-year-old has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Westbury High School senior LePaul Warren near campus Friday morning, Houston police announced.
AAA GAS PRICES
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Behind a standout defensive performance, No. 1/1 Texas defeated No. 14/13 Tennessee, 20-17, in the Longhorns’ first-ever trip to Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Texas (4-0, 1-0 SEC) finished with 10 sacks, the second-most in a single game in school history. The Longhorns mounted a 15-sack effort against Texas Tech on Oct. 31, 1981.
Edge Colin Simmons tied a program-record five sacks, matching Shane Dronett’s output versus the Red Raiders 36 years ago. Simmons also became the first FBS player to accomplish the feat against a ranked opponent since 2006. The junior has 15.5 career sacks against top-25 teams, with at least one in each of his last seven ranked contests.
Veterans Rasheem Biles, Alex January, Hero Kanu, Zina Umeozulu and Maraad Watson each delivered sacks of their own, as Texas limited Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC) to its fewest yards of total offense in nearly six years.
The Longhorns held the Volunteers to 221 yards, including just 88 yards in the first half, tying their fewest yards allowed against a ranked foe since 2012. (Texas Longhorns)
NO LONGHORNS FOOTBALL NEXT SATURDAY
Up next, Texas will meet Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium on Saturday, October 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ABC.
TEXAS A&M / TEXAS TECH / HOUSTON
MLB: It all comes down to Game 162 in the American League West, where an 80–81 deadlock sets the stage for a dramatic Sunday finale.
With the season series tiebreaker in Houston’s pocket, the Astros control their own destiny against the Athletics.
| Rank | Team | Record | Win % | GB | Home | Away | Tiebreaker Status |
| 1 | Houston Astros | 80–81 | .497 | — | 39–42 | 41–39 | Clinched Tiebreaker (9–4 season series) |
| 2 | Texas Rangers | 80–81 | .497 | — | 45–36 | 35–45 | Chasing Title (Needs Win + Astros Loss) |
| 3 | Seattle Mariners | 75–86 | .466 | 5.0 | 42–38 | 33–48 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Oakland Athletics | 64–97 | .398 | 16.0 | 32–48 | 32–49 | Eliminated |
| 5 | Los Angeles Angels | 62–99 | .385 | 18.0 | 34–47 | 28–52 | Eliminated |
The Rangers, meanwhile, need a win at Target Field and a help-from-Oakland miracle to snatch the crown at the finish line.
MLS: Austin FC erased a three-goal deficit in the second half to draw 3-3 with San Diego FC on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium. The result marks the first time in Club history that ATXFC has come from three goals down to earn a result, and extended the team’s unbeaten streak to eight matches. (Austin FC)
ON THE SCHEDULE
NFL: High stakes and distinct storylines follow two of Texas’ flagship franchises into Week 4 of the NFL season.
The Dallas Cowboys take their show on the road for a high-profile international matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Meanwhile, despite an 0-2 start to the year, C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans travel to Lucas Oil Stadium as slight favorites against the Indianapolis Colts, eager to claim a crucial divisional victory and notch their first win of the campaign.
Every Texan’s been told to remember the Alamo… but what does that mean? And furthermore, what about remembering our lost pets, or the nostalgic treats from childhood?
This week, Texas Country Reporter travels to Athens, Tyler, and San Antonio. We heard the story of a man so moved by the life of his dog, he started an animal preservation company. We met a teacher who experimented with Pinterest recipes and stumbled into a sensational caramel apple business for stars like the late Ozzy Osbourne. And finally, we discovered the heart of The Alamo — a man named Ernesto, the mission’s senior curator, lecturer, and historian.
