Texas is heading into Columbia, Missouri, and the Tigers have a long list of players who can make this trip miserable for the Longhorns. At 6-2, Texas is opening a two-game road swing, and Arch Manning and the offense are walking into a matchup loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
The headliners start with Missouri’s ground game and the man carrying it. Jamal Roberts has already gone over 1,000 rushing yards this season on 190 carries, blowing past the 124 attempts he had last year.
The 6-foot, 216-pound senior has topped 90 yards in four of his last five games and has posted two 200-yard outings. Ole Miss held him to 39 yards on 20 carries, and Texas will need a similar result if it wants to keep Missouri from controlling the game on the ground.
The Tigers’ passing attack runs through Cayden Lee, and stopping him is a problem Texas can’t fully solve - only manage. Lee, an Ole Miss transfer like quarterback Simmons, is known for his route running and has become a constant target out of the slot.
He has more than 750 receiving yards on 53 catches, both team highs, and has scored five touchdowns. He has also caught at least five passes in every game this season.
The status of Graceson Littleton matters here, because Lee does much of his damage inside.
Missouri’s offensive line brings another major challenge, and Cayden Green is the name to circle. The tackle is viewed as one of the best in the sport and is expected to hear his name called in the first round next April.
With Colin Simmons still in question, Lance Jackson and Zina Umeozulu may be the ones tasked with dealing with an elite pass protector. Missouri’s line has been uneven at times, but Green is expected to play at a high level on Saturday.
On the other side of the ball, Missouri’s defense is built around pressure, and Daeden Hopkins is the engine. The redshirt freshman has 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles this season, though he hasn’t recorded a sack in the last two games.
Even so, he fits the exact profile that has bothered Texas: a defense that can disrupt the run and get after Manning. Hopkins is capable of doing both, and Texas’ front will have to keep No. 10 under control if the offense wants any rhythm.
Nicholas Rodriguez is another problem Texas has to account for, especially in the run game. He ranks second in the FBS with 86 tackles, which is 20 more than any of his Missouri teammates.
Rodriguez is dangerous shooting gaps, something Texas has had trouble stopping, and he has added 1.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, both of those coming in the last two weeks. Along with Robert Woodyard Jr., he forms one of the best linebacker duos in the country.
In the secondary, Trajen Greco is the playmaker Texas has to be aware of when the ball goes in the air. Greco has 3 interceptions and 4 pass breakups this season, including one last week against Arkansas.
His ball skills and instincts stand out, and Arch Manning will need to be sharp and decisive to avoid giving him chances. Texas has had turnover issues, and Greco is the Missouri defender most likely to test that weakness on Saturday.
In Other News...
Texas Is Back In Playoff Position Now Comes The Hard Part
Texas has put itself in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation, landing at No. 7 in the first ranking of the season and even slotting ahead of undefeated UCLA. It is the kind of position the Longhorns have been chasing, and it gives their final stretch real weight as the bracket picture starts to take shape around them.
What comes next is the difficult part, because the ranking only matters if Texas keeps stacking wins down the stretch. If the order holds, the Longhorns could be staring at a first-round matchup with Ole Miss and, if they advance, a second-round meeting with Georgia, a path that underlines how narrow the margin is between being in the field and being on the outside looking in. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Could Be Closing In On A Huge In-State Recruiting Flip
Xaiver Muhammads recruitment has taken an interesting turn, and Texas is right in the middle of it. The four-star defensive line prospect from Texas is still committed to Michigan, but he has lined up a visit to the Longhorns campus after recently landing an offer from Steve Sarkisian. He has already made an unofficial stop in Austin, which gives Texas a real foothold with a player the staff clearly wants to keep close to home.
For the Longhorns, the timing matters as much as the talent. Muhammads decision to keep looking at Texas comes as questions swirl around Michigans coaching situation under Kyle Whittingham, and that uncertainty appears to be creating an opening. Texas has been working to capitalize on it, and the fact that a committed in-state defender is willing to keep the door open says plenty about where this one could be headed. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Could Land A Rare Receiver Talent Fans Need To Watch
The recruiting spotlight swings back to the 2028 class this week, and Brysen Wright is right at the center of it. The five-star wide receiver, ESPNs top-ranked prospect in that cycle, is set to announce his college commitment on Thursday, with Texas still in the mix as one of three finalists alongside Florida and Miami.
For the Longhorns, this is the kind of national chase that can shape the early feel of a recruiting class long before it takes form. Wright has built a reputation as a standout at Mandarin High School with the kind of athletic profile and following that tend to draw attention far beyond state lines, and Texas is hoping that appeal translates into a future on the Forty Acres. [Read more 🡒]