Texas comes into Saturday with a lot of momentum and a very clear target on its back. The Longhorns are 2-0 after stunning then-No.
1 Ohio State 24-23 last Saturday, rallying from a 20-point fourth-quarter hole with 21 unanswered points. That comeback pushed Texas to No. 1 in both major polls, and now UTSA gets the next crack at them.
The Roadrunners are unbeaten too, sitting at 2-0 after a 31-26 win over Texas State. They had to dig out of a 17-7 halftime deficit to get it done, and now they’re stepping into their first game against a team ranked No. 1 in both the AP Top 25 and coaches poll.
Texas has owned the series so far, winning the last two matchups 41-20 in 2022 and 56-7 in 2024. Even so, UTSA has done enough early to make this feel like more than a routine tune-up before the Longhorns head to Tennessee next week for SEC play.
One obvious place to start is at quarterback, where Arch Manning has already become the centerpiece of the offense. Through two games, he’s completed 43 of 64 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns. He also helped spark the comeback against Ohio State, including a fourth-down completion on the drive that set Texas up to win it.
That sets the stage for a game where Manning could get a chance to attack a UTSA defense that has already shown some cracks. With multiple receiving options at his disposal, he should have room to push the ball downfield and keep building confidence before the schedule tightens.
Texas may also lean on the ground game, and Jerrick Smothers has already separated himself as the team’s leading rusher. He has 31 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns through the first two weeks, and he was a major factor against Ohio State with 74 rushing yards, two touchdowns, 34 receiving yards and a kickoff return.
If Texas wants to settle in early, Smothers is a strong way to do it. A big night from him would give the Longhorns another path to controlling the game while taking some of the load off Manning. It would also extend the buzz from his award-winning outing against the Buckeyes.
The most aggressive call involves Texas’ defense coming away with three takeaways. That’s no small ask against a UTSA team that has not turned the ball over yet this season and is one of only 20 FBS teams without a turnover. Still, the Roadrunners have been vulnerable in that area in a bigger sample, forcing takeaways in 33 of their last 38 games and intercepting opposing quarterbacks in three straight.
Texas’ defense has already shown it can flip a game fast, too. After holding Ohio State to 52 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter last week, the unit enters Saturday with plenty of confidence and a real chance to make life difficult for UTSA.
In Other News...
Texas Heads Into SEC Play With One Big Offensive Concern
Texas wrapped up its non-conference slate with a 30-6 win over UTSA, and the bigger takeaway for Steve Sarkisians group was that it came out healthy ahead of SEC play. The defense did what a No. 1 team should do, holding the Roadrunners to 143 total yards, while the offense found enough bursts to keep control of the game and move on to the next challenge.
The passing game, though, still looked like the area most likely to test Texas once the league schedule begins. Arch Manning had a productive line, but the rhythm never really settled in, even as the Longhorns got a boost from freshman Derrick Cooper Jr. in the backfield, where he gave Texas another meaningful option alongside the more established pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Has One Clear Priority Against UTSA Before SEC Play
The Longhorns head into their matchup with UTSA with momentum and a chance to clean up a few more details before the schedule gets a lot less forgiving. Texas has looked the part through its first two games, and oddsmakers are expecting a comfortable night against a Roadrunners team that has struggled to hold up defensively. With conference play looming, this is the kind of game the Longhorns want to control early and use to sharpen themselves for what comes next.
A win would push Texas to 3-0 and give the program another chance to build rhythm before SEC competition arrives. The bigger question is not whether the Longhorns should win, but how complete they can look while doing it, especially against an opponent whose defensive issues have already been exposed. For Texas, the priority is clear: handle business, stay healthy, and leave no doubt before the real tests begin. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Major Defensive Concern Before Tennessee
Texas defensive front already had a big enough week ahead with Tennessee on the schedule, and now the edge-rusher rotation has become a little harder to read. Colin Simmons, one of the key pieces off the edge, was spotted on the sideline against UTSA in street clothes, which immediately raised eyebrows for a defense that has leaned on its pass rush to set the tone.
Steve Sarkisian did not offer an update on Simmons at halftime, and there has been no official word since, leaving the Longhorns with an open question at a position where they had added depth this season. With Tennessee coming next week, Texas can at least point to that added insurance, but how much of it gets tested may depend on whether Simmons is available. [Read more 🡒]