Texas is heading into SEC play the same way it did a year ago: on the road. This time, the Longhorns are headed to Knoxville for their first-ever game against Tennessee, and it will be their first road game of the season.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian said that kind of trip brings a different feel for the team and staff.
“It’s fun. You know for the players and a staff perspective, it’s a tight knit operation,” said head coach Steve Sarkisian.
“You’ve got less players (74 maximum for road conference games), your staff, you’re kind of all you got. But that’s really all we need.
We’ve just got to focus on the task at hand, stay really well connected, execute at a high level, then lets be at our best when our best is needed in come critical moments.”
Tennessee enters at 3-0 as well, with its most notable win coming in a 45-24 victory at Georgia Tech. The Vols also beat Furman 56-9 and Kennesaw State 42-9.
The matchup brings a big test for Texas’ defense, especially against a Tennessee offense that leans hard on the run. The Vols are averaging 299 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth in the nation. DeSean Bishop has 286 rushing yards and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry, while Duane Morris has 234 yards and is averaging 8.1 yards per carry.
That part of the game matters plenty to Sarkisian, along with how both teams handle the trenches and the explosive plays.
“the ball is huge in this one. In SEC play it is by far and away the number one stat that contributes to winning and losing.
I think the line of scrimmage if going to be big, both sides of the ball. You know the physicality of which we’re playing the game, and then ultimately creating explosive plays and minimizing those explosive plays.”
Texas is allowing just 109 rushing yards per game.
Sarkisian’s full interview will air on Texas GameDay on Saturday at 10 a.m. on KBVO-TV.
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