Texas is getting a much-needed dose of optimism in the backfield ahead of Saturday’s showdown with No. 1 Ohio State.
Freshman running back Derrek Cooper, who left the season-opening win over Texas State with an ankle injury and later returned to the sideline in a boot, is now expected to be a game-time decision, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. Cooper played only two carries in his college debut, finishing with six yards.
That’s a notable shift from the concern sparked two days after the win, when Steve Sarkisian said, "Derrek's in a boot," and added, "He'll be in a boot for the foreseeable future."
For Texas, the bigger picture at running back still runs through Hollywood Smother and Raleek Brown. The pair handled the heavy lifting against Texas State, combining for 143 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. Even if Cooper is available, that duo is expected to remain the centerpiece of the offense.
Cooper, though, could still have a role, especially around the goal line. At 6-1 and 212 pounds, he brings a bigger frame than the backs Texas leaned on in Week 1, and Sarkisian has already made it clear that the true freshman has earned a chance to play.
If Cooper can’t go, Texas would likely turn to Michael Terry III, James Simon and Ryan Niblett behind Smothers and Brown. But the drop-off is obvious, and in a game of this size, those three aren’t likely to be asked to carry much of the load.
The Longhorns will need their top two backs to be sharper than they were against Texas State if they want to keep pace with Ohio State. Texas won’t release an injury report for the game since it’s a non-conference matchup, and availability reports won’t begin until SEC play starts.
In Other News...
Texas-Ohio State Is Already Creating An Austin Frenzy
The buzz around Texas trip to Ohio State is already spilling far beyond the field, with ticket prices turning the matchup into a hot topic in Austin before kickoff even arrives. Seats in the upper deck are starting around $480, and the cost climbs into the thousands closer to the action, putting this one out of reach for plenty of Longhorns students who had hoped to be in the building.
Still, the game is shaping up to be a major moment for the city as much as for the team. Local business owners and economic experts are expecting a wave of visitors to bring a noticeable boost to Austin, adding another layer to a matchup that is already carrying plenty of weight for Texas fans trying to take it all in, even if they have to do so from afar. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees Ohio State Texas Coming Down To One Big Play
Urban Meyer is treating the Ohio State-Texas showdown like the kind of early-season heavyweight fight that can swing on a single moment. After both teams rolled through their openers against overmatched opponents, the former Buckeyes coach pointed to the quarterbacks as the obvious center of gravity, with Julian Sayin and Arch Manning carrying most of the pressure in a game that figures to be tight for a long stretch.
Texas does get the home-field edge, and Meyer acknowledged that as part of what makes this such a tricky road test for Ohio State. Still, he called for the Buckeyes to pull it out, which only adds another layer to a matchup already loaded with intrigue. For a Longhorns team trying to measure itself against one of the sports standard-bearers, the margin for error may be as slim as Meyer suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Passing Game Could Put Ohio State In A Brutal Bind
Cam Coleman has become the name Ohio State has to keep circling on its game plan, because Texas does not need much help turning one receiver into a stress test for a secondary. The Longhorns have other options too, but Coleman is the wideout who can force the Buckeyes into uncomfortable decisions, especially with cornerbacks Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews Jr. likely getting some of the toughest work on the field.
For Ohio State, the real problem is that leaning too hard toward Coleman can open the door for the rest of Texas passing game. If the Buckeyes shade extra attention his way, the Longhorns have receivers like Ryan Wingo and Mosley V positioned to take advantage, which is exactly the kind of chain reaction Ohio State has to avoid. It leaves the Buckeyes weighing how much help to send without giving Texas an easier path somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]