Texas is walking into its first road test of the season with plenty working in its favor, but the trip to Neyland Stadium brings a different kind of challenge. The Longhorns are 3-0 and already own one of the best wins in college football, yet Saturday’s SEC opener at Tennessee asks a new question: can they keep that start rolling in one of the sport’s loudest environments?
A big piece of that answer starts with Hollywood Smothers. He was listed as probable in the latest SEC availability report, and that matters because Steve Sarkisian has made it clear the Longhorns want to lean on the run.
If Smothers is limited or unavailable, Texas could have to adjust on the fly. Raleek Brown is ready to handle the load if needed, and getting him involved early would help take some of the pressure off Arch Manning and the rest of the offense.
That pressure matters because Tennessee is built to make teams prove they can stop the run. The Volunteers, led by freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, have leaned heavily on their ground game and rank second in college football with 283.5 rushing yards per game.
Texas has been stingy against the run so far, allowing just 109 rushing yards per game, which ranks 32nd nationally. If the Longhorns can bottle up Tennessee on the ground, they can force Brandon into a much tougher passing-day assignment.
Manning’s season has been uneven. He has thrown for more than 200 yards only once, when he went for 305 in the opener against Texas State.
His completion percentage is 61 percent, and if Texas can’t get its own run game moving, the offense may need him to do more. That makes his connection with the receiving corps a major swing factor in the game.
Protection up front has been another bright spot for Texas. The offensive line was a major offseason focus, and through three weeks the group has delivered, grading as the best pass-protection unit in the country.
That will be tested by a Tennessee defense that ranks 38th nationally with a sack percentage of 7.80 percent against opposing quarterbacks. If Manning gets time, Texas has a chance to keep the offense on schedule.
Then there’s the setting. Neyland Stadium is a brutal place to play, and while this one won’t be a night game, the atmosphere is still going to be hostile.
It’s the first time Texas has ever played there, and there will be plenty of Volunteers fans eager to make the Longhorns feel it. Add in the fact that this is Texas’ first road game of the season, and staying locked in will be just as important as any matchup on the field.
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