Ethan Burke, Trevor Goosby Earn SEC Honors After Statement Win Over Texas A&M
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas made a loud statement in the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown, taking down previously unbeaten No. 3 Texas A&M, and two Longhorns were recognized for their impact in the trenches.
Senior EDGE Ethan Burke was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, while sophomore offensive lineman Trevor Goosby earned Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. For Burke, it’s his second career weekly SEC honor.
For Goosby, it’s his first - and well deserved.
Let’s break down exactly how they earned it.
Ethan Burke: Disruptor, Playmaker, and Tone-Setter
Burke was everywhere on Thursday night. He racked up a career-high nine tackles, but the stat sheet doesn’t fully capture the kind of impact he had.
From the opening snap, Burke set the tone. On Texas A&M’s first possession, he made the opening tackle, holding the Aggies to just two yards.
That series ended with just 18 total yards - a sign of things to come.
Burke followed that up with back-to-back plays on the next drive: a tackle on first down, then a pass breakup on second, forcing a quick three-and-out. And when Texas A&M finally got a drive going deep into Texas territory, Burke shut the door again - this time with a third-down stop for a one-yard loss, followed by a blocked field goal on fourth down. That sequence flipped momentum and showed exactly why Burke is one of the most disruptive EDGE defenders in the SEC.
Later in the first half, Burke added more short-yardage stops, including one that helped limit the Aggies to a field goal on their first scoring drive. In the third quarter, with Texas clinging to a 13-10 lead, Burke helped stuff a third-and-1 at midfield. The Aggies tried to go for it on fourth down, but a false start forced them to punt - another win for the Texas defense.
Burke’s fingerprints were all over this win. He now leads the SEC with two blocked field goals and ranks second on the team with seven tackles for loss. Add in three sacks, 40 total tackles, and a forced fumble on the season, and it’s clear: Burke is not just producing - he’s changing games.
Trevor Goosby: Quiet Dominance in the Trenches
Offensive linemen don’t often get the spotlight, but Goosby earned his moment this week. Matched up against one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the country - SEC sack leader Cashius Howell - Goosby didn’t allow a single sack.
In fact, he didn’t even allow a pressure. That’s not just good.
That’s elite.
Texas A&M came into the game ranked second nationally in sacks per game (3.55), but Goosby and the Texas offensive line held them to just one sack all night. And it wasn’t just in pass protection.
The Longhorns ran for 218 yards - a full 100 more than what Texas A&M had been allowing on average (118.8 per game). That kind of push up front changes everything.
Goosby’s efforts helped spring running back Quintrevion Wisner to a season-high 155 rushing yards on 19 carries. That’s 8.2 yards per touch, including a 48-yard burst - the longest run by a Longhorn against the Aggies since Colt McCoy’s 65-yard touchdown in 2009. Wisner also became just the third Texas player since 2000 to post multiple 100-yard rushing games against Texas A&M, joining Cedric Benson and Cody Johnson.
And the offensive line wasn’t done. They also paved the way for a game-sealing 35-yard touchdown run by Arch Manning, and protected him well enough to connect on a 29-yard touchdown pass as part of his 179 passing yards.
Goosby didn’t just hold his own - he dominated against top-tier competition. That’s the kind of performance that earns you weekly honors in the SEC.
Texas Making Noise on the National Stage
With the 27-17 win, Texas became the only FBS team with three victories over AP Top 10 opponents this season - something no team has done since 2019 LSU. Even more impressive? Two of those wins came against teams currently ranked in the College Football Playoff Top 10.
This isn’t just a hot streak. It’s a team that’s rising at the right time, powered by stars on both sides of the ball doing the dirty work in the trenches.
Ethan Burke and Trevor Goosby may play different positions, but their impact was felt in the same way - by controlling the line of scrimmage and setting the tone for a statement win. And if this performance is any indication, Texas is a team no one wants to see come playoff time.