Texas heads into Saturday with its footing a little steadier after a 34-27 win over then No. 7 Ole Miss, and the consensus from the Longhorns On SI staff is clear: Mississippi State is walking into a tough spot in Austin.
That victory over the Rebels pushed Texas to 5-2 overall, 2-2 in SEC play, and up to No. 11 in the country. Now the Longhorns get another home date, this time against a Bulldogs team sitting at 4-3 and 2-3 in conference play.
The matchup also comes with some bad news for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs will be without Kamario Taylor, and one staff prediction pointed out that the team’s last two games have produced only 15 total points. Another described Mississippi State as arriving without much momentum at all, while also noting the Bulldogs are in the middle of a three-game losing streak.
For Texas, the recipe is pretty straightforward: keep the ground game moving and make Mississippi State play from behind the chains. One prediction said if the Longhorns can run effectively and force obvious passing situations, there’s little reason for concern, with Texas expected to “roll” to a second straight win.
Not everyone is ready to say the Longhorns have fully flipped the switch just yet. One staff member cautioned against assuming the Ole Miss win means Texas has truly turned the corner, and another pointed to the offense’s inconsistencies, including a rough third quarter last weekend. Even so, the expectation across the board is that Texas should have enough to handle this one without much drama.
There was also an acknowledgment that the Longhorns may not come out of this game with a headline-grabbing statement. One prediction said Texas can win, but that injuries, including offensive lineman Trevor Goosby being out for the season, may limit the chance to make a major splash. Still, if the offense can string together four clean quarters after showing promise in the first half against Ole Miss, the Longhorns could strengthen their place in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee.
Even with those caveats, the overall feeling is simple: Texas has the talent edge, Mississippi State is short-handed, and the Bulldogs’ offensive issues make this a difficult draw. As one prediction put it, Texas should have more than enough to come away with a comfortable win.
In Other News...
Texas Pass Rush Just Took Another Hit Before Mississippi State
Texas edge rotation took another hit heading into its meeting with Mississippi State, with Colin Simmons downgraded to doubtful because of an ankle sprain and Richard Wesley ruled out. The Longhorns have leaned on that group to keep the front seven disruptive, so the timing is less than ideal as they try to stack another clean defensive performance.
There is some better news elsewhere on the availability front, with running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman both off the injury list and expected to play. Mississippi State, meanwhile, is dealing with its own absences, including starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and wide receiver Ayden Williams, which adds another layer to a game that already looked like it could hinge on which sidelined players matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Found An Offensive Spark Now Comes The Hard Part
Texas found a much-needed jolt on offense against Ole Miss, and the biggest reason was a running game that looked more alive even without some key backs available. Raleek Brown and Michael Terry III helped carry the load, giving the Longhorns balance and a couple of finishing touches on the ground that had been missing as the season has worn on.
Now comes the tougher test: proving it was more than a one-game lift. Mississippi State brings a run defense that has been difficult to move, so Texas will have to show it can keep generating push and production when the box tightens and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Opens With One Big Question About Sean Miller's New Team
The Longhorns get their first real answer tonight when Sean Millers revamped roster opens the regular season against Chicago State, a team that arrives with some continuity of its own. Texas is coming off a Sweet 16 run and spent the offseason reshaping the roster around a strong recruiting class, including five-star Marcus Spears Jr., while also bringing back returning starter Matas Vokietaitis and adding a mix of transfers and freshmen that should define the early part of the season.
For Texas, the opener is less about the opponent than about how quickly all those new pieces start to fit together in a live setting. Chicago State, under Landon Bussie, brings back Malek Robinson and adds Foday Sheriff, so the Cougars wont be just a formality in the seasons first game. Still, the bigger storyline for the Longhorns is whether Millers new group looks ready to turn talent into something sharper and more organized right away. [Read more 🡒]