Texas heads to Columbia this weekend facing the kind of game that leaves no room for passengers. Missouri brings a dangerous backfield led by Austin Simmons and Jamal Roberts, while Texas is dealing with enough injuries that the Longhorns will need depth pieces and starters alike to carry more weight. With CFP hopes on the line, several Texas players have to answer the bell.
Ryan Wingo looks like one of the most important names to watch. He is expected to be among the Longhorns listed on the injury report, but reports suggest his chances of playing are better than most of the other injured Texas players.
The matchup also carries a little extra meaning for the St. Louis native and former Missouri commit.
If he’s out there, Texas should lean on him heavily. Missouri’s front seven makes quick passes a key part of the plan, and Wingo should get plenty of chances to help jump-start the offense.
The run game may also hinge on Michael Masunas. Texas found a rhythm on the ground in the Ohio State and Ole Miss games, and against Ole Miss, Masunas played a major role in that success.
His blocking on the edge created room for Raleek Brown and Michael Terry III, and that same kind of work will matter again Saturday. If Masunas can’t help the ground game get going, Texas may have a hard time finding a path to victory.
Up front, Connor Robertson has to steady an offensive line that has been shaky, especially inside. Robertson has struggled this season in pass protection, and Missouri’s Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall have the kind of ability that can wreck a game.
Texas needs Robertson to give Manning room to operate in the pocket. If the interior keeps breaking down, a change somewhere on the line could become a real possibility.
On defense, the Longhorns’ first job is simple: set the edge. Missouri is one of the better wide zone and outside run teams around, and the defenses that have slowed the Tigers have kept Jamal Roberts from getting to the perimeter.
Justus Terry could be a big part of that answer. He picked up his first career sack last week and has shown he can work both inside and outside.
Even if Colin Simmons doesn’t play, Terry’s size and physicality could make him a factor on early downs as Texas tries to squeeze the run game.
Rasheem Biles has also become a key piece in the pass rush during Colin Simmons’ absence. Texas cannot afford to let Austin Simmons sit comfortably in the pocket.
He’s a capable passer who can hurt any defense if given time, but he has been less consistent once forced off his spot. Biles and the rest of the front need to keep him moving and out of rhythm.
In the secondary, Derek Williams Jr. is another player who could swing the night. He has been overshadowed by how well the rest of the Texas defense has played, but the redshirt junior has returned to his freshman form and become one of the team’s best tacklers.
He’s been close to a big play in recent weeks, and this matchup could be the one where it finally arrives. If Roberts gets loose and reaches the second level, Williams may be the last line of defense against a game-changing explosive.
He could end up as the defensive x-factor for Texas.
In Other News...
Texas Is Getting A Missouri Team With One Less Distraction
Missouri has tried to quiet the noise around Eli Drinkwitz as the Tigers turn their attention to the stretch ahead, including a matchup with Texas. Drinkwitz addressed the Florida State opening directly in a press conference, saying he is not a candidate for the job and making the point clear enough to remove the speculation that can hang over a program this time of year.
For Texas, that means the Longhorns should see a Missouri team focused on football rather than on coaching carousel chatter. Drinkwitz already has long-term security after signing an extension through 2031, and with one of the sports bigger paychecks in hand, Missouri can keep its attention on the field as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A Tense First CFP Reveal With Plenty At Stake
Texas is heading into the first College Football Playoff reveal with a legitimate case to stay in the mix, even with two losses on the rsum. The Longhorns are projected to land among the 12 teams in the opening bracket, a sign that the committee could still value their overall body of work as the season turns toward its defining stretch.
The official unveiling comes with plenty of intrigue because the bracket will set the tone for the rest of the month, and the weekly rankings that follow will keep the pressure on every contender. For Texas, the early projection is encouraging, but it also means there is little room to relax as the chase for a playoff spot starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Faces A Brutal Truth Game Against Texas
Arch Manning and Texas are heading into a Week 10 SEC matchup that carries real weight for both sides, but for very different reasons. The Longhorns still have four regular-season games left and need to keep stacking wins if they want to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation, which makes every remaining Saturday feel like a must-hold serve.
Missouri, meanwhile, is staring at a far less forgiving path. With two losses already on the ledger and a brutal stretch of games still ahead, the Tigers are in the kind of spot where the margin for error has all but disappeared. Unless they can pull off multiple upsets, a playoff berth is starting to look like a long shot, which only raises the stakes of this meeting in Austin. [Read more 🡒]