Texas finally got the kind of ground game it has been waiting for, and now the Longhorns have to prove it was more than a one-night fix.
Against Ole Miss last Saturday, Texas leaned on its running backs and got real production out of the room. Even without senior back Hollywood Smothers and with freshman Derrek Cooper barely on the field, the Longhorns rolled up 207 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Fifth-year back Raleek Brown led the way with 157 yards on the ground, while sophomore Michael Terry III added 41 yards and a score.
“I was proud of (Brown) tonight, knowing he was going to have to have his number called,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said postgame last week. “We were going to have to lean on him.
Derrek (Cooper) had been banged up and sick this week. Hollywood (Smothers) was out.
And really proud of Michael (Terry III). His first real action, and I thought he stepped up really well for us tonight.”
That rushing performance helped fuel one of Texas’ best offensive outings of the season. The Longhorns finished with 419 total yards in a must-win over an Ole Miss team that came in with plenty of explosiveness of its own.
The real issue before that game was never just whether Texas could slow down Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss’ fifth-year quarterback. It was whether Texas could do enough on offense to win the shootout.
Now the challenge shifts back to a familiar question: can Texas do it again?
This team has shown a knack for delivering when the pressure spikes, from the fourth quarter against Ohio State to the final five minutes against Tennessee and then again against Ole Miss. The Longhorns are still in a no-margin-for-error spot, but the mood is different after such a big win, even with unranked Mississippi State up next and the Bulldogs carrying the weight of three straight losses.
For Texas, the Ole Miss game gave the running backs a chance to answer what this offense looks like when it clicks. The next test is whether they can keep that going for another week.
That matters because Sarkisian’s offense looks far sharper when the run game is doing its part. Mississippi State brings a defense that allows just 3.66 yards per carry, so Texas will need another strong outing on the ground if it wants to keep the offense humming.
If Cooper and Smothers are back in the mix, Texas could also have a deeper, more dangerous backfield on Saturday. After what the Longhorns just showed against Ole Miss, that kind of follow-up would go a long way toward proving the run game can carry its weight again.
In Other News...
Texas Fans Just Got A Halloween Gameday Reason To Arrive Early
Longhorn fans heading to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 31 have an extra reason to get there early, with Longhorn City Limits presented by Hollister set for a Halloween edition on the LBJ Lawn before Texas takes on Mississippi State. The pregame scene will feature Uncle Kracker and special guest Julianna Rankin, along with free admission and the kind of tailgate atmosphere that has become part of the gameday rhythm around the stadium.
The event will also include food and beverage offerings for fans 21 and older, adding another layer to what is already shaping up as a full-day experience around the football game. Athletics director Chris Del Conte pointed to the festivities as part of the broader gameday package, and for Texas supporters, it is another chance to make a night game feel like more than just what happens between the lines. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans May Not Expect How Reachable This Halloween Game Feels
The atmosphere around Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has stayed as tight as ever, with all 2026 home games sold out before the season even began, extending Texas run of sellouts to five straight years. Still, one of the more surprising byproducts of that demand is that the upcoming Mississippi State game is not out of reach for fans looking for a seat, at least not compared with what you might expect for a sold-out fall date in Austin.
Tickets are only showing up on resale platforms, but the market for this one has been relatively friendly, with listings generally starting under $100. For a Texas home game with the stadium already spoken for, that makes this Halloween matchup look more accessible than plenty of other dates involving either the Longhorns or the Bulldogs, even if the final price will depend on where buyers are willing to shop. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Injury Report Leaves One Huge Question For The Playoff Push
Texas has reached the part of the season where every injury report feels heavier than the last, and the latest one only underscores how thin the margin is for a team still trying to navigate the playoff push. The Longhorns will head into the Mississippi State game without starting left tackle Trevor Goosby, who is out for the season with a knee injury, a blow that changes the look of the offensive front at a crucial time.
There is some good news mixed in, with running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman both listed as probable after working back from injuries. The biggest lingering question, though, centers on star pass rusher Colin Simmons, who has been upgraded to questionable status because of an ankle injury, leaving Texas to wait and see whether one of its most important defensive playmakers will be available when it needs him most. [Read more 🡒]