Texas gets Mississippi State at home with a clear set of pressure points, and the biggest one may be right at the start: Will Muschamp against the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation.
Kamario Taylor’s injury is the headline entering the game. The expectation is that redshirt freshman Parker Puckett will get the start, though that could shift during the game.
Jeff Lebby also has AJ Swann available, giving Mississippi State another veteran option after starts at Appalachian State and Vanderbilt. Whoever takes the snaps will have to deal with Muschamp, and if last week is any guide, the Bulldogs’ quarterback is headed for a difficult night.
The matchup in the trenches could shape the entire afternoon as well. Texas’ offensive line has been a season-long swing point, and this is a game where the Longhorns can really widen the gap.
Mississippi State’s run defense ranks in the top 50 nationally, but its pass defense sits south of 120th. Even so, Texas appears most likely to find rhythm by leaning on the ground game.
If the Longhorns can run the ball and do it consistently, it becomes much harder for Mississippi State to hang around. A strong showing from the offensive line would also be a welcome sign with tougher road games at Missouri and LSU still ahead.
On the other side of the ball, Texas linebackers will have to keep Fluff Bothwell from becoming the centerpiece of the night. The Longhorns have already dealt with physical backs such as Jadan Baugh, Kewan Lacy and DeSean Bishop, and Bothwell fits that same mold.
He can wear down a defense and take over late if the game stays close. That makes the early stages important for Texas.
If the Longhorns can slow him down and build a lead, they can take away Mississippi State’s most dangerous runner. Rasheem Biles, Justin Cryer and Brad Spence are the names tasked with making sure No. 24 doesn’t turn into the story of the game.
Texas should also have opportunities through the air. Mississippi State has talent in the secondary with Kelley Jones and Jett Jefferson, but the unit has not consistently held up.
The Bulldogs are giving up 267 passing yards per game, opposing quarterbacks are completing 67% of their throws, and they’ve managed only two interceptions. That opens the door for Manning to put together a clean day if Texas does its part.
Wingo, Coleman, Mosley and Bishop should find room to work against this defense.
Still, the most important opponent for Texas may be Texas itself. Mississippi State’s path to an upset is tied to the Longhorns making mistakes.
Turnovers, penalties and special teams errors are the kinds of plays that can keep the Bulldogs alive deep into the game. If Texas protects the football, avoids the self-inflicted damage and keeps the flags down, it should be able to create separation and handle this one comfortably.
In Other News...
Texas Pass Rush Just Took Another Hit Before Mississippi State
Texas is heading into its meeting with Mississippi State with more questions on the edge than it would have liked. Colin Simmons, the Longhorns standout pass rusher, was downgraded to doubtful because of an ankle sprain, and Richard Wesley is already out, leaving the front seven thinner than usual at a spot where Texas normally likes to create disruption.
There is some relief on the other side of the availability report, with running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman removed from the injury list and expected to play. Mississippi State, meanwhile, will be missing starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and wide receiver Ayden Williams, so the matchup still comes with some notable absences for both teams as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Playoff Push Now Hinges On An Unlikely Offensive Lifeline
Texas kept its College Football Playoff push alive with a 34-27 win over Ole Miss, but the bigger story inside that victory was how the offense held together after starting left tackle Trevor Goosby went down with a season-ending knee injury. The line had to adjust on the fly, and Andre Cojoe was the one who stepped in to help stabilize things, giving the Longhorns a fighting chance to keep their quarterback upright and the run game moving.
Raleek Browns 157 rushing yards gave Texas the kind of ground production it needed in a tight SEC-style game, while Michael Terry added 41 yards and a touchdown to keep the pressure on Ole Miss. Even with the win, the Longhorns now have to figure out how much of this offensive success can travel forward if Goosby is out for good and Cojoe remains the answer on the edge. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Found A New Defensive Formula When Colin Simmons Was Out
When Colin Simmons was unavailable, Texas had to get creative against one of the SECs most difficult offenses, and the result was a defense that looked noticeably different than the one Longhorns fans have been used to seeing. In the win over then-No. 7 Mississippi, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp adjusted the front and asked the line to function in a new way, all while trying to keep Ole Miss from finding rhythm in its Veer-and-Shoot system.
The bigger surprise was how much Texas leaned on linebackers Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer in flexible roles to help make the plan work. It was not a perfect pass-rushing night, but the Longhorns still found a way to limit Ole Miss scoring and survive one of the seasons toughest schematic tests, which leaves an obvious question for Texas moving forward: how much of this adjustment package can carry over if the defense has to play without Simmons again? [Read more 🡒]