Texas’ Trio of Breakouts Flip the Script on Texas A&M’s Perfect Season
The return of the Lone Star Showdown to Austin was supposed to be a celebration for Texas A&M - a crowning moment in a near-flawless season. Instead, it turned into a statement win for Texas, one that not only handed the Aggies their first loss of the year but also effectively ended their SEC title hopes. The Longhorns’ 27-17 upset wasn’t just about the scoreboard - it was about who stepped up and how they did it.
This wasn’t a fluke or a one-off performance from deep in the depth chart. Texas leaned on three rising names - running back Quintrevion Wisner, edge rusher Ethan Burke, and tight end Jack Endries - and each delivered in a way that changed the game’s trajectory. These weren’t just solid performances; they were breakout moments that arrived under the brightest lights of the season.
Wisner’s Ground Game Wrecks the Aggies Again
Let’s start with Wisner. Texas’ run game has been hit-or-miss this year, but you wouldn’t have guessed that watching him carve up what had been one of the SEC’s stingiest run defenses. He ran with vision, burst, and purpose, piling up 155 yards on 19 carries - that’s 8.2 yards per touch, including a nearly 50-yard dagger that helped swing momentum.
And this isn’t the first time he’s torched the Aggies. In just two career games against A&M, Wisner has racked up 341 rushing yards on 52 carries.
That’s over 6.5 yards per carry - a nightmare matchup that the Aggies still haven’t solved. He’s not just a problem for A&M - he’s the problem.
Ethan Burke Owns His Senior Send-Off
On the defensive side, senior edge rusher Ethan Burke saved one of his best performances for his final game at DKR. He was everywhere - tying for second on the team with nine tackles, batting down a pass, and living in the backfield as a constant thorn in quarterback Marcel Reed’s side.
But Burke’s impact went beyond defense. His blocked field goal in the first quarter kept the game scoreless and gave Texas an early jolt of momentum.
Later, he made a critical open-field tackle on special teams to shut down what could’ve been a game-changing return for A&M. It was a complete performance from a veteran who clearly wasn’t ready for his home career to end quietly.
Endries Breaks Out in the Biggest Moment
Then there was Jack Endries - a name that hadn’t made many headlines this season, until now. The tight end hauled in four catches for 93 yards, averaging over 20 yards per reception.
His defining moment came late in the third quarter, when he turned a short pass into a 54-yard sprint, setting Texas up inside the Aggies’ 5-yard line. One play later, the Longhorns were in the end zone, stretching their lead and putting A&M on the ropes.
It was the kind of play that flips momentum - and, potentially, narratives.
Texas Takes the Spotlight, A&M Left Reeling
For Texas A&M, this one’s going to sting. The second-half collapse will dominate the postgame conversations, and understandably so. But the bigger story might be what Texas just put on tape - a trio of playmakers rising to the occasion and reshaping their team’s identity in real time.
Wisner, Burke, and Endries didn’t just step up - they took over. And they did it against a top-tier opponent with everything on the line.
For Texas, it was a signature win. For A&M, it was a gut punch.
And for those three Longhorns, it was a coming-out party no one in maroon will forget anytime soon.