Texas left Saturday night with a 30-6 win over UTSA, but the final score told a cleaner story than the game itself. The Longhorns got the result they wanted to finish non-conference play, yet both offenses spent long stretches grinding through a sluggish, uneven matchup.
Arch Manning came out hot and then cooled off fast. He hit nine of his first 12 throws for 102 yards and two touchdowns, but from there the rhythm disappeared.
He finished at 51 percent passing for 164 yards, and while he protected the ball, the overall performance never settled into the kind of steady command Texas needed. Manning flashed with a few sharp throws early, but he also absorbed some unnecessary hits instead of getting down.
Texas did find a little life on the ground, especially after halftime. The work was split between the backs, with Hollywood Smothers carrying 10 times for 54 yards and Raleek Brown adding 10 carries for 41 yards.
Brown bounced back from a rough outing last week, and Texas looks set to keep leaning on both backs. Derrek Cooper also got in on the action, scoring his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter and giving the run game another name to watch.
The biggest offensive difference-maker was Cam Coleman. Without him, this grade would have looked much harsher.
Coleman caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, including a standout goal-line fade grab. He’s already proving to be a major piece for this offense.
Beyond him, no Texas receiver topped 30 yards.
Up front, Texas’ offensive line took a step back. The protection wasn’t as clean, and UTSA did enough to make Manning uncomfortable. He was sacked only once, but against a lesser opponent, the line still should have been sharper.
Defensively, Texas was in control for most of the night. The Longhorns’ front recorded one sack, courtesy of Colin Simmons, though he was in a boot during the second half, which is something to keep an eye on. Hero Kanu also made his presence felt in the backfield as UTSA was held to just 70 rushing yards.
The tone on defense was set immediately. On the first snap of the game, Rasheem Biles intercepted McCown and later finished with a team-high four tackles.
He’s been one of Texas’ best defenders so far this season. McCown never really got comfortable, and Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr. both turned in strong outings that helped clamp down on the Roadrunners.
UTSA’s top receiver, Brandon High Jr., managed only 20 receiving yards, a good snapshot of how well Texas’ secondary handled the night. It was a strong performance from the back end, even if the offense made the game feel closer than the score suggested.
Gianni Spetic handled his job cleanly, going six-for-six on kicks. Texas also had to punt a little more than it would have liked, another reminder that this was far from a polished showing.
In Other News...
Texas Heads Into SEC Play With One Big Offensive Concern
Texas finished its non-conference slate unbeaten and healthy after a 30-6 win over UTSA, and that alone is a useful place to be heading into SEC play. The Longhorns got the kind of defensive outing they have come to expect, holding the Roadrunners to 143 total yards, while Derrick Cooper Jr. added a fresh wrinkle in the backfield with 44 yards and a touchdown.
The bigger question sits on the other side of the ball, where Arch Mannings day underscored both the upside and the unevenness of the passing game. He threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns, but the rhythm was not always there, leaving Texas with a little bit to clean up before the competition gets much tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Major Defensive Concern Before Tennessee
Texas got a jolt of concern on the defensive side when Colin Simmons was spotted on the sideline in street clothes and wearing a walking boot during the UTSA game. Simmons has been a key edge rusher for the Longhorns, so even the sight of him away from the action immediately changed the temperature around a unit that has otherwise tried to build more depth at that spot this season.
Steve Sarkisian did not offer an update on Simmons at halftime, and no official information has been released since, leaving Texas with more questions than answers as Tennessee approaches next week. The Longhorns have worked to add depth at edge rusher, but losing or even limiting a player like Simmons would be a significant development for a defense that needs as many answers as it can get right now. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Gets A Ryan Wingo Scare At The Worst Time
Ryan Wingo gave Texas a brief scare against UTSA when the wide receiver left late in the first half, an unsettling moment for a team already dealing with a few other absences. Wingo had only one catch for five yards before heading out, but his presence matters plenty in Austin after opening the season with 11 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
The good news for the Longhorns was that Wingo was back on the field to start the third quarter, easing some of the immediate concern around a receiver who has become an important part of the offense. Texas also got running back Derrek Cooper and linebacker Markus Boswell back in action, even as several other players remained inactive, so the lineup still had a mix of welcome returns and lingering questions. [Read more 🡒]