Texas wins if…
The offense can keep up. Baylor is an offensive machine and has been so for the last few seasons. The Bears are not afraid to run up the score on anyone. The fewest points Baylor...
The defense
The Texas defense will have to bring its A-game to beat Baylor’s insane offense. Against Texas Tech, the Longhorn defense allowed 665 yards and 48 points. This type of play cannot...
Texas wins if…
The offense can move the ball. One of the biggest hits in the 38-20 loss at West Virginia was losing sophomore running back D’Onta Foreman to injury. He has since undergone...
Jay Norvell
Since becoming offensive play caller, Jay Norvell had some immediate success, including the win over Oklahoma. Since that game, the calls have remained the same and Texas is 2-2. Opposing...
The Linebackers
Freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson has been the star of the show since the start of the season. In nearly every big defensive play, Jefferson was there. Against Iowa State and Kansas,...
Texas wins if…
The passing game can be established. Once again, this is a huge issue for Texas. Last week against Kansas, the Horns had 299 passing yards. This was a huge game for the quarterbacks...
Texas wins if…
It can throw the ball. The run game worked for a few games, but opposing teams have caught onto these plays. Against Oklahoma, Texas’ run game destroyed the defense. Against...
The Quarterbacks
Regardless of who is under center, they need to be able to make plays. Neither redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard nor junior Tyrone Swoopes has been able to do this when it comes to throwing...
Texas wins if…
It can move the ball. Texas doesn’t necessarily need to throw more or run more to beat Iowa State. The Cyclones played Baylor last weekend, so they are coming off a high-yardage...
The defensive backs
Time and time again, the defensive backs show up on this list. This remains to be Texas’ biggest weakness. The defensive backs are not intimidating to most offenses. Quarterbacks...
Texas wins if…
The Longhorns play like they did against Oklahoma. The Texas team seen in Dallas was a team that had never been seen before. This team could tackle, block, run, throw, catch and...
The defensive backs
Once again, the defensive backs are on my list to step up. Oklahoma had 278 total yards against Texas — 211 of those yards were passing yards. The defensive backs did not cover...
Special Teams
Texas’ special teams have been abysmal week in and week out. Special teams lost both the California and Oklahoma State games for Texas. Against TCU, senior kicker Nick Rose missed...
Texas wins if…
The defense can make stops. TCU had 31 first downs and 604 total yards against Texas’ defense. The Texas defense had no answer for senior quarterback Trevone Boykin and the...
Texas wins if…
The offense moves the ball. TCU’s offense knows how to score, and Texas will have to keep up with TCU’s fast-paced offense. The Horned Frogs rank No. 4 in points per...
Receivers
In the loss to Oklahoma State, Texas only had 119 passing yards. Against TCU’s Heisman candidate quarterback, Trevone Boykin, the Longhorns will have to do better. Senior wide receiver...
The Defensive Backs
If Texas players want to claim DBU (Defensive Back University), they are going to need to play like their predecessors — Earl Thomas, Kenny Vaccaro, Michael Griffin, Michael...
Receivers
Texas may have had 128 passing yards against Rice, but don’t let that number fool you. Only four receivers had catches Saturday night: John Burt, Armanti Foreman, Johnathan Gray and...
Texas wins if…
Special teams plays like it did against Rice. Special teams has not been a strong suit for Texas in recent years, but there was a notable difference in the 42-28 win. Senior wide...
The Quarterback
Junior Tyrone Swoopes will once again be the starting quarterback. Against Notre Dame, he was unable to convert first downs, find open receivers and make any plays. Swoopes only had...
Texas wins if…
The offensive line blocks. Against Notre Dame, the offensive line looked like an offensive clump. The line dissipated every time the ball was snapped. The Fighting Irish sacked...
Texas wins if…
A quarterback steps up and gets in a rhythm. Yes, just a quarterback. It really doesn’t matter who, as long as junior Tyrone Swoopes or redshirt sophomore Jerrod Heard show...
Special Teams
The Longhorns need big plays from special teams on both the receiving side and the punting side. Texas ranked dead last at No. 125 last season in kickoff return defense. Texas ranked similarly...
