Texas Longhorns 20, Arkansas Razorbacks 10
© Texas Football
Texas went to Fayetteville and dominated the Razorbacks for most of the game – and all of when it counted. Arkansas’ first half offense netted 64 yards, with just 4 first downs in 7 possessions, and zero points. Barron’s interception on the Hogs’ second possession was huge, and the complementary Longhorn touchdown was exactly what Texas needed to start the game. (The photo above, as Ewers hit a wide open Golden.) The Longhorns scored on 2 of their 6 first half possessions, including the 61 yard touchdown drive; 6 plays, 3 of which went for more than 10 yards.
When Arkansas rallied in the third quarter to close the game to 13-10, the Longhorns responded by controlling the fourth quarter and winning the football game. Texas had two fourth quarter drives, the first one (began in the third) for the game-securing touchdown to put Texas up 20-10 was an 8 play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 3:42. When Arkansas got the ball back, the Texas defense responded with a forced fumbled by Alfred Collins, recovered by Michael Taaffe, with just under 7 minutes to play. Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense methodically matriculated the ball, burning clock, and when it was fourth 2 on the Arkansas 30, Sark called Quinn Ewers’ number – not to throw the ball, but to run it. First down, and the Longhorns had the ball on the Arkansas 27 yard line and four downs to go when the Two Minute Timeout was called. Ball game.
It wasn’t easy, but it was a road win the Southeastern Conference against a long-time rival that hates Texas. The Arkansas defense was very good, but not as good as the Texas D, and just not good enough to beat Sark & Ewers & Co.
Texas won the game in Fayetteville because:
- No Longhorn turnovers, and the Texas D forced Arkansas into two, both of which resulted in points.
- Texas was only flagged twice. I did not research it, but it has to be among the lowest number of penalties in a game for the Longhorns in at least a decade. Probably longer. Fair to point out Arkansas was only penalized twice too. I like that crew.
- With the second half momentum wholly in the Hogs’ favor, this Longhorn team didn’t back down at all, but rather rallied. Strength and character in the face of adversity. No quit, and a will to win. All gas, no brakes.
And whilst statistically unimportant perhaps as to this game, one can certainly point to the fact that the Longhorns led the game at halftime. Per John Bianco, Texas has won all 9 games this season when leading at half, all 12 games leading at half in 2023, and overall, 23 straight games when leading at halftime.
Highlights in Español. ¡Simplemente significa más!
https://x.com/TexasFootball/status/1859265855357358255
The Monday Morning Highlights, on X:
https://x.com/TexasFootball/status/1858510375999656362
The Monday Morning Highlights, on Instagram:
Hopefully, a new feature from Texas Spirit and the Longhorns. Love it.
Texas Longhorns on X: “execution is everything, try again next time
No. 3 Texas Longhorns v. Kentucky Wildcats
The Longhorns and Wildcats have only played once before, in Austin in 1951. Kentucky was coached by the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Texas won 7 to 6. More on that singular game below.
Kickoff on Saturday is at 2:30 p.m., and once again, Joe Tessitore with the play-by-play, Jesse Palmer providing analysis, and Katie George reporting from the sidelines. The game can be heard around the world on the Longhorn Radio Network with the Voice of the Longhorns Craig Way, joined by Roger Wallace in the booth and by Will Matthews on the sidelines. Listen in Austin on the Flagship, KVET 1300 AM and 98.1 FM. In Abilene on KWKC 1340 AM, in Houston on KBMC 790, in McAllen on KVNS 1700 AM, and in El Paso on KROD 600 AM. Join Mr. McLaughlin listening in San Angelo on KKSA 1260 AM. Across North America, SiriusXM Channel 82. Dr. Rubén Pizarro-Silva and Jesus Mendoza with the call in Spanish on certain Longhorn Radio Network affiliates and streaming on the Longhorn apps.
The Kentucky offense is not very good – as you will see below ranked 104th or worst in five key offensive categories. Going up the best defense in the country. Texas is No. 1 in pass defense, total defense, red zone attempts allowed, and long pass plays allowed; No. 2 in first downs allowed; and No. 4 scoring defense. Only team in the country holding opponents under 4 yards per play and 250 yards per game. No. 2 in Passing Efficiency Defense. That is not a combination likely to breed a win for Kentucky in Austin on Saturday.
SEC Nation, the SEC Network’s game day program, will be on The Forty Acres for the first time for a Texas game. Hosted by Laura Rutledge, the crew includes Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers, and Tim Tebow. The stage will be at the Hook ‘Em Hangout, and the end of DeLoss Dodds Way north of the Alumni Center. The show starts at 9:00 a.m. Marty & McGee will be on before SEC Nation, at 8:00 a.m.
It is Senior Day. I get verklempt thinking about this class of Seniors, and the guys who will go with them, have done for this program.
On Sunday, Texas was favored by 21 points. Early Friday morning, the line is Texas minus 20.5. The Texas moneyline is minus 1400, Kentucky is +750. The total is 46.5.
College Football Games this Weekend
A big weekend, and I have my preview of the SEC, Service Academies, Top 25, and Games of Interest below. Here are the big ones this Saturday, in addition to the Longhorns:
- Undefeated 5 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 2 Ohio State. The biggest football game in Hoosier history. 11:00 a.m. on FOX. College Gameday and Big Noon Kickoff in Columbus. We will have this game on the big screen at Juan Heisman.
- 14 Brigham Young (9-1) at No. 21 Arizona State (8-2). Big for the Big 12, but more importantly, Cam Skattebo.
- Undefeated No. 19 Army No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 6:00 p.m. on NB, from Yankee Stadium. The Black Knights are big underdogs, but what an opportunity.
- 15 Texas Agricultural & Mechanical vs. Auburn Tigers, 6:30 p.m. on ABC. ⚠️ 🚨 ⚠️
The 2024 Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky is coached by Mark Stoops, brother of Bob. He has given the Wildcat football program life, albeit with a 67-71 overall record. In 2018 he led Kentucky to their first 10 win season since 1977, their first New Year’s Day Bowl win since 1951 (the same year that Washington & Lee played Wyoming in the Gator Bowl), and their first final poll ranking since 1984.
Pretty dapper. Looks familiar. Having a hankering for Javier’s.
Game 1: Kentucky opened the season with a 31-0 shutout of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. QB Brock Vandagriff (No. 12, 6-3, 217 lb Junior from Bogart, Georgia) was 12/18 for 169 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception, and he rushed 5 times for 35 yards. QBR of 81.6. RB Demi Sumo-Karngbaye (No. 0, 6 foot, 210 pound Senior from Willingboro, NJ) rushed for 59 yards and 1 score on 8 carries, with a long of 22. I will be abbreviating Demi Sumo- Karngbaye as “DSK” for the rest of this week’s edition as Demi Sumo-Karngbaye is hard to type. Wildcat defense was led by Zion Childress (No. 11, 6 foot 195 pound Senior defensive back from New Caney in the Houston area, transferred from Texas State) with 4 tackles, all solo, and a TFL. Two Wildcats had 3 tackles, and 9 different guys had 2 tackles. 2 sacks, 7 TFL, 2 interceptions.
Southern Miss is 1-9, with a win against the Southeast Louisiana Lions and losses to everyone else, including ULaLa and ULM and a 58-3 blowout loss to Texas State.
Game 2: South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6. Vandagriff was 3 of 10 for 30 yards and an interception, and a QBR of 1.8. He was replaced by Gavin Wimsatt (No. 2, 6-3, 227, Junior) who was 3/7 for 14 yards and an interception. Not a stellar day for the Wildcat quarterbacks. DSK ran 17 times for 70 yards. With the sacks and losses, Kentucky netted 183 yards of offense. South Carolina wasn’t that much better, with 173 yards passing and 79 yards rushing. D’Eryk Jackson (No. 54, 6-1, 244 lb Senior linebacker) led the Cats with 6 tackles (3 solo) and a TFL. Zion Childress had 5 tackles (4 solo), a sack, and 3 TFL
South Carolina is 7-3, with wins over Old Dominion, Akron, the Land Thieves (35-9), Texas Agricultural & Mechanical (44-20), Vanderbilt (28-7), and Missouri (34-30). Gamecock losses are to No. 16 Louisiana State (33-36), No. 12 Ole Miss (3-27), and No. 7 Alabama (25-27).
Game 3: No. 1 Georgia 13, Kentucky 12. Oh so close. Vandagriff was 14/27 for 114 yards and no scores, QBR of 53.4. DSK carried 22 times for 98 yards, and Jamarion Wilcox (No. 10, 5-10, 197 lb freshman, no relation to Hunter) carried 9 times for 73 yards (4.8 ypc, good against UGA). The Bulldogs were held to 262 yards – Beck was 15/24 for 160 and no scores, Trevor Etienne carried 19 times for 79 yards. Zion Childress, D’Eryk Jackson, and Ty Bryant (No. 14, 6 foot, 194 pound DB) each had 6 tackles, with Childress and Bryant each getting a TFL.
Georgia is No. 10 in this week’s CFP, 8-2 overall, with losses to No. 4 Alabama (41-34) and No. 16 Ole Miss (41-34), and a road win against the No. 1 team in the country.
Game 4: Kentucky soundly beat Ohio 41-6. Vandagriff had a good game, 17/24 for 237 yards and a 85.7 QBR. Wilcox led the Cats with 82 yards rushing on 8 carries, but it was DSK with 2 rushing touchdowns (47 yards). Kentucky rushed for 206 and 4 scores. Dane Key (No. 6, 6-3, 210 lbs, Junior WR) had 7 catches for 145 yards. DSK had 3 for 38.
The Ohio Bobcats are 7-3 and 2nd in the MAC, with their other losses to Syracuse (22-38) and the Miami Redhawks (20-30). Very good season for Ohio.
Game 5: Kentucky beat No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford, 20-17. The Wildcat defense held Jaxson Dart to 261 yards and 1 TD on 18/27 passing, and just 22 yards on 13 carries. Rebels rushed for 92 total. Vandagriff was 18/28 for 243 and a TD, QBR of 79. He had 17 carries for 3 yards, which works out to 6.35 inches per carry.
Ole Miss is No. 9 in this week’s CFP, 8-2 overall, other loss to then No. 13 Louisiana State, 26-29.
Game 6: The joy of the big road win against Ole Miss faded quickly, as Kentucky started a four game skid with a 20-13 loss to Vanderbilt in Lexington. Vandagriff was 15/25 for 158 and a TD, rushed 9 times for 37 yards. DSK led the Cats on the ground with 12 carries for 59 yards and a score. Dane Key had catches for 83 yards and a score (he had a fumble). DSK 3 catches for 31. Jamon Dumas-Johnson (No. 2, 6-1, 245 pound senior linebacker) had 9 tackles (6 solo), a sack, and 2 TFL. Jordan Lovett (No. 25, 6-2, 205, Junior DB) also had 9 tackles. D’Eryk Jackson 7 tackles, a sack, and 2 TFL, Childress 7 tackles and a TFL.
The Wildcats held Diego Pavia to 143 yards passing; he was 15/18 and 2 scores, but also an interception. Pavia rushed 14 times for 53 yards. Against Texas, Pavia’s line: 16/29, 143 yards, 2 scores, 2 interceptions; 16 carries for 67 yards and a score. Very comparable.
Game 7: Florida with a solid 48-20 beating of the Wildcats in the Swamp. Vandagriff 12/26, 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 48.4 QBR. (For comparison, Ewers was 19/27, 333 yards, 5 TDs, 91.5 QBR). DSK carried 10 times for 39 yards Jamarion Wilcox 3 times for 33, Vandagriff 8 times for 33. DSK Barion Brown (No. 7 6-1, 182 Junior WR) had 2 catches for 56 yards, one of them a 45 yard touchdown. Brown also had a 99 yard kickoff return for a score. Lovett 9 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL. Alex Afari, Jr. (No. 3, 6-2, 222 Junior DB from Cincinnati) 7 tackles (3 solo), 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL. Childress 7 tackles. For the Gators, before he got hurt, Lagway was 7/14, 259, 1 INT. Of note, Gator Jaden Baugh rushed for 106 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Game 8: Auburn 24-10 over the Wildcats in Lexington. Bad loss in another bad game for Vandagriff, who was 9/17 for 120 with a pick, 20.9 QBR (minus 18 on the ground with 3 carries, he was sacked 3 times). Wimsatt in relief was worse, 3/10 for 34 yards and a pick, 12.7 QBR. This against an Auburn defense ranked 8th in the SEC and 44th in the nation in pass defense, allowing 200.3 ypg. Good, but not great. Jason Patterson (No. 26, 5-10, 206 freshman RB from Sneads, Florida [I am also certain that is the first time I have ever typed “Sneads, Florida”]) carried 6 times for 38 yards, and Wilcox had 7 carries for 25 yards and a TD. DSK was injured and did not play. I think this game is a good indicator of what Texas may be able to do Saturday against the Kentucky offense. Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter carried 23 times for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Jordan Lovett, and Alex Afari Jr. each with 8 tackles.
Auburn is 4-6 and 1-5 in the SEC, but I feel a win coming soon.
Game 9: No. 7 Tennessee 28, Kentucky 18. Vandagriff 10/17, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, QBR 57.5. Wimsatt 4/10, 69 yards 1 TD, 1 INT, QBR of 26.4. The 2 QBs did manage to combine for 34 yards rushing on 13 carries. Wilcox led the Cats with 102 yards on 17 carries – pretty good. DSK 6 carries for 38 yards. Vol QB Iamaleava was 28/38, 292 yards, 1 TD, while Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson had 142 yards and 2 scores on 27 carries. Bru McCoy had 5 catches for 56 yards. Jason Dumas-Johnson 14 tackles (7 solo), 1 sack. Afari with 10 tackles, Childress with 8.
Game 10: Kentucky stopped the bleeding with a 48-6 beating of Murray State. Vandagriff was 12/19 for 183 and 2 TDs and 1 pick against the team that is 120th in the FCS in pass defense, allowing 285.8 yards per game (23 TDs). Stoops gave freshman Cutter Boley (6-5, 214 from Hodgenville, Kentucky) some playing time. 10/14 for 130 and 2 scores, which is as good or better than Vandagriff and Wimsatt have done in most games. Wilcox rushed for 123 yards and a score, DSK 48 yards on 11 carries. Hardley Gilmore IV (No. 17, 6-1, 18 freshman, no word if his nickname is Happy) had 2 catches for 72 yards (a 52 yard TD) to lead the Cats. Key had 3 for 56.
The Racers are 1-10, 10th place in the MVFC, with their only win against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, who are also 1-10 and in 6th place in the SWAC-East.
This week’s injury report:
The Wildcats
Offense
Brock Vandagriff will presumably get the start at quarterback. As you can see from his game performances above, he is inconsistent (and that is being kind, although I think the kid has been playing hurt). Anyway, 122/211, 1,542 yards, 9 TDs, 7 Int, and 23 sacks for 194 yards lost. If he plays his best game of the season, the Wildcats might keep it close. If he’s not really playing well, and/or if Gavin Wimsatt or Cutter Boley (40% and 50% completion rates, respectively) play, the Longhorns should cover that three score spread. Although Wimsatt runs the ball well (46 carries for 171 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns; the Wildcats have 11 total rushing TDs, so his contribution is material). We will probably see him a bit.
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye has 109 carries for 505 yards and 5 touchdowns, and he’s third in receiving for the Cats with 18 catches for 142 yards. Jamarion Wilcox has 474 yards and 2 touchdowns on 69 rushes, and that 474 yards includes a 50 yard big one.
Dane Key is their top wide receiver with 44 catches for 686 yards and 2 scores. That’s a very respectable 15.6 ypc average. Baron Brown has 26 receptions for 307 yards and 3 TDs (includes a 63 yarder). Ja’More Maclin (No. 9, 5-11 190 pound Junior from Kirkwood, Missouri, no known relation to Todd) has 2 touchdowns and 140 yards on 8 receptions.
Their top 2 tight ends, named Kattus & Dingle, each have about 70 receiving yards and each has 1 score. I had several moderately clever ideas here, most not publishable.
Defense
The big linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson leads the Cats with 54 tackles (32 solo), 7 TFL for 32 yards, 3.5 sacks for 26 yards, an interception, a QBH, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. DB Jordan Lovett is next with 51 tackles (28 solo), and he has 2 interceptions. Zion Childress has 48 tackles – 28 solo and 6 for losses (19 yards); 4 QBH and a forced fumble. Linebacker J.J. Weaver (No. 13, 6-5, 255 lbs Senior) leads the Kentucky defense with 5 sacks, and his listed as probable.
On the defensive line, Deone Walker (No. 0, 6-6, 345 lbs, Junior DT from Detroit) has 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Tre’vonn Rybka (No. 90, 6-4, 284 lbs Senior) has 29 tackles and 3 sacks for 19 yards.
Their placekicker is Alex Raynor and he is 22/23 on extra points and 15 for 15 on field goals, including 4 over 40 and 2 over 50. That’s an asset.
No. 3 Texas Longhorns v. Kentucky Wildcats
The Statistics
Offense
Statistic |
Texas |
Kentucky |
| Rushing Offense | #65, #9 – 161.6 ypg | #71, #10 – 157.1 ypg |
| Passing Offense | #12, #4 – 288.6 ypg | #114, #15 – 183.4 ypg |
| Total Offense | #18, #4 – 450.2 ypg | #107, #14 – 340.5 ypg |
| Scoring Offense | #13, #3 – 37.0 ppg | #109, #16 – 21.9 ppg |
| First Downs | #51, #6 – 21.5/game | #70, #11 – 20.6/game |
| Sacks Allowed | #66, #7 – 20, 132 yards | #104, #12 – 27, 222 yards |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed | #99, #12 – 62, 249 yards | #65, #9 – 54, 285 yards |
| Third Down Conversions | #36, #8 – 44.1% | #95, #13 – 37.4% |
| Fourth Down Conversions | #79, #9 – 50%, 9/18 | #110, #14 – 42.3%, 9/21 |
| Red Zone Attempts | #12, #3 – 46 | #107, #16 – 30 |
| Red Zone Offense | #69, #8 – 85% / 72% | #80, #12 – 83% / 53% |
| Long Run Plays | #89, #13 – 42/10, 21/20, 7/30, 5/40 | #34, #3 – 58/10, 12/20, 3/30, 1/40 |
| Long Pass Plays | #21, #5 – 109/10, 52/20, 22/30, 10/40 | #88, #13 – 79/10, 30/20, 10/30, 5/40 |
| Punting | #109, #15 – 40.73 ypp | #46, #12 – 43.58 ypp |
Texas and Kentucky each average 3.3 points per game
Defense
Statistic |
Texas |
Kentucky |
Rushing Defense |
#23, #6 – 112.3 ypg | #54, #13 – 133.4 ypg |
| Passing Defense | #1, #1 – 136.7 ypg | #28, #3 – 188.5 ypg |
| Total Defense | #1, #1 – 249.0 ypg | #29, #9 – 321.9 ypg |
| Scoring Defense | #4, #1 – 11.9 ppg | #21, #8 – 19.3 ppg |
| First Downs Allowed | #2, #1 – 14.8/game | #12, #4 – 16.3/game |
| Sacks | #26, #5 – 27, 171 yards | #45, #8 – 23, 154 yards |
| Tackles for Loss | #26, #6 – 68, 274 yards | #49, #8 – 60, 230 yards |
| Third Down Conversions | #13, #4 – 31.0% | #71, #12 – 39.1% |
| Fourth Down Conversions | #39, #5 – 47.4%, 9/19 | #133, #16 – 80%, 4/5 |
| Red Zone Attempts | #1, #1 – 20 | #100, #15 – 39 |
| Red Zone Defense | #19, #5 – 75% / 50% | #6, #1 – 69% / 46% |
| Long Run Plays Allowed | #7, #2 – 29/10, 1/20, 1/30, 1/40 | #54, #13 – 43/10, 9/20, 4/30, 3/40 |
| Long Pass Plays Allowed | #1, #1 – 50/10, 17/20, 4/30, 2/40 | #6, #2 – 63/10, 34/20, 17/30, 8/40 |
Texas – 10 red zone touchdowns and 5 red zone field goals
Kentucky – 8 red zone touchdowns, 9 red zone field goals
Other
Statistic |
Texas |
Kentucky |
| Turnovers | #82, #9 – 15; 7F, 8I | #92, #13 – 16; 4F, 12I |
| Turnover Margin | #23, #3 – 22:15 +7 | #88, #14 – 13:16 -3 |
| Penalties | #82, #6 – 64, 539 yards | #86, #7 – 65, 539 yards |
*Based on total number of penalties.
Match-up Comparison
Texas Offense |
Kentucky Defense |
| Rushing Offense – 161.6 ypg | 133.4 ypg – Rushing Defense |
| Passing Offense – 288.6 ypg | 188.5 ypg – Passing Defense |
| Total Offense – 450.2 ypg | 321.9 ypg – Total Defense |
| Scoring Offense – 37.0 ppg | 19.3 ppg – Scoring Defense |
| First Downs – 21.5/game | 16.3/game – First Downs Allowed |
| 3rd Down Offense – 44.1% | 39.1% – 3rd Down Defense |
| 4th Down Offense – 50% | 80% – 4th Down Defense |
| Red Zone Offense – 85%/72% | 69%/46% – Red Zone Defense |
| LRP – 42/10, 21/20, 7/30, 5/40 | 43/10, 9/20, 4/30, 3/40 – LRP Allowed |
| LPP – 109/10, 52/20, 22/30, 10/40 | 63/10, 34/20, 17/30, 8/40 – LPP Allowed |
Texas Defense |
Kentucky Offense |
| Rushing Defense – 112.3 ypg | 157.1 ypg – Rushing Offense |
| Passing Defense – 136.7 ypg | 183.4 ypg – Passing Offense |
| Total Defense – 249.0 ypg | 340.5 ypg – Total Offense |
| Scoring Defense – 11.9 ppg | 21.9 ppg – Scoring Offense |
| First Downs Allowed – 14.8/game | 20.6/game – First Downs |
| 3rd Down Defense – 31.0% | 37.4% – 3rd Down Offense |
| 4th Down Defense – 47.4% | 42.3% – 4th Down Offense |
| Red Zone Defense – 75%/50% | 83%/53% – Red Zone Offense |
| LRP Allowed – 29/10, 1/20, 1/30, 1/40 | 58/10, 12/20, 3/30, 1/40 – LRP |
| LPP Allowed – 50/10, 17/20, 4/30, 2/40 | 79/10, 30/20, 10/30, 5/40 – LPP |
BCF Toys
The Florida game and our offensive production really moved the needle on a lot of these categories and associated rankings.
| FEI | OFEI | DFEI | SFEI – Adj | |
| Texas | No. 2: 1.32 | No. 10: 0.44 | No. 1: 0.85 | No. 45: 0.03 |
| Kentucky | No. 38: 0.40 | No. 69: -0.06 | No. 41: 0.27 | No. 1: 0.17 |
Florida was 60
| NAY | OAY | DAY | |
| Texas | No. 2: 0.296 | No. 18: 0.560 | No. 1: 0.264 |
| Kentucky | No. 81: -.027 | No. 94: 0.435 | No. 61: 0.462 |
Texas dropped from 13 to 18 in OAY. Still the very best in DAY. Kentucky actually below Florida in NAY.
| NPD | OPD | DPD | |
| Texas | No. 3: 2.23 | No. 11: 3.16 | No. 2: 0.93 |
| Kentucky | No. 87: -0.32 | No. 108: 1.79 | No. 60: 2.11 |
Notre Dame leaped to No. 1 in DPD at 0.92, just a fraction better than the Horns.
| NPP | OPP | DPP | |
| Texas | No. 3: 2.88 | No. 20: 6.62 | No. 1: 3.75 |
| Kentucky | No. 92: -0.70 | No. 110: 5.14 | No. 70: 5.83 |
Possession Efficiency. Possession Efficiency (PVE) is unadjusted scoring value calculated from the results of non-garbage possessions (NP) in FBS vs. FBS games.
| PVE | OVE | DVE | SVE | |
| Texas | No. 3: 1.11 | No. 17: 0.30 | No. 1: 0.82 | No. 69: 0.00 |
| Kentucky | No. 83: -0.14 | No. 112: -.39 | No. 65: 0.11 | No. 4: 0.12 |
In BCF’s F+ ratings (Brian Fremeau’s FEI ratings combined with Bill Connelly’s SP+ ratings), Texas is No. 23. Offensively, Texas is No. 9; defensively, Texas is No. 1. Kentucky is No. 35, No. 67 offense, No. 30 defense.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Texas | Kentucky | .941 | 21.6 | 33.8 | 123 | 46.1 |
ESPN Analytics:
College Football Insiders:
Heavily in favor of the Longhorns, but the RROE is still interesting (that’s a statistical calculation of how often an opponent runs against your defense, as compared to what an average team would do in the same situation. A quantitative, not qualitative, measurement. EPA for Texas is stout – EPA is “expected points added”, and it is a dynamic stat measuring the impact of a play (goes into ESPN’s QBR metric, discussed a few weeks ago).
Opponents & Records
Thanks for the good feedback on this, which I added last week. A simple table that shows each team’s record and the current record of the opponent. The ranking, if any, is the ranking of the opponent at the time the game was played.
Texas Opponents & Records |
Kentucky Opponents & Records |
| W – Colorado State: 7-3 (MW) | W– Southern Miss: 1-9 (Sun Belt) |
| W– No. 10 Michigan: 5-5 (Big 10) | L – South Carolina: 7-3 |
| W – UTSA: 5-5 (American) | L – No. 1 Georgia: 8-2 |
| W – Louisiana Monroe: 5-5 (Sun Belt) | W- Ohio: 7-3 (MAC) |
| W – Mississippi State: 2-8 | W – No. 6 Ole Miss: 8-2 |
| W – No. 18 Oklahoma: 5-5 | L – Vanderbilt: 6-4 |
| L – No. 5 Georgia: 8-2 | L – Florida (5-5) |
| W – No. 25 Vanderbilt: 6-4 | L – Auburn: 4-6 |
| W- Florida: 5-5 | L – No. 7 Tennessee: 8-2 |
| W – Arkansas 5-5 | W – Murray State: 1-10 (MVFC) |
Lots of chatter about our schedule, how easy it turned out to be, etc. It looks better this week, a little. Only one team with a losing record (Mississippi State), and we have beaten 3 teams that were ranked when we played them.
Advance Stats Preview from Nik Patel.
The official Game Notes from The University of Texas:
https://texaslonghorns.com/documents/2024/11/18/Week_12_-_Kentucky.pdf
TCT Thoughts
I have not been this relaxed at 12:30 Friday morning since September 20, when I was finishing the Dispatch for the Louisiana Monroe game. And I haven’t had my “print & proof” 2:00 a.m. cocktail yet, or any cocktails. That is how confident I am about a Longhorn Victory on Saturday. Lots of reason, but plain and simple: Best defense in the country against a bottom quartile offense, both in raw statistics and averages, and in advanced metrics and analytics by, as I have named them, the mathemetricians.
How good is the Texas defense? According to my friend Justin (@NashTalksTexas), in the last 25 years, and ranking 3,094 FBS teams, Texas pass defense is:
- 1 in yards per completion allowed
- 5 in yards per attempt
- 11 in yards per game.
Nash put together a 24 minute video on the pass defense. You have to really like stats, and I do. This is basically half an hour of looking at numbers.
I think the Texas defense is totally going to control this game. I would be really surprised to see the Wildcats score more than 17 points. If they do, my guess is that most of those points will be pointless in the fourth quarter, and the only concern will be the spread, not the outcome. Since I do not bet on any Longhorn games, that is all that matters to me.
I will concede that the Kentucky defense has played some great games. Held Georgia to 13 points. Held Ole Miss to 17 points and beat the Rebs in Oxford. But the Wildcats’ last three SEC games have all been double-digit losses: 48-2 to Florida, 24-10 to Auburn, and 28-18 to Tennessee. People can’t seem to quit talking smack about the Texas schedule; Kentucky’s only win against a Power 4 team is that Ole Miss upset. Any given Saturday, and that Saturday Ole Miss missed game-tying field goal in the last minute after the teams had slugged it out on a messy day at Vaught-Hemingway. Yes, the Kentucky defense shut down Dart and the Reb offense, but it was winning the turnover battle (1-0), ball control (UK with nearly 40 minutes TOP), and not surprisingly, this: Ole Miss 8 penalties for 53 yards, Kentucky 3 for 30.
The Ole Miss game was an outlier in the Wildcat season. They might slow us down, but Texas is going to shut Kentucky down.
If there is one place where the Kentuckians may have an edge to keep it close, it is special teams. Their metrics are really good, Texas not so much. We did a better job on field position against Arkansas, but Saturday would be a really good game to take another big step forward, in anticipation of a chilly night at Kyle Field.
All of that confidence aside, Quinn Ewers is going to have play a solid game, make his reads quick (and well, like he did in Arkansas), and do a good job of avoiding sacks. But with his wealth of receivers, he should be able to get some passes when he needs them.
The interesting thing is on the “Long Pass Plays Allowed” stat I always include, the national and SEC ranking is based on pass plays over 10 yards, where Kentucky is a respectable No. 6 national ranking (to Texas’ No. 1). But when you sort at pass plays of 20 plus yards, Kentucky is No. 90 (Texas No. 2). At pass plays over 30 yards, Kentucky is tied with a slew of teams at 100 (including Arkansas and Oklahoma). Texas is No. 1. At 40+, Kentucky is tied at 94th.
My point is, that the short passing game that is a big part of the Sark offense may not be as effective against Kentucky as it has been against others, and Quinn is going to have to find Golden and Helm and hopefully Wingo in that 15 to 20 yard downfield window when he needs it to get the ball down the field (as I assume our guys are going to get some good YAC). One thing we can trust: Sark has dissected the Wildcats, and he knows exactly what to do. And if it isn’t working, he’s got a second script ready to go.
This post from Erin Hogan was more about the Arkansas game and Quinn Ewers (and his great abilities), but apropos here:
According to Sark
- At halftime of the Ark game they changed the gameplan they had worked on all week to adjust to what the Hogs were showing
- Same against UGA & they climbed back to within 1 score in 2nd half after falling behind 23-0.
An experienced QB can roll with that.
Texas really cleaned up the penalties and turnovers last week – on the road. Certainly reasonable to expect them to do that this week at home. Going to be important to get the kind of win we need, and hopefully let some guys enjoy the game from the sidelines in the third and fourth quarter (and avoid injuries, as we have a kind of important game the next Saturday).
Texas wins 41-13.
Texas Longhorns v. Kentucky Wildcats
The sole game in our history was, it is reported, the farthest west Kentucky has ever traveled for a football game. September 22, 1951, when Bear Bryant’s No. 6 Wildcats came to Austin to play Ed Price’s No. 11 Longhorns. Bryant was in his 5th season in Lexington, where he had led the Wildcats to their greatest success on the gridiron, including Kentucky’s first SEC title in 1950 (their only other was 1976, shared with Georgia). That 1950 team finished 11-1 and beat the No. 1, National Champion Land Thieves (coached by another legend, Bud Wilkinson) 13-7 in the Sugar Bowl. The Cats’ only loss was a 7-0 defeat at the hands of rival Tennessee. In 1990, when Jeff Sagarin released his infamous computer ratings, Kentucky’s 1950 team was ranked No. 1. They claim that natty, which of course is more recent and of similar value to one claimed for 1939.
47,000 were in Texas Memorial Stadium for the 2:00 kick-off. Kentucky had 21 first downs, Texas just 8. The Longhorns were flagged 11 times for 110 yards; Wildcats 2 for 10. But Kentucky fumbled 3 times and was intercepted 3 times (Texas lost 2 fumbles and was also picked twice). But somehow, the Horns got the big win.
James “T” Jones was the Texas quarterback, and T was 3/10 for 52 yards and the only Texas score, a 13 yard pass to Don Barton in the first quarter. T also rushed 7 times for 58 yards. Byron Townsend had 9 carries for 61 yards, Don Barton 10 for 35, and Gib Dawson had 9 carries for 26 yards. John Adams punted 8 times for 316 yards.
Don Menasco, Bobby Dillon, and June Davis all had interceptions for Texas, and Bob Raley, Paul Williams, and Charles Petrovich recovered fumbles.
The Wildcats missed the PAT in the third quarter. Thus the one point Texas win.
The 1951 Longhorns would finish the season 7-3, 3-3 in the Southwest Conference (tied for third).
Texas Longhorns 20, Arkansas Razorbacks 10
I have way too many thoughts about the game, and about our fans, to get it all down on paper this week. But I will start with the people questioning and criticizing Quinn Ewers. Stop it. A few educated observers have noted, accurately I believe, that his footwork is off just a little, and that some of the sacks should have been avoided. But come on. Quinn has led the Horns to the best two back-to-back seasons we have had in over a decade. He was our quarterback that got Texas in its first College Football Playoff game. He helped us win the Big 12 in our last season (and our first conference title in 14 years), and the odds are he will give us a shot to play for and win the Southeastern Conference in our first season. And play in the College Football Playoffs. Over 7,500 passing and 65 touchdowns. He is a winner, and Texas is a winner when Quinn Ewers gets the snap. Give the kid the respect and appreciation he deserves. Saturday will probably be his last game in Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. Enjoy him, appreciate him. He has been walking next to Sarkisian, leading Texas out of the Wilderness and into the Promised Land.
The win in Arkansas starts with that Texas defense. Here is a snapshot of what Arkansas was averaging coming into the game with Texas, and what they managed to actually do against that mighty Texas D.
| Statistic | Arkansas | Against the Horns |
| Rushing Offense | 191.2 ypg | 82 yards |
| Passing Offense | 292.3 ypg | 149 yards |
| Total Offense | 483.2 ypg | 231 yards |
| Scoring Offense | 33.0 ppg | 10 points |
| First Downs | 25.6/game | 15 |
Particularly good game from Alfred Collins.
I would be disingenuous not to acknowledge the great performance by the Arkansas defense: Holding the Texas air attack under 200 yards is an accomplishment. Holding a Sark offense with a healthy Ewers to 20 points is too.
As a couple of smart guys have observed, smart offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino didn’t start pounding the rock in the middle until the third quarter. As many of us had rightfully been concerned (“If Ja’Quinden Jackson is healthy, the Hogs will have a heady rushing game.”), and big Ja’Quinden did some damage, and Arkansas got momentum and the game down to 3 points, at 13-10.
But it was the Texas response after that at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth quarter, that won the game. Playing well and scoring and defending with the game on the line. That’s how teams win games, and that’s how teams win championships.
It is easy to be right when you state the obvious, but it was in fact this: “The Texas offensive line has to be disciplined – like better than any game this year. No false starts, no holds. Do not put Texas in third and long. Just be the smart, quality football players we know they can be. Quinn has to protect the ball, Blue has to hold on to the ball, and play smart football.” Quinn protected the ball, Blue held on to the ball. The line wasn’t perfect, but damn good. Just 2 sacks allowed. But the DJ Campbell false start at the Arkansas 9 arguably cost us 4 points. That was the only penalty on the offensive line – they never got flagged for holding.
I am very, very pleased with the game and the win. I was Saturday evening. I was Sunday when I started mentally writing. I am Thursday night.
We beat Arkansas in FayetteNam, we are first in the SEC, we are No. 3 in the nation.
My last note about the game: I was incredibly please to hear multiple reports of how nice and welcoming the Arkansas fans were. That was unexpected, but really good to hear.
Highlights from ESPN College Football, a little over 15 minutes
Every play in 44 minutes from @TexasClips:
College Football Playoff Rankings
AP Top 25 & Coaches Poll
Massey Ratings
Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Notre Dame, PSU, Ole Miss, Miami (FL). Southern Methodist at No. 11!
College Football Insiders
Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama are the top 5. Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Tennessee, PSU, and Miami (Florida) round out the top 10. Southern Methodist at No. 13.
PFF
Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, Penn State are the top 5. Indiana, Alabama, BYU, Miami (FL), and Ole Miss round out the Top 10.
College Football Rankings: Top 25 entering Week 13
ESPN College Football Power Index
ESPN’s analytics have Texas with a 39% chance of winning the SEC, 93.2% of making the playoffs, a 32.3% chance of making the championship game, and a 19.8% chance of winning it all (highest).
2024 College Football Power Index – ESPN
ESPN SP+ from Bill Connelly
The University of Kentucky
Didn’t see this coming. Aggies. Founded in 1865 as the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Kentucky. Not unusual for a Morrill Land-Grant school. Pretty cool that it opened in 1866 at Ashland, Henry Clay’s Estate.
| Academic Rankings | ||
| National | ||
| Texas | Kentucky | |
| Forbes | 46 | 200 |
| U.S. News & World Report | 30 | 132 |
| ARWU | 25 | |
| Washington Monthly | 98 | 159 |
| THE | 21 | |
| QS | 19 | |
| Global | ||
| ARWU | 45 | 301-400 |
| QS | 66 | 681-690 |
| THE | 50 | 401-500 |
| U.S. News & World Report | 56 | 356 |
Famous alumni include Ashley Judd, Senator Mitch McConnell, William Lipscomb (1976 Nobel in Chemistry), Thomas Hunt Morgan (Nobel in Medicine, the “father of modern genetics”), and Albert “Happy” Chandler, Commissioner of Baseball 1945-1951 (and Kentucky governor twice and a U.S. Senator, minor achievements relative to being The Commissioner). Lots of great basketball players.
Week Thirteen in the Southeastern Conference
No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) at Florida (5-5, 3-4), 11:00 a.m. on ABC from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Rebels and Gators have played just 25 times, and it is 12-12-1. In 2020, Ole Miss beat the Gators 51-35 in Oxford. Rebs favored by 11.5, over/under is 55.5. Hotty Toddy
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Ole Miss | Florida | .813 | 13.1 | 31.9 | 18.8 | 50.8 |
Massachusetts (2-8) at No. 10 Georgia (8-2), 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network. This will be the third SEC game for the Minutemen; Missouri beat them 45-3 and Mississippi State won 45-20. Bulldogs favored by 42, over/under is 55.5,
UTEP (2-8) at No. 11 Tennessee (8-2), 12:00 noon on ESPN+ and SECN+. Vols favored by 40.5, over/under is 52.5.
Wofford (5-6) at No. 18 South Carolina (7-3). 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and SECN+. The Terriers are in 6th place in the SoCon, with wins over VMI, Samford, and Furman. Lost to The Citadel. No line on ESPN, but if you are itching to bet, I will give you the Terriers and 39.
Louisiana Tech (4-6) at Arkansas (5-5), 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and SECN+. Pigs favored by 22, total is 48.5.
No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3) at Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6). 3:15 p.m. on the SEC Network. Monday night “tickets as low as $4”; up to $5 Thursday night. Missouri favored by just 7.5. Total is 57.5. I am not saying upset alert, but the Bulldogs are due.
No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2) at Oklahoma Land Thieves (5-5, 1-5), 6:30 p.m. on ABC. Bama favored by 13.5 in Norman, total is 46.5. Roll Tide!
No. 15 Texas Agricultural & Mechanical (8-2, 5-1) vs. Auburn Tigers (4-6, 1-5). 6:30 p.m. from Jordan Hare Stadium on ESPN. What a win this would be for the Tigers. Texas Agricultural & Mechanical favored by just 2.5, over/under is 47.5. I am saying upset alert on this one.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Texas A and M | Auburn Tigers | .654 | 5.8 | 26.5 | 20.7 | 47.2 |
Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3) at Louisiana State (6-4, 3-3). 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network. Tigers favored by 7.5, total is 53.5.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Louisiana State | Vanderbilt | .748 | 9.9 | 33.44 | 23.5 | 56.9 |
Week 13: Service Academies
No. 19 Army vs. No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1), 6:00 p.m. on NBC/Peacock. The game is being played in Yankee Stadium, which is way cool and a great throwback. This historical rivalry dates to 1913, when Notre Dame won 35-13 at West Point. The series records is 39-8-4. The game was often played in New York City in the first half of the 20th Century (Army played a lot of home games at the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium). Not surprisingly, Army’s biggest wins were in 1944 (59-0, game played in Yankee Stadium, the worst defeat in Notre Dame history, Glenn Davis [Heisman 1946] and Doc Blanchard [Heisman 1945] in the backfield, and Max Minor, a transfer from The University of Texas) and 1945 (48-0). Army was the AP National Champion both years. But since that win in 1945, the Black Knights have just one victory, 14-2 in 1958. The Irish have won all 15 matches since 1965. Between the two schools, 16 National Championships (11 ND, 5 Army), and zero conference championships. You will not see that written often in college football (Army has only competed in C-USA from 1998-2004, and joined The American in 2024, and Notre Dame remains The Independent, after a 1 year flirtation with the ACC in 2020, when they went 10-0 in the regular season). Notre Dame favored by 14, total is 45.5. The Irish better hope the Cadets don’t wake up the echoes.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Notre Dame | Army | .745 | 9.7 | 29.9 | 20.2 | 50.1 |
Air Force (3-7, 1-4) at Nevada (3-8, 0-5), 9:30 p.m. on FS1. The Wolf Pack favored by 3, over/under is 44.5.
Navy on shore leave.
Top 25 – Week Thirteen
Friday
No. 24 UNLV at San Jose State, 9:00 p.m. on FS1. Was curious about UNLV being in the CFP Top 25. No. 6 Scoring Offense and Rushing Offense (249.1 ypg). Rebels favored by 7.5, total is 60.5.
Saturday
No. 5 Indiana (10-0) at No. 2 Ohio State (9-1), 11:00 a.m. on FOX. For those of y’all still wondering how the hell are the Hoosiers undefeated: Curt Cignetti. Cignetti played quarterback for West Virginia, grad assistant at Pitt for Foge Fazio, stops at Davidson, Rice, and Temple. Was at NC State for several years as an assistant, including coaching Philip Rivers. When Nick Saban went to Tuscaloosa, he hired Cignetti. After four years learning from the master, he started his head coaching career. IUP and Elon, then James Madison. Took the Dukes to the FCS Championship game in 2018, losing to North Dakota State (as everyone else did for a while). Great seasons in Harrisonburg in 2020 and 2021 – good enough for JMU to leap from the FCS to the FBS in 2022. Cignetti got the Dukes ranked, first first-year FBS team to ever be ranked. Huge 2023, finishing 11-1. Hired by Indiana in November 2023. And he hasn’t lost a game. Strong the force is in the Saban Tree. Ohio State favored by 10.5, total is 51.5. The line has dropped 3 points in about 36 hours. Buckeye starting center Seth McLaughlin tore his Achilles tendon in practice on Tuesday. Some guys on one of the college football radio shows claimed that the oddsmakers look at the quarterback first and the center second when setting spreads. Did not know that.
Wake Forest (4-6) at No. 8 Miami of Florida (9-1), 11:00 a.m. on ESPN. Sure would be fun to see Miami get upset again. Go Deacs. Hurricanes favored by 24, total is 66.5.
No. 13 Southern Methodist Mustangs (9-1, 6-0) at Virginia Cavaliers (5-5, 3-3), 11:00 a.m. on ESPN2 from Scott Stadium in beautiful Charlottesville. Mustangs favored by 10, total is 57.5.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Southern Methodist | Virginia | .830 | 14.1 | 32.7 | 18.7 | 51.4 |
No. 25 Illinois (7-3) at Rutgers (6-4), 11:00 a.m. on Peacock from Piscataway. Rutgers now favored by 1, total is 47.5. I know the CFP does their homework, but for the No. 25 team to be 1 point underdog against Rutgers?
No. 4 Penn State (9-1) at Minnesota (6-4), 2:30 p.m. on CBS. Nittany Lions favored by 12, total is 44.5.
No. 14 Brigham Young (9-1, 6-1) at No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2), 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. This is going to be a good game. Look at the BCF projection – less than half a point margin. Vegas says Sun Devils by 3, total is 48.5. Go Skattebo.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Arizona State | Brigham Young | .511 | 0.4 | 24.7 | 24.4 | 49.1 |
No. 16 Colorado (8-2, 6-1) at Kansas (4-6, 3-4), 2:30 p.m. on FOX. A month ago, I would have assumed this is an easy win for the Buffalos, but the Jayhawks have found their groove behind Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal. Colorado favored by 3, and the total is 59.5
The Citadel (5-6) at No. 17 Clemson, 2:30 p.m. on The CW Network. For some reason, The CW Network sounds like a good fit for Clemson. No line.
No. 12 Boise State (9-1) at Wyoming (2-8), 6:00 p.m. on CBSSN from War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. Broncos favored by 23 over the Cowboys. Total is 57.5.
No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) at Utah (4-6, 1-6), 6:30 p.m. on FOX. Cyclones favored by 7, over/under is 41.5.
Other Games of Interest – Week 13
Tuesday Night, the Miami Redhawks moved to 7-4 and 6-1 in the MAC with a 20-9 beating of the Northern Illinois Huskies.
Friday
Temple (3-7) at UTSA (5-5), 6:00 p.m. on ESPN2 from the Alamodome. Roadrunners favored by 16.5, over/under is 55.5.
Saturday
North Carolina (6-4, 3-3) at Boston College (5-5, 2-4), 11:00 a.m. on The CW Network. Mack needs this win. Good luck Coach. Tarheels favored by 2.5, total is 54.5.
Rice (3-7) at UAB (2-8), 1:00 p.m., streaming on ESPN+. Owls favored by 6.5.
Arizona (4-6) at Texas Christian (6-4), 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Frogs favored by 11. Line has dropped a point in a half in 2 days. Interesting.
Northwestern (4-6) at Michigan (5-5), 2:30 p.m. on FS1. Big Blue favored by 10.5, total is 36.5. Big Ten Football!
Wisconsin (5-5) at Nebraska (5-5), 2:30 p.m. on BTN. Huskers favored by 1.5, Total is 42.5. GBR.
Leland Stanford Junior University (3-7) at UC Berkeley (5-5), 2:30 p.m. on the ACC Network. Big Game. The Play. Game number 127 in a rivalry that started in 1892. Oldest college football rivalry in the West. The Cardinal lead the series 66-53-11.
Texas Tech (6-4) at Oklahoma State (3-7), 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+. The Gundy Big 12 Watch continues. Will the Cowboys get that first conference win against the Sand Aggies? Hope so! Texas Technical favored by 3.5.
Southern Cal Trojans (5-5, 3-5) vs. UCLA Bruins (4-6, 3-5), 9:30 p.m. on NBC from the Rose Bowl. Always one of my favorite games of the year, as both schools wear their full colors. Trojans lead the series 50-34-7. The battle for the Victory Bell often decided who would win the Pac-12 and go to the Rose Bowl. This year, both teams are just trying to get to a bowl.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Southern Cal | UCLA | .805 | 12.7 | 34.7 | 22.0 | 56.7 |
Colorado State (7-3) at Fresno State (5-5), 9:30 p.m. on CBSSN. This game is of interest because, since losing to Texas 52-0 to open the Season, the Rams have gone 7-2, and are undefeated and in 2nd Place in the Mountain West. Their other losses are to Colorado and Oregon State.
Texas Longhorns Basketball
The Longhorns survived a Syracuse second half surge Thursday night to win 70-65 in the UKG Legends Classic, playing in the Barclay Center in Brooklyn. Arthur Kaluma and Tre Johnson led the horns with 16 points each, and Chendall Weaver posted 10. The Horns led by 11 at half (after shooting 66.7% from the field in the first frame), got it to 16, but the Orange battled back and took the lead. Hat tip to Coach Terry and the staff for keeping the team focused and responding to get a good win.
Texas will play the Saint Joseph Hawks Friday night at 8:00 p.m. on ESPNU. Saint Joe’s took down the Sand Aggies, 78-77.
Texas Longhorns Football
A look at the list of honors and awards for the Longhorns just this week. This team is getting the recognition it deserves!
- Jahdae Barron, Jim Thorpe Award National Player of the Week
- Kelvin Banks, Jr., Lombardi Award Finalist
- Kelvin Banks, Jr., Outland Trophy semifinalist
- SEC Players of the Week: Hayden Conner, Offensive Lineman; Alfred Collins, Defensive Lineman; Jahdae Barron, Co-Defensive Player
- Reese’s Senior Bowl, Defensive Players of the Week: Jahdae Barron & Alfred Collins
Texas One
The Texas One Fund is the official NIL collective that supports The University of Texas athletics. Texas One provides opportunities to Longhorns use their name, image, and likeness to promote charitable causes. Contributions to Texas One now count toward your Longhorn Foundation loyalty points. It is critically important to support Texas One and NIL for Longhorns. Consider a monthly donation. It makes a difference.
Good Stuff
The Juan Heisman Tailgate
The last tailgate of the regular season, and it will be a pachanga! The annual Tamale & Frito Pie Juan Heisman, with homemade tamales from Rose Marie Hagman’s cousin in Del Rio. Special treat from JHT CEO Judd Messer – pheasant poppers. We will have plenty of good Mexican beer to go along with it. I am also planning a Texas whiskey tasting for all our friends coming from Kentucky. Come by and enjoy one of the favorite tailgates of each season.
Washington & Lee University
The regular season concluded with a tough home loss to Shenandoah, 21-28. The Eagles rushing attack stayed apace with the Generals, as W&L rushed for 229 yards and 2 scores, but Shenandoah ground out 246 yards and 3 touchdowns. Both quarterbacks had TD passes.
Good news, the men get another game. W&L was invited to play in the Cape Henry Bowl, part of the Chesapeake Challenge between the Landmark Conference and the ODAC. The Generals will play the Wilkes University Colonels in Salem at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Colonels are 7-3, with wins over King’s College, St. John Fisher, Juniata, Lycoming, Keystone, Catholic, and Moravian. Losses to Rensselaer, SUNY Brockport, and No. 7 Susquehanna.
Week Twelve in the Southeastern Conference
Auburn took care of business against Louisiana Monroe, 48-14, a much need win for the Tigers. Covered (the line and the total).
Alabama Crimson Tide 52-7 over Mercer.
How bout those Gators!?! No. 22 Louisiana State goes down 16-27 to Florida in the Swamp. Congrats to Billy Napier and thank you very much for helping our SoS.
South Carolina 34-30 over Missouri.
No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs 31, No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers 17. Georgia covers, and that is 8 in a row over the Vols.
New Mexico State 3, No. 15 Texas Agricultural & Mechanical 38.
Week 12: Service Academies
No. 25 Tulane shuts out Navy 35-0
Air Force beat Oregon State 28-0. Big win for the Falcons.
Army had the week off as they prepare for a huge game the next week with Notre Dame.
Top 25 – Week Twelve
No. 2 Ohio State University 31-7 over Northwestern.
No. 17 Colorado hammered Utah 49-24. Shadeur Sanders 30/41 for 340 yards and 3 scores.
No. 20 Clemson held off Pittsburgh to win 24-20.
No. 4 Penn State 49-10 over Purdue.
Virginia Cavaliers go down hard to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 14-35.
No. 14 Southern Methodist stays undefeated in the ACC with a 38-28 win over Boston College. SMU is for real.
Leland Stanford Junior University 38, No. 19 Louisville 35. Love it. Louisville was favored by 20.5.
No. 13 Boise State ran to a 42-21 win over San Jose State (6-3). Ashton Jeanty ran for 159 yards and 3 scores.
Arizona State 24-14 over No. 16 Kansas State.
No. 1 Oregon struggled with Wisconsin and got out of Camp Randall Stadium with a 16-13 win. Ducks needed a 10 point fourth quarter to avoid the upset.
No. 18 Washington State with a stunning loss at New Mexico, 35-38.
Kansas upsets No. 6 Brigham Young 17-13 in Provo.
Other Games of Interest – Week 12
Friday
UTSA with a big 48-27 win over North Texas. Mean Green were favored by 1.
Washington 31-19 over UCLA.
Arizona pounded Houston 27-3. The 1.5 point line was off a bit..
Saturday
Nebraska had a chance, but Southern Cal pulled out the win 28-20. Line was 7.5.
Baylor a good road win in West Virginia, 49-35.
Texas State shellacked Southern Miss 58-3. Bobcats bowl-eligible, and GJ Kinne cashed in with a big contract extension, I believe to 2031. Cool, I will be in my 70s….
North Carolina 31-24 over Wake Forest. Congrats Coach!
Music
Josh Abbott Band playing LCL this week. Great music. Here a few.
Settle Me Down
She’s Like Texas
My Texas, with Pat Green
Quote of the Week
This week’s quote is from my friend who sends out a daily motivator, and this quote is also the reason for this week’s charity request. The quote is Carl Frederick Buechner (1926-2022), American theologian, author, and Presbyterian minister; from his 1973 book, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC.
“We lie in our beds in the dark. There is a picture of the children on the bureau. A patch of moonlight catches our clothes thrown over the back of a chair. We can hear the faint rumble of the furnace in the cellar. We are surrounded by the reassurance of the familiar. When the weather is bad, we have shelter. When things are bad in our lives, we have a place where we can retreat to lick our wounds while tens of thousands of people, many of them children, wander the dark streets in search of some corner to lie down in out of the wind.
Yet we are homeless even so in the sense of having homes but not being really at home in them. To be really at home is to be really at peace, and there can be no real peace for any of us until there is some measure of real peace for all of us. When we close our eyes to the deep needs of other people, whether they live on the streets or under our own roof—and when we close our eyes to our own deep need to reach out to them—we can never be fully at home anywhere.”
This month, November, is National Homelessness Awareness Month and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, annual observances to “acknowledge and raise awareness of the problems faced by youth, families and individuals at risk of and experiencing homelessness and food insecurity”,
The quote was circulated in honor of the employees and volunteers of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a “social outreach ministry in Austin, Texas that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998,” including its Community First! Village, a “master planned community that provides affordable permanent housing and supportive community for the chronically homeless in Central Texas” – “a transformative residential program” that “has become the largest relationally-focused model in the country lifting homeless men and women up off the streets into community and home”.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Please join me in supporting Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Alan Graham and his ministry.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes | Serving Our Homeless Brothers and Sisters
Jim Nicar
1906: Lutcher Stark, from Orange, Texas, was the first UTAustin student (and a future Board of Regents chair) to own a car on campus. Just before he graduated in 1910, Stark was also the first driver in Austin to get a speeding ticket – charged a $5 fine.
From Jim’s Post on November 17, 2024
If you have never visited the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports, it is well worth your time.
Follow Jim on X
Picture of the Week
From Austin photographer JType’s Instagram post on November 18, 2024
God Bless Texas
God Bless America
Dios y Tejas,
Tim Taylor
Member, Football Writers Association of America
Member, The Maxwell Football Club
Tailgating before Home Football Games
The Juan Heisman Tailgate
Lot 38, East of Sid Richardson Hall
HOOK EM HORNS!
The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch
Vol. XXI, No. 14
© Timothy C. Taylor, Sr. 2024. All Rights Reserved (as to original material).
On Twitter: @tctayloratx
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You can contact me by mail:
Tim Taylor P.O. Box 5371 Austin, Texas 78763-5371