Search the Community

Remember the Ramada Inn! Is anyone around in the football offices that remembers the debacle of Mack’s first trip to College Station? Someone who knows Sark should let him know about the immature, win at all costs, children on the Brazos. We certainly don’t want a repeat of that fiasco! Just sayin… Hook ‘em!

My thoughts. 1. I have no idea if Sark will make it and get us where we want to go. 2. I think he does need at least 3-4 years more to attempt to get it fixed. Why you ask.. I have never started a thread like this and I really do not care who believes it etc. But here it goes. I am lucky enough to be good friend with several big time recruits parents right now. Here is a little feedback from them about the Texas program. Here are their thoughts 1. They think Sark is a good coach and can win here.. (they really like Sark) 2. Sark walked into a mess 3. Concerned fans and boosters will not give him time to fix it. Another coaching change scares them 4. The think the roster and culture is rotten. Bad players, bad mindset etc etc ( They think a ton of players need to leave) 5. Immediate playing time is important. 6. SEC move is good. Hook'em

i didn't play organized football growing up but for those that did, is this normal? http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18406477/clemson-tigers-lb-ben-boulware-says-grabbing-play-team-done-all-year-mess-players i do recall some of our football players in high school getting thumbs in the eye.

Former Texas head coach Tom Herman has found a landing place after his release by Texas in early January. Announced today, the Chicago Bears have hired Herman as an offensive analyst (with the title Offensive Analysts/Special Projects). The move to the NFL is the first for Herman, who went 32-18 while leading the Texas program for four seasons.

Just hours after firing Tom Herman after 4 years as head coach at Texas, the University of Texas hired Alabama offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian to replace him. Sarkisian will serve in his third head coaching position, with previous stints at the University of Washington (2009-2013) and USC (2014-2015). He played QB at El Camino College and BYU and served in the NFL as QB coach with the Oakland Raiders (2004) and OC of the Atlanta Falcons (2017-2018). Sarkisian, the 2020 Broyles Award winner, has spent the last two years with the Alabama Crimson Tide as the Offensive Coordinator. He will coach his final game with Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship Game on January 11th. Statement from Steve Sarkisian "On Jan. 4, 2006, I was the USC quarterback coach when we played Texas in that famed national championship game. There has always been something special about Longhorn football, its history and traditions – not just on that day – and I could never have imagined that 15 years later, I would join the Longhorns as their head coach," Sarkisian commented. "This is a unique and compelling opportunity to lead this storied program to the next level, competing once again amongst the best in college football." Statements on the Hiring of Steve Sarkisian "We are excited to have Steve Sarkisian join us and lead the next chapter of our football program. University of Texas football has a long and proud history of competing at the highest levels within our conference and nationally, and he brings with him the coaching caliber and championship experience needed to restore this kind of excellence to our program." --Kevin Eltife, UT System Board of Regents Chair "Hiring Steve Sarkisian represents a critical investment in our football program's future, not just for our student-athletes, but for all of Longhorn Nation. Our entire community benefits from a healthy and successful athletics program, and naming Steve as our coach infuses our football program with the necessary guidance and expertise to drive further success." -- UT President Jay Hartzell "Steve Sarkisian is one of the top offensive minds in the game of football, which he has proved over and over during his time with USC, Atlanta, and most recently, Alabama. We are confident our players and coaches will thrive under his leadership and in response to his energy and passion for the game." --Chris Del Conte, Vice President and Athletics Director

Sam closes his collegiate career ranked second on UT record in completions (923), passing yards (11,436), total offense (13,343), passing touchdowns (94), and total touchdowns responsible for (127). Ehlinger also ranks second among Longhorn quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns (33) and third in rushing yards (1,907).

Story by Dina Colunga Three key recruits in the class of 2020 have announced their top schools and the Texas Longhorns are in the running to nab all but one in Prince Dorbah, Ryan Watts, and Myles Slusher. The Texas Longhorns are coming off their best season in years and it is impressing the class of 2020. After hauling in the No. 1 recruiting class in the Big 12 and the No. 3 class in the nation for 2019, the Longhorns are looking to keep their spot among the clouds with next year’s group of players. So far, coach Tom Herman and the Longhorns have four commits for 2020 in Hudson Card, Jaylen Garth, Logan Parr, and Jake Majors. All are four-star recruits based in Texas. Last week, the Longhorns received some updates on who may be joining the class of 2020, with three recruits announcing their top schools. Prince Dorbah Four-star outside linebacker Prince Dorbah announced his top five schools on Friday and Texas made the cut. The Longhorns will be battling Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State for Dorbah’s signature. The 6-foot-2, 210 pound Highland Park product is the No. 15 outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 30 in the state of Texas per 247Sports. Through two years of varsity football, Dorbah has recorded 167 total tackles, 26 sacks, 39 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, and averages 5.8 tackles per game. He was also named the Defensive MVP during Highland Park’s state title game victory. If the Texas Longhorns get Dorbah’s pledge, he will be a deadly pass rushing addition to the defense. The quality production he has amassed for powerhouse Highland Park in its tough Class 5A league, shows not only promise but a high ceiling once he transitions to college football. Dorbah last visited campus unofficially in January and is currently favored to pick Texas via 247Sports’ Crystal Ball Prediction. Ryan Watts Four-star cornerback Ryan Watts also announced his top schools on Friday. Along with the Texas, Watts will be deciding between Arkansas, Baylor, Cal, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M. The 6-foot-2 and a half, 187 pounder is the No. 30 corner in the nation and the No. 49 in the state of Texas. The Little Elm product had a solid showing at The Opening Dallas Regional, recording a 4.59 second 40-yard dash, 38 inch vertical, 4.20 second shuttle, and securing a 116.91 overall rating in the 99th percentile of all recruits tested. Like Dorbah, Watts’ ceiling is high and his length and speed benefits one-on-one matchups. Watts’ Crystal Ball Predictions are split between Texas with 67 percent and Oklahoma with 33 percent. Watts is on the Texas Longhorns’ cornerback target shortlist along with Kitan Crawford, Joshua Eaton, Kelee Ringo, Dwight McGlothern, and Jalen Kimber. Myles Slusher Four-star safety Myles Slusher announced his top 10 schools on Friday, which unfortunately had the Longhorns absent. As of now, Slusher will be deciding between the Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas A&M, and TCU. The 6-foot-0, 181 pound Oklahoma native is the No. 14 safety in the nation and the No. 3 in the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma, Oregon, and Oklahoma State are all tied with 33 percent in Slusher’s Crystal Ball Predictions. With Slusher out of the running, the Texas Longhorns are looking to bring in any of the six remaining safeties who retain an offer. Four-stars Chris Thompson Jr., Bryson Washington, Darius Snow, Lathan Ransom, and Xavion Alford. All are in-state prospects except for Ransom whose hometown is Tucson, Arizona. Ransom and Snow are the only two whose Crystal Ball Predictions do not favor Texas.

Keep your prayers up for running back signee Derrian Brown. He was hospitalized following a rather serious medical situation. Out of respect for Derrian and his family, that’s all we can disclose at this time. Keep Derrian in your prayers.

Texas quarterback Shane Buechele reportedly informed the Texas staff today that he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. This would be a big loss to the Longhorns’ quarterback room, as Casey Thompson and Cam Rising are also already in the portal. Buechele would be a graduate transfer and immediately eligible to play. SMU is the perceived favorite, especially with former starting QB Ben Hicks transferring to Arkansas this offseason. The news was first reported by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.

This one is a little more unique, but not all that surprising. Rowland was unseated by freshman Cameron Dicker this season, and probably wasn’t going to see the field afterwards. Rowland had a shaky career at Texas, after signing with the Longhorns as the top kicker in the JUCO ranks. In his career at Texas, Rowland hit just 61% of his FG attempts (11/18), but nailed all of his XP attempts. Rowland gained the reputation of being shaky from 40+ yards, which is why Tom Herman went for it on fourth down so much in 2017; it costed Texas some games. Rowland is a senior and a likely candidate to become a grad transfer.

InsideTexas is reporting that Texas RBs Kyle Porter and Tristian Houston are entering the Transfer Portal. Porter mentioned earlier in the season that he may redshirt to preserve another season of eligibility. Houston has not received much playing time, if any, during his tenure at Texas. The potential transfers of both Porter and Houston is not surprising, but it does not bode particularly well for Texas' running back depth. If Porter and Houston both transfer out, here is what the potential depth chart could look like in 2019: 1. Keaontay Ingram (Soph.) 2. Daniel Young (Junior) 3. Kirk Johnson 4. Derrian Brown (Fresh.) 5. Jordan Whittington (Fresh.)

Spring football is coming. Texas officially announced today that the annual Spring Game will commence on April 13. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. at DKR. Entry is free for fans of all ages.

Casey Thompson is taking his name out of the NCAA Transfer Portal and will remain at Texas. The freshman quarterback is in line to compete with freshman Roschon Johnson for the No. 2 spot behind Sam Ehlinger in 2019. Shane Buechele and Cam Rising still have intentions to transfer. Would be great news for the Longhorns and add depth to a thinning QB room. 1/17 UPDATE: Thompson took to Twitter to announce he has not made any decision, refuting the report. 1/18 UPDATE: Thompson reportedly has informed the staff that he’s staying, per Anwar Richardson. Waiting for an official announcement from Casey. 1/19 UPDATE: a UT spokesman confirmed that Thompson is indeed staying at Texas.

No surprise here, but the four-star Mansfield Legacy prospect committed to Arkansas over Texas this afternoon. Texas fought as hard as it could, but Catalon’s family had too much influence in this one. Catalon would have been an ideal fit for nickel in Todd Orlando’s defense. Fortunately, the Longhorns aren’t hurting in the defensive secondary depth-wise.

Texas officials confirmed that Cam Rising has left the program and will transfer. With the news that Thompson is likely staying, the blow hurts a little less. Make no mistake, however, Rising was very talented and probably would have taken the reigns once Ehlinger was done.

The highly-coveted grad transfer from Alabama has decided to take his talents to Norman in 2019. This is an interesting choice, as Hurts does not really fit Riley's offensive scheme. Also of note, Riley told 2019 QB signee Spencer Rattler that he was not going to take any quarterback transfers. Hurts is undoubtedly an update to the QB room after the departure of Kyler Murray, however. The scene from Dallas will be interesting nonetheless in October.

The saga in the Texas quarterback room just got more interesting. Several weeks ago, Cam Rising and Casey Thompson both entered their names into the NCAA Transfer Portal. Since that time, Tom Herman has worked furiously to keep both in Austin. It appeared that Herman’s efforts were paying off with Thompson, but Rising has elected to explore other options. If Texas wants to keep the talented redshirt freshman in the fold, it will have to start re-recruiting him to stay in Austin. Otherwise, he may move back closer to home. The news was first reported by Alex Markham of UteNation.com.

The word "alignment" is thrown around a lot by Texas head coach Tom Herman, and it appears Texas football will remain aligned heading into the 2019 season. Herman reportedly informed his staff recently that each member will be retained for next football season. With former Kansas head coach David Beaty on the market after being fired earlier in the season, there was speculation that Herman would at least fire one staff member to make room for Beaty and his positive recruiting reputation in the DFW area. This news means that the following coaches will be retained: Tim Beck, Todd Orlando, Stan Drayton, Herb Hand, Drew Mehringer, Corby Meekins, Oscar Giles, Jason Washington, and Craig Naivar. Of course, several of these coaches could leave for better opportunities or even be re-assigned to a different role within the football program. Regardless, each member of the football staff has some sense of job security. What that means exactly remains to be seen. This second year staff helped Texas achieve its first 10-win season since 2009 and was the only team outside of Alabama and Clemson to knock off two top 5 opponents in 2018. The news on Herman's decision was first reported by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.

Ask and you shall receive. You guys really want to get this going early, huh? Texas opened as 11-point underdogs to Georgia, but the line will shrink some. This will be a great way to measure just how improved the Horns are. Get your picks in, ya filthy animals.

BY JAMESON MCCAUSLAND Following a loss in the Big 12 Championship, the Longhorns were rewarded with a trip to Sugar Bowl to face SEC runner-up Georgia. If not for a collapse against Alabama, the Bulldogs would have been playing in the College Football Playoff. Head Coach Kirby Smart learned under Nick Saban for years, so it is not surprising Georgia prides itself on great defense, but the Bulldogs offense also presents some unique challenges for the Texas defense. Let’s take a look at the Georgia offense: Quarterback Georgia boasts one of the best young quarterbacks in the country in sophomore Jake Fromm. Fromm started 14 games as a freshman a season ago, and nearly led the Bulldogs to a National Championship. The Georgia native is already widely considered one of the best QB prospects for the 2020 NFL draft. Fromm has thrown for 2,537 yards this season with 27 touchdowns compared to just 5 interceptions. Backup QB Justin Fields has seen sporadic playing time throughout the season, but he is a bit of an unknown heading into Tuesday’s matchup. Rumors began circulating weeks ago that the talented freshman will be transferring following the Sugar Bowl. Kirby Smart told reporters on Thursday that Fields is with the team and practicing, so there is a chance he could see a few snaps as a change of pace QB. Running Back The two-headed attack of D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield leads the Georgia rushing attack. Both backs have gone over 950 yards this year, with Swift leading the way at 1,037 yards. Swift and Holyfield have both benefited from superb offensive line play, but the duo has been able to pound the ball between the tackles all season. Wide Receiver/Tight End While the Bulldogs have some weapons in the passing game, they lack a sure fire go-to receiver. Junior Riley Ridley will be the likely focal point of the Texas secondary. The younger brother of former Alabama standout Calvin Ridley leads Georgia with 9 touchdowns and 498 yards. TE Issac Nauta ranks second on the team in receptions with 29 and has racked up 427 yards. The 6’4, 240-pounder is a matchup nightmare, and the Bulldogs offensive staff will utilize him in a variety of ways. Offensive Line Unfortunately, Texas will be facing another offensive line that is among the best in the country. The Longhorns struggled mightily against Oklahoma’s offensive line in the Big 12 title game, and Georgia’s group possesses similar talent. The Bulldogs start 1 freshman, 1 senior and 3 sophomores. The group manhandled Alabama’s defensive line for the better part of 3 quarters. Texas will have to find a way to generate pressure up front, or Fromm could end up having all day to throw.

Texas came up short today against the Sooners. The Longhorns had plenty of opportunities, but couldn't capitalize. Texas fought hard, but ultimately Kyler Murray and the Oklahoma offense did just enough to get the win in Arlington. Texas will now have to wait and see where it will go bowling later in December. They are destined for either the Alamo Bowl against Utah/Washington State or the Sugar Bowl against Georgia, Florida, or LSU (depending on the results of the SEC Championship. Here are some thoughts about the game. Lack of run production It's hardly ever great when your quarterback has the most rushing yards for your offense in the biggest game of the year. Sam Ehlinger had 42 yards rushing, averaging 2.8 YPC. Tre Watson had 39 yards rushing on 13 carries. The Oklahoma defense is statistically one of the worst run defenses in the country, and Texas could not take advantage. The Texas offensive line did not have a great performance today, and it showed by the lack of a rushing attack. This lack of rushing led to predictability in the Texas offense, which helped Oklahoma make several key stops throughout the game. It appears that bringing in David Beaty, who put up 40 points on Oklahoma and had a freshman running back put up crazy numbers, did not help the Texas offense much. Offense's failure to capitalize costed Texas Texas had several opportunities throughout the game to build a double digit lead, but never capitalized. At the beginning of the game, Texas had a chance to go up 21-6, and couldn't capitalize. Oklahoma quickly surged back and scored 21-unanswered points to lead 27-14 at one point. Later on, with Texas trailing by three, Gary Johnson forced a huge fumble by Cedee Lamb to give Texas another chance to garner the lead. Two plays later, Tre Brown came untouched on a corner blitz and sacked Sam Ehlinger for a safety. There were several other opportunities for Texas to capitalize, but they just continued to stall in key moments. That can't happen when you're playing the best offense in the country. Todd Orlando's unit did the best they could, and holding Oklahoma to 39 points is usually enough against the Sooners' defense. Not today. Penalties There was no doubt some atrocious penalties against Texas in this game. As I've stated before, this is going to be a huge factor that determines whether Texas stays in the Big 12. Instead of focusing on whether horns up or down should be a penalty, maybe Bob Bowlsby should focus on fixing this referee problem. Somehow it's gotten worse since Big 12 Head of Officiating Walt Anderson went to the NFL. Can't believe that's the case. With that being said, Texas had some really boneheaded penalties. Kris Boyd, specifically, did not have a great day penalty-wise. The senior CB got burned on several deep balls and was flagged for DPI. He also had a facemask penalty that negated an interception and a horse collar that was offset by an Oklahoma penalty. Anytime a team has over 100 yards in penalties, that's tough to overcome. The Texas defense had some penalties that extended Oklahoma drives and resulted in points. The Texas offense had some key penalties that killed drives, which just can't happen against the No. 1 offense in the country. This has been an issue for Texas all season, and is certainly something that Tom Herman is disappointed about following the loss. Kyler Murray can ball Love him or hate him, Kyler Murray is absolutely electric. Texas did a pretty solid job of playing contain the entire game. Even then, Murray was able to create plays out of nothing frequently. I don't know if I've seen a quarterback that's more elusive or fast as Murray since Michael Vick played at Virginia Tech. Granted, Murray had pretty much all day to throw due to Todd Orlando attempting to drop 8 and rush 3; regardless of pass rush, he's an elite playmaker. For a quarterback that's only 5'9, he has an elite feel for the pocket and is dangerously accurate. The Texas defense did about all they could today to give the offense a chance. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough. The only thing the defense could have done better on was something they've struggled with all year — get off the field on third down. Oklahoma had a great conversion rate today, and it's something that ultimately led to Texas' demise. Todd Orlando will have to clean that up in the offseason, as it costed Texas some games earlier in the season. Bowl game looms large It will be interesting to see how this team responds to this loss. Will they come out flat in the bowl game, or will they get up and ring in a solid performance? Time will tell, and it will show how much Tom Herman's culture has been engrained in the Texas program. Texas will either be placed in the Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA) or Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, TX). Obviously, many fans would prefer to see Texas in the Sugar Bowl. If the Longhorns travel to New Orleans, they will likely play Georgia (unless the Bulldogs beat Alabama in today's SEC Championship). That would be a tough matchup for Texas, but also gives Tom Herman a chance to show how well his team can stay with the best of the best. If Oklahoma doesn't get into the CFP and goes to the Sugar Bowl, Texas will face either Washington state or Utah in the Alamo Bowl. That's a much more favorable matchup, but Washington State will be tough to beat. Either way, this Texas team has come a long way from where it was several years ago. Texas fans should be proud of this team's accomplishments and should be excited for the future.

Texas faces Oklahoma more than once in a single season for the first time since 1903. In their first meeting, the Longhorns played spoiler to Oklahoma's undefeated season and came out on top 48-45 thanks to a last-second field goal by Cameron Dicker. The rematch means much more, however. Texas once again has a chance to play spoiler; this time, it can spoil Oklahoma's chances to attend the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma has solidified itself as the No. 1 offense in the country, but the Texas is much improved since the two teams last met in October. Our staff weighs in on the possibility of Texas beating Oklahoma twice in one season: Daniel Seahorn Beating OU once was a tall task in the Cotton Bowl. Beating them a second time in Dallas will be an even harder goal to achieve. It will be tough for both teams to catch each other off guard in this matchup given the familiarity they have with one another, but I have a feeling we will see the twists and turns we’ve grown accustomed to in the Red River Rivalry. It’s a given that both offenses are going score plenty in this matchup. Oklahoma’s defensive struggles are well documented coming into this one, and the Texas defense has had its issues as well this season. I’m betting we won’t be seeing the punters too often. The key is going to be which defense can come up with some timely turnovers or stops and give their offense the upper hand. In the first act we saw Kyler Murray turn the ball over twice, and we saw the Oklahoma defense force two key turnovers against West Virginia that ended up being the difference. Both units are capable of being opportunistic, but will they prove to be when they are in position to make the plays? We shall see on Saturday. So now comes decision time. This is essentially a coin flip decision for me. I think this has a chance to come down to who has the ball last — similar to the first matchup. I’m going to gamble this week and show a little faith in the Longhorns. I’m taking the Longhorns to win in another shootout and to knock off the Sooners for the second time this year. It won’t be the prettiest, but pretty wins don’t matter this time of year. Just win baby. Prediction: Texas 50 Oklahoma 48 Jameson McCausland Tom Herman hasn’t been shy about admitting that this Texas team is currently overachieving. Not many expected Texas to be in this position, and no one expected it after Week 1. The Longhorns have defied the odds and are now 1 win away from their first conference championship since 2009. The biggest factor in this game that I don’t think many people are taking into account is Texas has Malcolm Roach back. Roach missed the October matchup due to a foot injury. Roach’s presence along the defensive line has been felt since his return, especially in the last few weeks. I think Texas will come up with just enough stops on defense, and the Longhorns offense will punish an Oklahoma defense that pretty much solely relies on turnovers as their only form of stops. Call me crazy, but I think Texas gets their biggest win in almost a decade. Prediction: Texas 42, Oklahoma 38 Aaron Carrara The old saying about never wanting to play a team twice in a season, especially one that you beat, holds true in this case. The Longhorns handed the Sooners their only loss of the season back in October, but all Oklahoma has done since is win — and put up incredibly impressive offensive numbers. Texas has had spurts of “wowing” on offense, but not to the level of Kyler Murray and his offense. This is a rivalry game, but it has a different feel. No Cotton Bowl, no hallowed ground, etc. Texas keeps it close in the first half but the Sooners end up pulling away in the 4th quarter to win this one. Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Texas 38 Harrison Wier Texas has improved by a good margin on both sides of the ball since they last met Oklahoma in October. Oklahoma has improved offensively, but not defensively. If Texas were fully healthy coming into this matchup, my prediction would likely be different. However, Sam Ehlinger is still nursing an AC sprain in his shoulder and won't be 100% come Saturday. Brandon Jones is going to play on a sprained ankle. Keaontay Ingram and Tre Watson are banged up. The list goes on and on. Fortunately for Texas, the injuries won't slow them down much. They have a desire and passion that knows no bounds. This game will be a fight, I just don't believe the Texas defense will generate enough stops in the end. Have I been wrong? Yes. In fact, more so than anyone else this season. This team has proven me wrong time and time again, so why should tomorrow be any different? It may not be. If Texas can continue its offensive momentum from October's matchup and force Kyler Murray into making mistakes, Breckyn Hager will finally get to pull out the hair clippers. Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Texas 42

This is not part of the Coop Gift Card sweepstakes, which ended with Kansas. This is simply for fun. Get your picks in!

BY JAMESON MCCAUSLAND The Good McCulloch and Ossai When it was announced prior to kickoff that Gary Johnson was suspended for a violation of team rules, it meant Jeff McCulloch would slide over to the rover linebacker position and freshman Joseph Ossai would make his first career start at B-backer. Both played very well, with McCulloch pulling down a huge interception and being very active in the run game. Ossai showed many of the traits that made him a highly rated recruit in the 2018 cycle. Many fans are beginning to wonder what Texas will do at linebacker next year without Johnson and Anthony Wheeler, but it appears the Longhorns could be in good hands if McCulloch and Ossai continue to develop. Tre Watson and Keaontay Ingram continue to chip away on the ground It is difficult to imagine what the Texas running game would look like this year if Tom Herman wouldn’t have reeled in Tre Watson as a graduate transfer. Watson provided another solid performance, gaining 79 yards on 14 carries. Ingram, despite being slightly banged up with injuries, turned his 13 carries into 51 yards. Texas will need both backs to be fully ready to go against an Oklahoma defense that is sinking fast and basically has resorted to turnovers as their only form of getting stops. The message this week will likely emphasize ball security and taking the chunk gains that the Sooners defense has allowed all season. The Bad Sam Ehlinger is human The streak is finally over. For the first time since Maryland, Sam Ehlinger played a game that left a lot to be desired. There is little doubt he was still fighting through the shoulder injury he suffered against Iowa State, but #11 finished the game with a pair of interceptions and a few more throws that were head scratchers. Ehlinger will surely benefit from the extra day of rest and preparation for the Big 12 Championship, and Texas will need him to perform like he did at the State Fair a couple months ago if they want to come out victorious. The Ugly Special Teams struggles Aside from a Cameron Kicker field goal, it was a day to forget for the Longhorns special team units. Dicker had two kickoffs go out of bounds and the coverage unit gave up another long return that was bailed out by a review for a fair catch signal. The kickoff return unit was not much better. I am not sure what the success rate is for onside kicks, but I do know team are converting far more than the average against Texas. Additional miscues came courtesy of the punt return unit, where Brandon Jones let two punts roll inside the 5 yard line, then was blown up on an attempted return near midfield that resulted in him exiting with a head injury. Style Points One of the main takeaways from Tom Herman’s second season is the Longhorns have not been able to pull away in any game and win comfortably, especially against inferior opponents. Texas fans would much rather see wins than losses, but one of the next steps for Tom Herman will be getting his team to a point where they can step on people’s throats when presented the opportunity.

With a trip to the Big 12 Championship on the line, Texas travels to Lawrence to turn an opportunity into reality. Last time the Longhorns traveled to Lawrence... well, we don't need to get into that. With Sam Ehlinger back at quarterback, Texas is surely feeling confident about its chances. The Longhorns must be careful, however, as Kansas truly has nothing to lose. Our staff predicts the result of the final regular season game: Daniel Seahorn (5-6) This one is pretty straight forward. Win on Friday and the Longhorns are heading to the Big 12 title game and are a step closer to re-emerging on the national stage. It’s all right in front of this Texas team, and all that stands in their way is a revenge game in Lawrence. The fact that this game is any sort of revenge game probably makes Longhorn fans cringe, but here we are. The last trip to Lawrence doesn’t need any rehashing and I’m sure this group doesn’t need any reminders. Many of them were there and witnessed the debacle first hand, and now have a chance to not only make it right, but to move the program a step closer to a Big 12 championship. While this Jayhawk team has only notched one conference win, they won’t be taken lightly in Austin. They just put up 40 in Norman (while also giving up 55) and running back Pooka Williams Jr. had a monster day. He is now north of 1,000 yards on the season. Slowing him down will be the tallest task for the Texas defense heading into the matchup. With Sam Ehlinger likely starting at quarterback, I still feel confident in saying this chapter will end much more favorably for Texas than the previous one in Lawrence. On top of that the Longhorn defense is fresh off one of their best performances of the season against Iowa State, and that confidence will be huge heading into this one. I’m predicting a double digit win for the Longhorns and a trip to the Big 12 Championship. Prediction: Texas 38, Kansas 21 Jameson McCausland (7-4) I don’t expect this to be an easy game for Texas at all. Kansas has nothing to lose. Their coach has already been told he will be let go, and they won’t be going to a bowl game. I fully expect to see Kansas empty out the playbook with every trick play imaginable, because why not? Teams are typically dangerous when they play with the mindset of having nothing to lose. If Sam Ehlinger is able to play in this game, I feel confident the Longhorns will be able to pull away in the second half. I think Todd Orlando made the necessary adjustments last week after several bad games and it will carry over into Friday afternoon. This one may be closer than most think, but Texas will notch its 9th victory of the season and punch their ticket to the conference championship game. Prediction: Texas 31, Kansas 17 Aaron Carrara (9-2) Texas hits the road in its regular season finale to face an improved Kansas Jayhawks team. Sam Ehlinger has a banged up shoulder but is expected to start. A win gets Texas into the Big 12 Championship Game next weekend to face wither Oklahoma or West Virginia. The Longhorns found their stride on defense last week against Iowa State and they will need another stout performance on Friday. Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr. ripped Oklahoma’s defense for 252 yards on the ground last week, and Texas will need to be prepared to stop the run. The Longhorns are banged up as a whole, but this is a must-win for Tom Herman and Texas. The weather forecast calls for cold and rain in Lawrence, but Texas pushes through and holds on to win their 9th game of the season. Prediction: Texas 35, Kansas 24 Harrison Wier (4-7) I've been adamant this season about Texas proving they are an improved program. They've done that this year. All that stands in the way of a trip to the Big 12 Championship is a road trip to Lawrence to face the Kansas Jayhawks. With Sam Ehlinger likely starting at quarterback, much of the worries about facing Kansas should be subdued. The Jayhawks defense leaves much to be desired, and is especially subject against the run. The only big concern is how the Texas defense will fair against freshman phenom running back Pooka Williams Jr. The freshman torched Oklahoma for 200+ rushing yards last week, and has more than 1,000 on the season. If Texas can limit Williams Jr., the Kansas offense is extremely one dimensional. Todd Orlando showed that he could make positive adjustments last weekend, and I expect more of the same on Friday. With several players on the roster that know how the trip to Lawrence in 2016 turned out, Kansas will not be taken lightly. Ultimately, Texas should pull away in the second half and notch their first trip to the Big 12 Championship since 2009. Prediction: Texas 38, Kansas 28