Texas vs. Oklahoma: Rising Longhorns Will Fall Against Sooners

There’s no doubt that the Texas Longhorns are a far better team than they were a season ago. Even with youngster Case McCoy replacing the injured, and transferring, Garrett Gilbert at QB, the offense has been a far cry from last year’s turnover-prone mess.

The Longhorns ground game has bounced back behind freshman Malcolm Brown (327 yards) and senior Foswhitt Whittaker (four TDs). McCoy won’t make anyone forget big brother Colt any time soon, but he’s completed 26 of 37 passes on the season.

The rosy outlook, though, will get a harsh dose of reality on Saturday in the Red River Rivalry. As much better as UT has gotten, it still doesn’t belong on the same field as national title contender Oklahoma.

The Longhorns haven’t yet faced a defense that even approaches Oklahoma’s talent level, and a freshman QB against a veteran defense is a dangerous mix. Senior LB Travis Lewis (23 tackles in three games since returning from a toe injury) could have a field-day against the young Texas offense.

The bigger problem for Texas, though, will be stopping Landry Jones and the mighty Sooners passing attack. Although the Longhorns secondary has played well, the defense has just four sacks in four games.

If Jones gets to sit in the pocket and read the defense at his leisure, he’ll pick Texas apart.

Just as importantly, the ball-control Longhorn offense that’s worked so well through four games isn’t built for coming from behind. If Landry Jones can put OU up by a couple of TDs early, McCoy will be forced to throw more than he’d like and Texas will be out of its comfort zone.

Texas doesn’t even have the luxury of loading up on DBs and ignoring the run, as Sooners RB Dominique Whaley has already scored seven TDs on the ground this season. Whaley (who’s also averaging 12.4 yards per reception) won’t have it easy against a solid Longhorns D, but if Texas over-commits to the pass, he’ll be there to take advantage.

Expect this to be a back-and-forth contest in the early going, only to spiral into a Sooners blowout once the Longhorns fall behind by more than a touchdown.