Gary Patterson takes shot at Steve Sarkisian, Texas over Bijan Robinson carries

Following a contentious, back-and-forth rivalry game between Texas and TCU last weekend, which saw the Longhorns come out on top 32-27, TCU head coach Gary Patterson had some post game comments about the way his counterpart at Texas used his star running back Bijan Robinson.

“I would never do 35 carries like they did for the guy at Texas [Robinson] if you want to last four years, Patterson said. “[Evans] does need more touches, though.”

Zach Evans, TCU’s running back and a former five-star recruit, had 18 touches in Saturday’s game, including 15 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown. On the other sideline, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian used his running back and former five-star recruit Robinson over double the number of times as the Horned Frogs. Robinson finished with 35 carries for 216 yards and a couple of touchdowns plus two catches for 22 yards. 

Sarkisian said before the season started that Robinson would get significantly more playing time this year. He started in six of the nine games in which he saw action last season, but the former top running back recruit in his class averaged fewer than 10 touches per game. 

“If we can put a ballpark in that 18 to 22 range, roughly 20 touches a game, that puts us in a good position, I think, as a team, as an offense, and that still allows opportunity for other players to do what they want to do and what they can do to help our team,” Sarkisian said.

In total, Robinson had 703 yards and four touchdowns on the ground plus 15 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. 

This year, 37 touches has been by far the most the Arizona native has had in a game, but Sarkisian has largely stuck to his “roughly 20” number when it comes to his running back. In the four games prior to last weekend, Robinson had 24, 20, 14, and 20 touches. He has rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season except Texas’ lone loss at the hands of Arkansas.

Robinson will encounter the Big 12’s best run defense on Saturday

In the Longhorns’ matchups against Oklahoma this weekend, the Heisman candidate, who is climbing in the ranks, will face the best rush defense in the Big 12. Oklahoma is allowing just 83.6 yards per game on the ground. The Sooners’ front seven and pass rush are excelling under defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, tied for a nation-leading 46 sacks during Oklahoma’s current 13-game win streak.

Linebacker Nik Bonitto and a stout Oklahoma defensive line will have their eyes on Robinson on Saturday. They are averaging 7.6 tackles for loss per game this season, which is 15th in the country. 

“When you look at [Robinson], the film speaks for itself,” Grinch said. “He jumps off the tape. You kind of halfway see from afar as you prepare for your opponents and see the games. You hope when you turn on the video, it’s going to be hype and not real. But in this particular case, it matches.”