Five Key Longhorns Ahead of the National Semifinal Against Ohio State

Games only get moderately bigger than this one.

Texas takes on Ohio State this Friday in hopes of keeping its season alive. The winner will play the victor between Penn State and Notre Dame. There are a lot of fans who struggle with what a blue blood is. *Gazes towards Eugene, Oregon*. The remaining four teams are blue bloods, though much of Penn State’s time in the sun is justifiably tarnished.

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Many football scholars have left the Horns for dead and indeed they’re a justifiable underdog, but on the Richter scale of upsets a Texas victory wouldn’t wake a heavy sleeper.

It’s pretty simple, if Texas plays its best game on the grandest stage it will win. The below five players balling out would go a long way towards Texas playing its best game and advancing. 

Quinn Ewers, QB

Ewers will be the most important player on the field when determining which way this game will go. If he plays well, Texas has a good chance. If he plays great, Texas will win. Playing great against Ohio State is a tall order given the Buckeyes defense occupies the same rarefied air as Texas. 

But Ewers can’t do it alone. Head coach Steve Sarkisian will have to be as dialed in as his quarterback and Texas is going to have to find a way to run the ball or simulate the run with RPO’s or swing passes to the running backs. Ohio State must be knocked off balance if Ewers hopes to establish a rhythm of jab, jab, overhand.

We must also discuss the offensive line, not just as run blockers but also pass protectors. Ohio State is No. 3 in the country in generating sacks per game (3.4). While Texas has been good at pass protection all year, the Buckeyes present one of the stiffest challenges they’ll have faced all season. 

If the ecosystem around him is clicking it’s a must that Ewers takes advantage with confident, accurate, and anticipatory play, to include scrambles to extend drives.

Jahdae Barron, CB

The best cornerback in college football against the best wide receiver in college football. No matter what coverages Texas decides to mix and match, Barron has to do his job to limit the damage done by Jeremiah Smith. 

Smith is not as invincible as he’s made out to be but he is every bit as talented as the most fawning opinions. He had three 100-yard games in the regular season but already has two in two playoff games. 

Just as Ewers will need help, Barron will hopefully benefit from a good pass rush, help over the top at times, and disguised coverages that make Will Howard hesitate and hold the ball. 

Gunnar Helm, TE

The only big game Helm was quiet in was the rematch against Georgia. In every other contest he ranged between very good to a force, at least as a receiver. The Arizona State game was trending towards an unexcused absence but he came up huge late in the game and overtime. 

Who wants to see more of Gunnar Helm the receiver and less of Gunnar Helm blocking Ohio State’s NFL Edges?

Assuming Ohio State sticks to man principles on the outside receivers, Helm will receive his share of attention but he and Ewers have been good at navigating zone coverage all year long. 

Colin Simmons, Edge

Jeremiah Smith very well could have won the Shawn Alexander Freshman of the Year award but it went to Simmons instead. You expect to see elite talent in a game like this but both of those guys look to become the elite of the elite by the time they’re ready to declare for the NFL.

To win this game, Texas needs the positive feedback loop of good pressure on Howard and good coverage on not only Smith but also Emeka Egbuka. No other Texas player has the ability to create pressure like Simmons with his quickness, snap anticipation, closing speed, and motor. 

Simmons could have a national coming out party on Friday night.

Matthew Golden, WR

With the injury to Isaiah Bond and the inconsistency of the run game, the junior wide receiver has become Texas’ best and most reliable playmaker. In his last five games he has 28 receptions for 519 yards. Curiously, in those five games he’s only scored one of his nine touchdowns on the season. That was a pretty memorable touchdown, though.

Golden should find himself in man coverage quite a bit on Friday and given his route running ability, hands, ball skills, and apparent cohesion with Ewers he could be in line for another big game. Texas certainly needs it. 

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Another receiver, whether DeAndre Moore, Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo, or even Silas Bolden, must also step up. They should force-feed more easy touches to Wingo but I digress.