Inside Texas Roundtable: Texas vs. Texas Tech storylines, players to watch, predictions

The Inside Texas staff brings predictions, players to watch, and more in the Roundtable.

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Steve Sarkisian has praised the class of 2019 and 2020 players who stayed with Texas. What stands out to you most about this group as their careers wind down?

Eric Nahlin – How much they’ve matured either physically, technically, mentally, or all the above. Don’t forget Christian Jones who was in the 2018 class.

Justin Wells – Players that stuck around after a tumultuous time in Austin, bought in to Sarkisian’s vision, and helped anchor a potential Big 12 Championship run.

Ian Boyd – I think the 2019 and 2020 classes have testified to Sark being the right hire because they actually developed and dug into roles in a way we hadn’t seen from Longhorns under previous coaching staffs. Texas underachievement and instability had been the name of the game and you don’t get breakouts like 2023 T’Vondre Sweat with a losing culture and instability.

Joe Cook – First years under a new coaching staff are difficult. There’s a new way of doing things, new schemes, and an adjustment period that often doesn’t immediately translate to wins. The Longhorns experienced this in 2021 with a 5-7 season, and players like Christian Jones, T’Vondre Sweat, and others who were on that team are now part of a winning program. Losing isn’t fun, and sticking with Texas even after a dismal season is worthy of a lot of praise.

Gerry Hamilton – The player development and buy in. The strength of the Texas program under Sarkisian and staff is development.

Bobby Burton – They bought in to someone who didn’t recruit them. And then there’s the development. They let themselves be developed instead of fighting it.

Paul Wadlington – Interesting to see the less heralded T’Vondre Sweat and Jaylan Ford types who stuck it out and succeeded while many of the most highly rated members of the classes careened around the portal and never really made a dent anywhere. The hit rates on those classes wasn’t great, but I have a lot of affection for the guys that stuck it out.

Texas is No. 7 in the playoff rankings and TTU will be a common opponent after this weekend. How much should that affect the committee’s thoughts?

Eric Nahlin – If September’s results didn’t matter that much Texas wouldn’t be ahead of Alabama given how each has played since that game. But September does matter and Texas Tech is currently playing its best football of the season. What Texas does on Friday night should be measured against Oregon, though Oregon was on the road.

Justin Wells – 0.0%.

Ian Boyd – Probably not that much. I wouldn’t stress much about all that, everyone has a number of tough games left on the schedule and today’s arguments about resume tend to amount to jack squat once all the games are actually played. Oregon will probably have to go through Oregon State and Washington to make the playoffs and the odds of that happening aren’t even all that high. If they do, what are the odds everyone else ahead of Texas made it through their challenges? And none of that matters if Texas doesn’t win out.

Joe Cook – A double-digit margin in this game would give them something to think about. Longhorns fans should be Beavers fans over the next few weeks, too.

Gerry Hamilton – Very little. Texas Tech lost their starting QB for the season. Even if Texas beat up on Tech, Oregon will be judged more by the Oregon State game this weekend.

Bobby Burton – Not much. Oregon was on the road. Texas is at home.

Paul Wadlington – The committee is pretty much making it up as they go along and their verbal explanations are utter babble, but UT possibly blowing out Texas Tech in Austin in contrast to Oregon playing Tech down to the wire might be a persuasive data point for them. The argument against Oregon is their weak Pac-12 strength of schedule and feeble non-con. Their struggles in Lubbock could be an interesting contrast to Texas handling business in Austin.

The Red Raiders are on QB2 but they have a RB1 in Tahj Brooks. What’s the key to stopping the Tech back?

Eric Nahlin – Making sure T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy don’t overeat this week. Brooks is a fine runner but I expect Joey McGuire to lean on the pass early and often.

Justin Wells – T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy, Barryn Sorrell, Vernon Broughton, and Alfred Collins. Just let them listen to Joey McGuire’s mouth over the last 12 months for motivation.

Ian Boyd – Tempo is probably the only way Tech is able to meaningfully run the football on Friday. They need to pick up first downs with the pass game, push the tempo, and get Texas’ D-linemen huffing and puffing. The key to stop him is to get first down stops which slow the Red Raiders’ pace down and gets them uncomfortable with the offensive staff thumbing through the gameplan looking for passing down solutions.

Joe Cook – Let T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy continue to feast. If Texas Tech wants to run the ball, let them try. It won’t go well against the Longhorns’ top D-tackles.

Gerry Hamilton – When Sark talks about populating the football, listen. Texas better populate to Brooks. He’s a tackle breaker.

Bobby Burton – He rarely goes down on contact with one player. So it’s about “populating the football” as Sark likes to say.

Paul Wadlington – He’s good after contact and does an excellent job of attacking first daylight. Despite his size (5-10, 230+) he’s very capable running outside zone. Disrupt him early and hit him before he can get his pads squared downhill.

Of the 25 players being honored on senior day, whose contributions are you most thankful for?

Eric Nahlin – Probably Jordan Whittington given all he’s been through. Coming in as a five-star with all the hype and showing early promise, then getting hurt three seasons in a row was difficult. On top of it, he’s been more of a wide fullback than receiver. I love how hard he plays and believe he still has a lot of football ahead of him.

Justin Wells – Sweat coming back, Ford’s refurbishing, and Christian Jones loving ATX an extra year.

Ian Boyd – Give me flex fullback Jordan Whittington, a 5-star talent who’s best years at Texas have been defined by blocking and leadership.

Joe Cook – I have had a front row seat for Jordan Whittington’s football career. I got to see him play and excel at Cuero. I was there for the 2018 state title game. I remember the 2019 carries versus Louisiana Tech and the glimpse of what he could be. His career has been up and down, but his effort has never waned. He’s a tremendous football player and I can’t wait to see him rewarded at the next level.

Gerry Hamilton – Jordan Whittington. It’s difficult to be the fifth option offensively on a team and still bring relentless effort on an every down basis. He has overcome injury and position switches and has never blinked in terms of leaving it all on the field.

Bobby Burton – Jaylan Ford. Team leader. Got the most out of himself. Great representative of the university. I hope he’s in the Texas Hall of Honor one day.

Paul Wadlington – Can’t really choose one. But I have a soft spot for the development of Christian Jones. He was nearly unplayable early in his career but he put in the work and time and turned himself into half of the league’s best tackle duo and a possible NFL guy. Watch some old film from 2020. He’s come a long way.

Favorite Thanksgiving tradition OR food item

Eric Nahlin – Just being with family and friends is all I care about. Perhaps a new tradition will begin if Texas wins Friday night while I serve one of Boogieman’s (beloved IT reader who passed away) dishes.

Justin Wells – Dallas Cowboys, buttermilk pie, and plenty of mashed potatoes.

Ian Boyd – As a fan of relaxation and a chill, grateful atmosphere, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. If I can just assemble a sandwich from a Thanksgiving roll or biscuit with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and butter… I’m good.

Joe Cook – My mom has a recipe for oyster dressing which is one of my favorite dishes ever. It’s always great to relax with family and throw on whatever football game is on.

Gerry Hamilton – Afternoon nap.

Bobby Burton – Mashed potatoes.

Paul Wadlington – Pumpkin pie and scoop of vanilla ice cream is hard to beat. Cajun dirty rice is an elite underrated side.

Pick these games: TCU/OU, BYU/OSU, ISU/KSU

Eric Nahlin – Have to go with the three home teams: OU, Oklahoma State, K-State.

Justin Wells – Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and K-State.

Ian Boyd – I like the Frogs to shock a Jackson Arnold-led Oklahoma, OSU runs over BYU, K-State makes the Texas game academic by edging out Iowa State in a low scoring “Farmageddon.”

Joe Cook – OU, OSU, ISU.

Gerry Hamilton – TCU, OSU, KSU

Bobby Burton – TCU, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State

Paul Wadlington – TCU nearly foists the upset, but OU prevails. OSU over BYU, Kansas State beats the Cyclones.

Score prediction

Eric Nahlin – 34-17, Texas

Justin Wells – 55-0, Texas

Ian Boyd – 23-17, Texas

Joe Cook – 40-27, Texas

Gerry Hamilton – 37-24, Texas

Bobby Burton – 27-20, Texas

Paul Wadlington – 37-24, Texas