IT Roundtable: SEC debut, Texas vs. Mississippi State predictions, keys to the game, and more

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns open Southeastern Conference play on Saturday against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Inside Texas staff offers keys to the game, players to watch, score predictions, and more in the Roundtable.

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The SEC is FINALLY here. What do you remember about that late July day in 2021 when the news broke?

Eric Nahlin – I remember it being go time. I had been hinting to the board that realignment was going to happen sooner than people think. I found out on July 9. I think it broke July 21. That was fun.

Justin Wells – I was thinking about how our lives were about to change, and how covering recruiting was about to hit another level.

Ian Boyd – Mostly the total meltdown that occurred both from Texas A&M fans as well as the rest of the Big 12, which somehow never imagined this would happen to them even as they routinely decried Texas as being selfish.

Joe Cook – Watching then Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork try to do anything he could to scuttle the move on ESPN was extremely entertaining. Remember, his institution voted to allow the Longhorns and Sooners in a few short days later.

Paul Wadlington – Just relieved that we finally had the administrative cojones to set a bold course and abandon the rotting corpse of the Big 12. Extremely impressed with opsec. No leaks!

James Hayden – I thought college football as we know it was changed forever, it was surreal.

Charlie Williams – I remember saying it’s about time something like that happened.

Texas went from embarrassing losses to Arkansas and Kansas to decisive wins over Alabama and Michigan. What POSITION as made the biggest strides to make that happen in the Sarkisian era?

Eric Nahlin – Texas’ NIL position. The whole team is bigger, faster, stronger. It’s a been a team lift but Sark is obviously the catalyst. He wanted a SEC team for the Big 12. That loss to Arkansas opened everyone’s yes and helped create buy in to his mission.

Justin Wells – Offensive line. There were years that Texas didn’t field a consistent and competent O-line until Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood arrived. QB is a close second.

Ian Boyd – It has to be the offensive line, which was humiliated in Fayetteville and is now one of the best units in the country. I suppose there are a few spots that have made massive leaps since then though. The quarterback room is a tad better as well.

Joe Cook – There’s good reason to point to O-line but it has to be quarterback for me. Texas’ 2021 quarterback room featured a current Power 4 starter for possibly the worst team in the Big 10 and another player who washed out at two different schools with injuries of varying degree to where he needed to walk-on to find a place for his seventh year. Now Texas has Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, with Trey Owens, KJ Lacey, and Dia Bell on the way. Yeah, that’s night and day.

Paul Wadlington – Is there any that hasn’t other than RB? QB, OL, Edge, WR, the secondary… it goes on and on. Our 2021 edge room was sad. Now it’s glad.

James Hayden – O-line and D-line, particularly the depth and sheer size of those players.

Charlie Williams – Quarterback. Remember the 2021 room? Look at the room now. It’s a lot different.

What does Texas need to do to make Michael Van Buren‘s (or Chris Parson‘s) life difficult on Saturday?

Eric Nahlin – Just keep him in the pocket. The kid has some tools but he’s not ready for this.

Justin Wells – Pressure, pressure, and more pressure. Pete Kwiatkowski should blast Under Pressure from David Bowie and Queen during pregame.

Ian Boyd – Good tight coverage on the receivers that removes the chances for any free access throws underneath would make a big difference. Young quarterbacks don’t do well when asked to beat man coverage with pressure in front of them. Old quarterbacks don’t like that either.

Joe Cook – Tight coverage. The Veer and Shoot likes one-on-one matchups but these aren’t the types of one-on-one matchups the Bulldogs can win. Van Buren is going to be counting numbers in the box to dictate what he does. Even if it’s easy, Texas just needs to win those one-on-one matchups and that starts outside.

Paul Wadlington – Don’t allow early and easy throws with tight coverage, constrict the pocket, make a 6-foot tall freshman try to find open men through the clutter, pressure and oncoming hits.

James Hayden – Get pressure off the edge, a few sacks would be nice, continue to cover the top and not let anything by them. Allow them to dink and dunk.

Charlie Williams – I think Texas can win playing base and just getting pressure with four. I wouldn’t rush either of them because they can scoot and will make use of the running game.

Key to the game on offense regardless of who starts at QB for Texas?

Eric Nahlin – Hit the receivers when they’re open.

Justin Wells – Effective use of Jaydon Blue. He learned something about himself last week. Let’s see him build on it.

Ian Boyd – No turnovers. Arch Manning coughed it up a couple of times last week and you don’t want to be doing that in conference play.

Joe Cook – Jaydon Blue and Jerrick Gibson, it’s y’all’s time. The Longhorn running back room is a MASH unit and those two need to make sure they do their jobs effectively because they’re going to have a lot of opportunities on Saturday. Ryan Niblett, you too.

Paul Wadlington – Just execute and trust the receivers. The Texas OL will provide ample time. Texas running backs need to start breaking some tackles or forcing open field misses.

James Hayden – Run the damn ball!

Charlie Williams – Utilize the running game and make sure the defense limits YAC.

Score prediction

Eric Nahlin – 45-10, Texas

Justin Wells – 48-14, Texas

Ian Boyd – I’m adjusting from 63-6 to 56-13 after seeing more film of Mississippi State.

Joe Cook – 45-7, Texas

Paul Wadlington – 49-9, Texas

James Hayden – 48-13, Texas

Charlie Williams – 57-13, Texas

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We all know what the game of the week is. Alabama or Georgia?

Eric Nahlin – Yeah, and I can’t wait to watch it. I think Alabama wins a close, low scoring affair. Jalen Milroe ascends to the lead of the Heisman race. Easy kid to root for until Quinn Ewers sits next to him in NYC.

Justin Wells – Bama thanks to Jalen Milroe and Jam Miller.

Ian Boyd – I think it’s Alabama. Georgia has been coasting a little on reputation.

Joe Cook – I think this is a Jalen Milroe game and he puts in the type of performance at home against a stout Georgia defense to where he takes the Heisman frontrunner spot. 2+4=6, right? Big one for Kalen DeBoer.

Paul Wadlington – Great matchups. Both teams are hiding weaknesses that the other team will work to exploit. Are Alabama’s receivers just JAGS outside of their true freshman? Can they separate at all? Is the Tide secondary concealing a lot of inexperience? Conversely, Georgia can be run on and their offensive play calling and execution has been less than inspiring. Their skill players haven’t performed as expected. Georgia got away from an effective passing game last year and gave the game away. Alabama needs a big-time performance from Jalen Milroe who excels in the short and deep game, but looks terrible intermediate. Alabama will come out running Milroe and Jam Miller and try to set up some downfield kill shots. Love this game.

James Hayden – Alabama. Kirby Smart is not that guy.

Charlie Williams – Alabama.