Texas bringing a championship game mentality to Fort Worth while seeking revenge for 2022's clunker vs. TCU

The Texas Longhorns averaged 34.5 points per game in 2022 and had just two contests where they put up fewer than 20 points. One of those was the early-season thriller with the then top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The other? A clunker of an offensive performance in November versus eventual College Football Playoff finalist TCU.

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Steve Sarkisian‘s offense scored just three points in that game via a 22-yard Bert Auburn field goal in the third quarter. The other seven were the result of a Jahdae Barron scoop-and-score that was more of a right place, right time play capitalizing on a Max Duggan mishap than anything else.

Texas could not get things going on offense versus TCU last season. Even Bijan Robinson struggled, tallying just 29 yards on 12 carries. Texas didn’t even break 200 yards of total offense, falling one yard short with 199.

“We didn’t play very good against them last year,” Sarkisian said Monday. “You turn that tape on, they had a really good football team like they do this year. But man, we didn’t put our best foot forward a year ago and we made some really uncharacteristic errors.”

On Saturday, Texas looks to put its best foot forward in Fort Worth at 6:30 p.m. in an Amon G. Carter Stadium that is sure to be loud and proud for the final scheduled meeting between the Southwest Conference and Big 12 foes. In contrast to last season, Texas is the one with a single-digit ranking in the College Football Playoff by its name, and with a lot more to play for than the 4-5 Horned Frogs.

But as always, pride will be on the line and the Longhorns want to put a stamp on the series with TCU just before it goes away, especially after falling 17-10 in Austin last year.

“We know what happened when they came into our house and they got that game from us,” linebacker Jaylan Ford said Monday. “It’s us wanting to go get our revenge kind of deal. We’re going on the road, but we’ve got the most respect for TCU. The further you get down the season, the harder the wins become.”

The Longhorn offense was the main culprit in last season’s struggles. In addition to the meager 28 yards rushing, Quinn Ewers gave one of his several “freshman” performances last season. He was 17-for-39 for 171 yards and an interception (Ewers, according to Sarkisian, is “day to day” and threw on Monday after previously considered week to week).

“I would just say that we didn’t execute to our level or our standards,” center Jake Majors said.

But the defense was not without blame. Both TCU touchdowns were the result of significant lapses by the Longhorns. A poorly defended run allowed Kendre Miller to scamper 75-yards for a third-quarter score, while a miscommunication in the secondary left Quentin Johnston wide open for a 31-yard touchdown reception late in the game.

“We knew we gave it all we had,” cornerback Ryan Watts said. “We made some mistakes, but really we just have to grow from that.”

Texas has a chance to exorcise some demons from that result this weekend in Fort Worth, something the current team leaders are keen on doing with Big 12 Championship and even College Football Playoff aspirations.

Before they get to those lofty goals, the Horns have what they describe as a “championship game” this Saturday.

“It’s another championship game,” Barron said. “It’s going to be fun. We had our battles in the past, but those games don’t mean anything. It’s going to be a whole new game, a clean slate, come Saturday.”

TCU enters 4-5 and 2-4 in Big 12 play. Even with a poor record compared to last year’s dream campaign in Sonny Dykes‘ first year leading the Frogs, Sarkisian mentioned he expects the environment to be raucous as the Horned Frogs try to put one more past the Longhorns.

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Sarkisian also believes that 4-5 record is misleading.

“I don’t think the record is indicative of how good they are,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve had a couple tough losses that could have gone either way, then the record looks different.”

Dykes told reporters in Fort Worth on Tuesday that Josh Hoover and not Chandler Morris is likely to start at quarterback for TCU on Saturday. A redshirt freshman, Hoover has played in seven games this season and is 105-for-175 for 1148 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

“He’s slinging it,” Barron said. “He has a wonderful arm over there. He trusts his receivers. There’s going to be some shots in there.”

On defense, the Horned Frogs utilize a 3-3-5 Flyover defense called by Joe Gillespie. What’s different this season on that side of the ball is that draft picks like Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Dylan Horton, and Dee Winters aren’t patrolling the field for TCU. They are still talented on defense, but Texas sounded more confident on Monday in its ability to move the ball on this year’s TCU team.

“They run the same defense as they did last year, so we’re well prepared for what’s to come,” Majors said.

All that creates a showdown in Cowtown with plenty on the line, including bragging rights, championship places, and spots in the CFP rankings. Texas knows it is walking in as the hunted, as it has all season, and is preparing to face everything the Horned Frogs can muster for one last time in a battle between the two programs.

“They’ve got really quality players,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve got a veteran defense. They’ve got athletic quarterbacks. They’ve got good schemes. They’re really good on special teams. We know they’ll be ready to play. We know we’ll get their best shot.”