Thoughts on Texas, TCU, and the College Football Playoff

What do 45 and 41 have in common? Neither were enough points to win a College Football Playoff semifinal game.

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To my eyes, TCU looked as good or better than every team on the day because they looked the most well-rounded.

They played good offense and good, opportunistic defense.

Yes, they allowed some big plays on defense, but they also made some of their own, including two pick sixes. Of course, TCU’s offense made mincemeat of the Wolverines’ vaunted defense.

No matter the opponent, the Horned Frogs’ continue to be able to muster a running game while stopping one from their opponent.

While many plaudits will be given to head coach Sonny Dykes, the play-caller for TCU is Garret Riley and he was the real star of this game and the season.

Riley utilized just the right amount of run game to go with a passing game that mixed in deep shots with underneath routes. He seemed to always have a counter to whatever the Wolverines were thinking.

The drag route to Quentin Johnston was a back-breaker but made entirely possible because the Wolverines brought a blitz that vacated the very spot Max Duggan deposited the ball.

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Yesterday also showcased just how one-sided teams from other conferences try to win games.

Michigan couldn’t get a consistent run game going. And that’s when too much focus fell into the lap of the young JJ McCarthy.

Michigan was never going to win a game that would be decided by throwing the ball. McCarthy is a good player and will probably be a great one before all is said and done.

But he was nowhere near ready to throw the ball 40 times and win a tight game. Duggan was.

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I don’t subscribe to the idea that Georgia, the winner of the other national semifinal, will have a walkover in the final against TCU.

Like Michigan, I expect Georgia to go into the TCU game expecting that their offense will be different, that they’ll somehow be able to run the ball consistently against TCU. The 3-3-5 lulls you into that.

And Georgia won’t be able to. Not consistently.

If it comes down to Duggan vs Stetson Bennett in a last-minute passing contest, I’d take Duggan.

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I came out of yesterday convinced of a couple of things.

1. Riley is likely the best young OC in the country.

2. TCU, not Ohio State, has the best group of receivers in the country. The Buckeyes’ group is terrific but they’re not quite as experienced as TCU’s.

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For Texas football to compete for the championship, let’s look at where Texas really fails to adequately match up with TCU.

– The secondary. TCU’s secondary is both faster and better overall than the Horns’. On defense, it’s the singular position group that’s not even remotely close IMO. Gary Patterson recruited a bunch of physical, fast ballhawks, stars be damned.

– Receivers. TCU has the best group in the country. Texas struggled at its top spot and to even find three all year.

– Pass protection. The Horns were forced much of the year to play with an extra tight end for pass protection. TCU, with its veteran line, did not have that encumbrance.

There may be more nuanced aspects as well. But those are skill set ones that I feel are obvious.

So what do the Horns need to do?

1. Get better and faster in the secondary.

Terrance Brooks should help and be ready next year. Gavin Holmes should bring some ability there as well.

And find a safety to match with Jerrin Thompson in the portal.

More speed is needed overall. Neither Thompson nor Ryan Watts are considered fast relative to their positions. So how does Texas manipulate that?

2. As for receivers, it’s likely a mix of Isaiah Neyor, the portal and one or two of the young receivers. But unless it’s the portal, I don’t suspect Texas to have the experience like TCU had this season comparatively.

3. Pass protection should be getting better over time. The personnel is on campus. It just won’t be perfect next year. But reliance on a second TE should be lessened though. While improved, Texas is probably another full year (2024) before pass protection might be considered elite.

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I’d be remiss not to mention Texas’ basketball win over Oklahoma yesterday. The Horns went in to Norman and pulled one out at the free throw line.

Sir’Jabari Rice was nails down the stretch.

This win was important. It was the first conference contest and one in a hostile atmosphere.

While we wait to hear what eventually is decided about Chris Beard, the Texas basketball team, its players and coaches, has held it together admirably. They’ve done their part to keep the hopes of a big NCAA tournament run alive.