Three Count: Robinson in proper company among Texas' best, Max Duggan's fourth UT game, ranking remaining schedules

Texas running back Bijan Robinson is 41 yards short of 3000 for his career, something only six other Longhorn legends have been able to achieve. Those names are the ones who people still talk about today. Ricky Williams. Cedric Benson. Earl Campbell. Jamaal Charles. Chris Gilbert. Vince Young. When we look back years later, whether it be two, five, or ten, there should be no problem placing Robinson among that group.

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Every member of that group had a unique trait that set them apart. For Williams, it was his ability to be the same elite ball-carrier on carry one as on carry thirty. Benson, who had to operate in the shadow of the memory of Texas’ second Heisman Trophy winner, added a unique tenacity and affinity for contact as well as the ability to pull away. Campbell possessed an on-field brutality where every situation save for ”first and a mile” was a good time for him to get the football. Charles had world-class speed seen more often these days among receivers than backs. Gilbert was the key cog in making the wishbone so effective in Darrell Royal’s dynastic run. Young, the only quarterback on the list, possessed the ability to effortlessly glide with an unmatched bravado that returned Texas to glory.

For Robinson, it’s his ability to move like a player who should be three-quarters his size. Players who are 6-foot-0, 220 pounds aren’t supposed to cut the way he does. Turning on a dime doesn’t do it justice. Plus, even when plays aren’t blocked well, he maneuvers his way back to the line of scrimmage — at the minimum — via moves, physicality, and sheer will. What he may lack in breakaway speed, he makes up in able to Houdini his way out of even the tightest of phone booths.

There will be an argument that Robinson’s resume can’t match those of the players he is statistically placing himself in the company of because of the lack of on-field success. He has only won one bowl, an honor with diminishing importance in the modern college landscape, has yet to play for a conference title, and even has been a part of a team with a losing record.

While reasonable, that means little when I’m able to see him do what he does on the football field. His coming out parties in 2020 against West Virginia, Kansas State, and Colorado hinted at what was to come in his career. So too did breaking the school’s six-decade old yards per carry held by Jimmy Saxton, once considered to be untouchable. His run in Texas’ ill-fated 2021 contest against Oklahoma, where he reversed field and had ESPN’s Chris Fowler yelling ”looking like Reggie Bush” on the call, may go down as his finest despite the contest’s eventual result.

Plus, Robinson still has games left in his Texas career to strengthen what will be an impressive legacy considering Texas is in the thick of the Big 12 title race. He is up for many postseason national awards, including the Doak Walker Award if not the Heisman. The NFL is almost certain to come calling in a few short months.

He’ll have plenty of opportunity to determine his own legacy. He received 30 carries against Kansas State. A significant opponent comes to town this weekend in TCU, who he carried the load against last year.

I’m excited to see what he’s able to do in what could be his final few appearances in burnt orange. I also will watch these games knowing he’s one of the best to tote the rock in school history, no matter how these games turn out.

Round 4 for Max Duggan

TCU quarterback Max Duggan is set to make his fourth career start versus Texas this Saturday. So far, the Iowa gunslinger is 2-1 against the Longhorns and was a key part of several recent Horned Frog wins over Texas.

As a freshman in 2019, Duggan’s arm and legs willed the Frogs to victory. He was 19-of-27 for 273 yards and two touchdowns to one interception, but his rushing ability is what sealed the game for TCU. He carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards and a score. That fourth-quarter 11-yard touchdown rush sealed the TCU win helped in part by four Longhorn turnovers.

In 2020 in Austin, Duggan’s legs once again sealed a Horned Frog win. His 26-yard touchdown run with 4:01 left gave TCU a lead it would not relinquish and gave Texas its first loss of the 2020 season. Duggan was 20-of-30 for 231 yards and added 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Texas finally got one over Duggan in 2021 in Fort Worth. Duggan was a paltry 20-of-28 for 182 yards and added just 33 yards on the ground. It was not one of Duggan’s best games even though it didn’t include an interception.

This year, Duggan is playing like a Heisman candidate even if he didn’t win the starting job to begin the season. Duggan’s ability, plus Kendre Miller running the ball and Quentin Johnston on the outside, gives the fourth-year player the typical high-level Big 12 skill arsenal.

He’ll have an opportunity to not just determine if he finishes his career with a winning record over the Longhorns, but if he can continue to lead TCU to great conference and national heights in Sonny Dykes’ first year.

Four teams for two spots in Arlington

Four teams are in contention for the Big 12 title: TCU, Texas, Kansas State, and Baylor.

In conference, TCU sits atop the leaderboard with a 6-0 record. Behind them are Baylor, Texas, and Kansas State all at 4-2.

Here how I have each team’s remaining schedules ranked according to difficulty, with No. 1 being most difficult.

1. Baylor: Kansas State, TCU, at Texas
2. TCU: at Texas, at Baylor, Iowa State
3. Texas: TCU, at Kansas, Baylor
4. Kansas State: at Baylor, at West Virginia, Kansas