Three keys to the Texas Longhorns continuing to control their own destiny

When Texas joined the SEC much of the talk centered around the return of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry. Well, after A&M fans went through the five stages of grief, anyway. 

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A secondary storyline was the return of the Texas-Arkansas rivalry, though there was no embargo on that game. In fact, just two months after Texas’ conference realignment was announced in the summer of 2021 the Horns got walloped by Woo Pig Sooie in Fayetteville, the same venue as today’s game. 

Some things never change. Arkansas fans still hate Texas as much as literacy tests. But some things, like Texas’ station in the college football world, do change. This is a much different team than the one wandering the desert three years ago. Texas has found itself once again.

Much has been made of Texas’ strength of schedule. Fairly, I would add. That’s not UT’s fault. All the Horns can do is play and defeat the teams in front of them. More often than not they’ve done that convincingly. Though Arkansas is 5-4, the Razorbacks present challenges Texas has yet to see this year, namely a balanced and dangerous offense. To avenge 2021 and at least quiet the negative talk about SOS the Horns will need to win convincingly. 

More important than winning convincingly, however, is to get out of northwest Arkansas with a win, any win, and continue to control their own destiny. If they adhere to these three keys they’ll do just that.

Key No. 1: Start Fast

Texas’ first three series against OU: Interception, punt, punt

Texas’ first half against UGA: Punt, punt, fumble, interception, punt, punt, fumble. That’s basically binary code for ‘WTF?’. 

Texas’ first three series against Vandy: Interception, touchdown, touchdown. That’s more like it. They were a play or two away from blowing Vandy out.

Texas’ first three series against Florida: Missed field goal, touchdown, touchdown. That first drive was masterful until two bad plays kneecapped it. That was a fast start, imo.

Of these four teams Georgia was the best so it’s no surprise the offense got off to its slowest start against the Bulldogs. But, Georgia isn’t that damn good.

Often when Texas struggles to move the ball it’s been due to unforced errors like penalties and turnovers. When Texas gets off to a clean start the game is pretty much on a glide path. That sort of start is what the offense needs today. 

If the scoreboard dictates that Taylen Green presses, he’s going to throw picks to the best INT defense in the conference.

Key No. 2: Dominate the Lines

My takeaway from Arkansas’ win over Tennessee was the play from the Hogs’ defensive line. They are very good to solid up and down the line and they were the story of the upset over the Vols. Texas’ offensive line hasn’t been as dominant as we all hoped, particularly because of inconsistencies on the right side of the line. If Arkansas is to stay in this game its D-line will have to win its share of the battles. 

Side note: Landon Jackson vs Kelvin Banks will have the attention of NFL scouts. This is a great opportunity to assuage concerns over his length. Jackson, at 6-foot-7, holds that advantage but Banks has numerous compensatory traits. My money is on KB having his way.

The Texas D-line has an advantage against a porous Arkansas O-line. Barryn Sorrell, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, and Trey Moore need to control this game up front.

One thing Arkansas has is a talented and deep stable of runners. It’ll be important to play disciplined up front so as to not create cutback lanes for the running backs or allocate open lanes and space to Green. 

If Texas boxes in the run, points will be tough to come by for Bobby Petrino’s offense.

Nothing could better demonstrate the difference from 2021 to 2024 than line domination.

Key No. 3: Solve the Hogs defense

If Texas fails at Key No. 1 it can still be successful on offense. Sark recently mentioned the opening scripts has value beyond simply trying to score points. He uses it to investigate how the opposing DC plans to defend his offense. To that end, we’ll probably see a good amount of shifts, motions, and formations early. It’s important for Sark to identify what will and won’t work. The sooner he does that, the sooner he can help get Ewers and the rest of the offense in a comfort zone. 

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Tangential to this, a fourth key would be to take whatever Arkansas is giving. If they’re keeping three safeties at depth, at least pre-snap, have faith in the run game. Arkansas will almost assuredly need to keep safeties back to help out their below average cornerbacks.