With three weeks left in the regular season, the Texas football team has an inside track to both the SEC championship game and the College Football Playoff.
Texas has joined Tennessee and Texas A&M as the only one-loss teams in conference play, and the Longhorns control their own destiny since the Aggies are still on their schedule. Texas was also seeded second and ranked third in the newest CFP projections this week.
All of that won’t matter, though, if Texas can’t win this weekend.
Texas (8-1, 4-1) will visit old foe Arkansas (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday morning. Dating back to the 2022 season, UT has won nine straight games on the road. Arkansas is 3-2 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium this season with one of those victories being a 19-14 takedown of then-No. 4 Tennessee on Oct. 5.
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Texas has expanded its lead with a 39-yard field goal by Bert Auburn. The field goal was the 57th of Auburn’s four-year college career, and he is now just one field goal shy of tying Kris Stockton and Jeff Ward for third place in the Texas record books.
During the 11-play scoring drive, Texas freshman running back Jerrick Gibson picked up three yards on a 4th-and-1 attempt at the Arkansas 36. Last week against Florida, Gibson rushed for a first down on a 4th-and-1 try at the Texas 24.
Arkansas marched into Texas territory near the end of the first quarter, but senior Alfred Collins and freshman Colin Simmons both sacked Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green to force a punt on the quarter’s final play. After an 8-yard punt, UT will open the second quarter at the Arkansas 48-yard line.
Texas has outscored its opponents by a 91-17 margin in the first quarter this season.
Texas has scored first on a touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to a wide-open Matthew Golden. The 20-yard touchdown was Golden’s seventh this season, and the Houston transfer has scored on four of his last six catches.
The six-play, 61-yard touchdown drive was set up by senior cornerback Jahdae Barron’s team-leading fourth interception of the season. The turnover forced by the Thorpe Award semifinalist gave UT the football at its 39-yard line.
A sack of Quinn Ewers has ended UT’s first drive of the day. The Longhorns picked up an early first down, but their drive stalled after reaching their 45-yard line and punter Michael Kern made his first appearance.
Over its 10 games, Texas has scored on just two of its opening possessions. Over those first drives, Texas has punted three times, thrown three interceptions and missed two field goals.
Texas won the opening coin toss in Fayetteville and has elected to receive the opening kickoff. Over its 10 games this season, Texas has won six coin tosses. Steve Sarkisian has deferred after just three of those wins.
Representing Texas as captains today were quarterback Quinn Ewers, offensive lineman Jake Majors, edge rusher Trey Moore and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
There weren’t many surprises on the Texas availability report that was released just ahead of Saturday’s game. Running backs Christian Clark (Achilles), CJ Baxter (knee) and Velton Gardner (eye) have all suffered season-ending injuries. As has safety Derek Williams Jr. (knee). But edge rusher Colton Vasek will miss his second straight game, and linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr., has also been ruled out. Both role players, Blackwell and Vasek have combined for 27 tackles this season.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and leading rusher Ja’Quinden Jackson have been removed from the Razorbacks‘ injury report. A running back who was once a Texas quarterback, Jackson had missed Arkansas’ last two games with an ankle injury.
Defensive backs Selman Bridges, Jaylon Braxton and Anthony Switzer, defensive lineman Anton Juncaj and kicker Kyle Ramsey have been ruled out for Arkansas. Ramsey is Arkansas’ second-leading scorer since he has kicked seven field goals and 23 extra points this season, but he also hasn’t played since Oct. 5.
Texas’ game versus Arkansas will be broadcast on ABC. Streaming options for the game include Watch ESPN and Fubo, which is offering a free trial for its streaming service.
Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) will be the broadcast crew.
ANALYSIS:Arkansas’ defense has a key weakness. Will Texas football alter its approach to attack it?
Odds courtesy of Bet MGM as of Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Texas is favored by 13½ points.
GAME-BY-GAME PREDICTIONS: How Texas can end up 11-1 this season
Texas and Arkansas have played 79 times before. The Longhorns hold a 56-23 lead in the overall series.
Since Arkansas left a Southwest Conference it helped form after the 1991 season, the Longhorns and Razorbacks have played just six times. Arkansas has won four of those matchups. Back during the 2021 season, Arkansas recorded a 40-21 win over UT in Fayetteville.
All times in CT.
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