College Football News Preview 2020: Texas Longhorns Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Texas Longhorns Offense
Dominate with the running game. Texas has the ability, the quarterback, and the receivers to throw with just about anyone, but the machine works better when the offensive line is battering away with the ground attack.
The more the leaky Texas defense is off the field, the better.
It wasn’t all about the ground attack last year, but it was a massive factor. The Longhorns ran for fewer than 150 yards four times – they lost all four games.
The offense averaged 177 rushing yards per game last year – just keep doing that.
Under Tom Herman, Texas is 18-2 when running for 160 yards or more, is 15-1 when running for 170 yards or more, and over the last three seasons it’s 9-0 when running for 200 yards or more.
Biggest Key To The Texas Longhorns Defense
Stop teams from bombing away so easily. It’s one thing to get hit by Joe Burrow and the epic 2019 LSU team for 471 yards and four scores, but Carter Stanley of Kansas threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns.
West Virginia threw for over 275 yards just three times last season, and it hit Texas for 367 and three scores.
On the year, Texas gave up 250 yards or more nine times and over 300 yards or more six times. Worse yet, the 7.9 yards per pass allowed were the most since 2012.
To keep reiterating this, it’s the Big 12, and giving up big passing yards is the cost of doing business, but this is supposed to be one of those teams in the league with a defense.
It all ties in together – lots of passing yards, not enough third down stops, more stress on an offense and a team that usually lost when it couldn’t score 40 points. And that means …
Key Texas Longhorns Player To A Successful Season
CB Jalen Green, Jr.
Or junior D’Shawn Jamison, or sophomore Kenyatta Watson, or any of the corner options who might be able to do something, anything, to slow down a passing attack.
Texas finished 127th in the nation in pass defense, allowing 3,803 yards and 28 touchdowns. The interceptions weren’t there over the second half of the year, picking off just two passes in the final seven games.
The 6-1, 195-pound Green was banged up for part of last year, but he still made 30 tackles with five broken up passes. He was a big recruit who has been okay. The woeful pass D needs him to be fantastic.
Key Game To The Texas Longhorns Season
at Oklahoma State, Nov. 28
Of course the Oklahoma game on October 10th is the one everyone wants, but watch out – the Oklahoma State game in the regular season finale might be even more dangerous.
The Oklahoma game is in Dallas – as always. The Oklahoma State game is on the road.
The Longhorns won 36-30 last season in Austin, but before that they dropped four straight in the series with the last win in 2014. This is a loaded Cowboy team, and this could be the game that decides who goes to the Big 12 Championship.
– Texas Longhorns Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Texas Fun Stats
– Sacks: Opponents 36 for 199 yards – Texas 27 for 147 yards
– Penalties: Texas 95 for 890 yards – Opponents 64 for 554 yards
– Fumbles: Opponents 13 (lost 7) – Texas 9 (lost 4)