Tag: Horns Football

Locked on Longhorns: Bijan Robinson and Big 12 Scheduling

The Locked on Longhorns podcast features a discussion about the upcoming Big 12 scheduling plus is Bijan Robinson poised to breakout in 2020?

After weeks of speculation the Big 12 Conference finally announced they would be going with a 10-game model. It would feature nine conference games with just one nonconference matchup at the home stadium of the corresponding Big 12 school. Who will Texas play? How will the schedule likely play out? Plus we provide an update on the Texas-Oklahoma game and Big 12 Championship. Athletic director Chris Del Conte provided an update stating the LSU game will be made up in the future.

The Longhorns finished the 2020 recruiting cycle with yet another top 10 class according to 247Sports composite rankings. Their top prospect Bijan Robinson ranked among the top 15 recruits in the nation. He was recently highlighted as a potential breakout candidate for the Longhorns. One person who was monumental in his recruitment was running backs coach Stan Drayton. Can he turn Robinson into a household name? 247Sports also put together their top 20 underrated defenses in the league with Texas making the list.

Arizona transfer linebacker Tony Fields II is set to visit Texas as he narrows down his list. According to Anwar Richardson of Rivals, Fields is looking at Texas, West Virginia and Minnesota. The Longhorns are also making a strong push to secure a commitment from four-star running back L.J. Johnson who is trending towards Texas A&M at this point in the process. Plus we discuss Sam Ehlinger as he has caught the eye of the decision makers for the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

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No fall championship ruling made at NCAA Board of Governors meeting

The NCAA Board of Governors meeting did not vote on whether or not to cancel fall championships. Instead it will fall to the D1 Board.

The NCAA Board of Governors meeting was expecting to make a ruling on the subject of fall championships. Many had the feeling that they could cancel the championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently going on. That led to Power Five leaders discussing the possibility of hosting their own fall championships. One step towards the top conferences leaving the NCAA.

According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, the meeting concluded without a vote.

Brett McMurphy stated that each division of college football would determine their own course of action when it comes to fall championships. It is likely that for college football it would stay as is at this point. However, it now falls into the hands of the Division I Board of Directors. They have a meeting scheduled at 10 am on Wednesday.

The waiting game will continue tomorrow as we await to find out if they will cancel fall championships. If that is indeed the case, there is still the option on the table for the Power Five conference leaders to take this into their own hands.

Former Arizona linebacker, grad transfer expected to visit Texas

247Sports reported on Monday that graduate transfer linebacker Tony Fields is expected to visit Texas.

Graduate transfer linebacker Tony Fields could fill a significant position of need on Texas’ defense. Continue reading “Former Arizona linebacker, grad transfer expected to visit Texas”

Twitter reacts to Big 12 schedule change

Twitter, of course, had some reaction to the Big 12’s announcement. Find out on the next page how people reacted to the 9+1 schedule change.

The Big 12 finally announced their plan for the 2020 season on Monday, going with a 9+1 schedule. Texas will be playing their usual nine Big 12 opponents, plus a nonconference opponent.

According to Horns247, that nonconference opponent will be UTEP, keeping the scheduled matchup the two schools had for this season. The Longhorns will be losing games against SEC opponent LSU and USF of the American.

While the news of an altered schedule was expected, how the conference would approach the season was up for debate. Twitter, of course, had some reaction to the announcement.

Find out on the next page how people reacted to the 9+1 schedule change.

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Texas ranked a top 20 underrated defense by 247Sports

247Sports comprised a list of underrated defenses in the country. They say UT was not one of the worst in the country as it seemed.

Texas’ defense struggled mightily last season, surrendering 27.5 points per game. Injuries did not help the Longhorns, who were also thin across the front seven.

Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando was fired at the end of the season, leaving Tom Herman with his first major hire as head coach. He retained former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash, who had been with the team as an analyst.

247Sports compiled a list of the most underrated defenses in the country, naming the Longhorns. While they do not say Texas has an elite defense, the website says it was not one of the worst in the country as it seems.

Elliott’s take: “Texas’ defense was not good in 2019 by any measure. And the performance resulted in a change in coordinator, as Todd Orlando is out and Chris Ash is in. But was the Texas defense really as bad as its 97th ranking in yards/game allowed suggests? YPP says yes, as the Longhorns finished 98th! But SP+ tells a different story. The reason is clear when perusing the schedule. Texas had to play a standard slate of opposing Big 12 offenses plus a game against LSU, perhaps the most dominant offense in college football history. It did not do a good job against that slate, but in no way should the Texas 2019 defense be regarded as one of the worst in the country. It was simply an average unit.”

The 2020 skinny: Not to make excuses for the Longhorns, but Texas rarely played with a full deck defensively last season. With a plethora of starters back in 2020, this should be Tom Herman’s strongest unit on defense during his tenure.

Returning nine starters is going to be the biggest key for Ash’s defense this season. Stars such as Caden Sterns, Joseph Ossai, and D’Shawn Jamison are waiting to break out in their junior season.

Ossai will be the leader of the defensive line, the unit that will determine the improvement for the defense. Texas’ pass rush only produced 27 sacks, sixth in the Big 12. Five of them came against Utah in the Alamo Bowl, totaling for 18% of their season tally in one game.

With Sam Ehlinger going into his senior year, the Longhorns’ offense is going to be consistent under new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. If Texas wants to finally compete atop the Big 12, Chris Ash must turn the defense around.

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Texas continues to heavily target four-star running back from Cypress

Texas coaches, players have been pushing the hardest for four-star running back LJ Johnson.

Texas is pulling out all the stops to land four-star running back LJ Johnson. Continue reading “Texas continues to heavily target four-star running back from Cypress”

Texas Football: Is Bijan Robinson a breakout candidate in 2020?

Recently 247Sports named Texas running back Bijan Robinson a freshman breakout candidate in 2020. We examine that claim.

There is quite a buzz surrounding the newest running back for the University of Texas. Bijan Robinson was the number one rated running back in the country according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Throughout the 2020 recruiting cycle it seemed back and forth with Zachary Evans (TCU) and Robinson as to who would be the number one back.

Our friends at 247Sports put together a list of freshmen who could be top 50 players by seasons end. Several players on the list have Big 12 ties such as Spencer Rattler (redshirt freshman, Oklahoma) and Evans. Robinson is also on the list.

Sean Logan/The Republic

 

What 247Sports says

Head coach Tom Herman is hyping Texas’ running back depth. And while the Longhorns do return a pair of highly-effective rushers in Keaontay Ingram (5.9 ypc, 853 yards) and Roschon Johnson (5.3 ypc, 649 yards), it’s worth noting Johnson is entering only his second year playing the position and Ingram has already suffered a hamstring injury ahead of fall camp. Robinson, meanwhile, is a potential bell cow.

A ridiculously effective high school ball carrier, Robinson finished his senior season with 2,235 yards and 35 touchdowns while averaging 17.7 yards per carry. Those are video game statistics. The 2020 five-star and No. 1 overall back in the 247Sports Composite arrives with a college-ready frame and big-play potential. Given that the Longhorns have struggled to produce explosive rushing plays under Herman’s direction, ranking 100th (2017), 120th (2018) and 91st (2019) in runs of 20-plus yards, Robinson figures to have an instant role within the offense. Don’t be shocked if he quickly maneuvers his way into the status of Texas’ top back.

Next we give our take on Bijan Robinson

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Chris Del Conte: LSU game will ‘definitely’ be made up

According to Brian Davis of the AAS, AD Chris Del Conte said the Texas-LSU matchup will “definitely” be made up some time in the future.

Both the Big 12 and SEC announced their plans for the 2020 college football season. Unfortunately, it will mean the cancelation of the much anticipated Texas-LSU matchup in Baton Rouge.

The Big 12 announced they will be going to a 9+1 model, allowing one nonconference matchup for each school. However, the nonconference game must be a home game, ruling out the possibility of Texas traveling to LSU.

Even if the Longhorns were allowed to go on the road, the SEC is not allowing nonconference games. The reigning national champions will be playing a 10 game, conference only schedule this season.

According to Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman, athletic director Chris Del Conte said the Texas-LSU matchup will “definitely” be made up some time in the future.

Right now, Texas’ nonconference schedule is booked full until 2027. The Longhorns have future matchups with Arkansas, Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State. Even in 2027, Texas will be playing the Wolverines and would be doubling up with Power 5 opponents.

It will be until 2034 until Texas has zero nonconference games scheduled.

If the two were to meet in 2027, LSU would be playing both Texas and Oklahoma. The Tigers are scheduled to travel to Norman that year, the first year of a home and home series. Ed Orgeron’s team has a nonconference game scheduled every year until 2033.

Nearly a decade may go in between the two matchups but Texas and LSU will find a way to meet in Baton Rouge. If the second game was going to be anything like the first, another instant classic would have been instore.

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Big 12 gives update on Texas-Oklahoma, conference championship game

COVID-19 has brought uncertainty to the 2020 CFB season. The Big 12 announced plans and gave updates on UT-OU + Big 12 Championship game.

COVID-19 has brought uncertainty to the 2020 college football season. The Big 12 was the final Power Five conference to announce their plans but did so Monday night. The conference is going to a 9+1 scheduling format, giving the Longhorns the usual Big 12 schedule plus a nonconference game.

There had been concern over the annual Texas-Oklahoma game after the State Fair of Texas announced it was canceled. However, it seems as if the Longhorns and Sooners will still be meeting in Dallas this season.

According to The Athletic, as long as it is safe to host, the historic Cotton Bowl will still be the site of the Red River Shootout. The matchup has been played in Dallas since 1929 and is one of the best events in all of sports.

After reports of a home and home series emerging, The Athletic is reporting those ideas have been shut down and will luckily not be happening.

Multiple sources have also indicated that Oklahoma and Texas still intend to play their rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, provided it’s safe to do so, and likely with limited capacity, despite the cancellation of the State Fair of Texas. Sources said neither side is interested in scheduling a home-and-home arrangement instead.

As for the Big 12 Championship, the conference remains flexible for when the game can be played. It is currently scheduled for Dec. 5 but Bob Bowlsby could delay it by a week to Dec. 12.

Worst case possible, the championship game could not only move dates but also locations. Dec. 19 is still a possible date for the conference championship game but would need to be moved to Globe Life Field.

Texas high school football championships are scheduled for AT&T Stadium Dec. 16-19 and the Dallas Cowboys have a home game on Dec. 20. With no room for a college football game, the Big 12 would move across the street to the Texas Rangers’ brand new indoor stadium.

The Big 12 is expected to be flexible in its approach to its December conference title game, which Bowlsby previously discussed with The Athletic. That game is currently scheduled for Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and could be rescheduled for Dec. 12 if necessary.

If the Big 12’s title game must get pushed to Dec. 19, multiple sources have indicated the title game could move to nearby Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers’ new $1.2 billion ballpark, if there are scheduling conflicts. The UIL Texas high school football championships for class 1A-4A are scheduled for Dec. 16-19 at AT&T Stadium, and the Cowboys are scheduled to host the 49ers on Dec. 20.

Texas is currently scheduled to play Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 10. With the Big 12 expected to move the start date of the season back, the Longhorns will be waiting for a new schedule.

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Report: Big 12 Conference to go with a 10-game schedule

Max Olson of the Athletic is reporting that the Big 12 Conference will go with a 10-game schedule. Who Texas plays is a bit tricky.

Following a meeting with all of the athletic directors from across the Big 12 Conference, there was no decision made on the upcoming schedule late last week. Monday was supposed to be the Big 12’s virtual media day but it was cancelled following the schedule announcement by the SEC. According to Max Olson and Nicole Auerbach of the Athletic, the Big 12 will go with a nine plus one schedule.

This should come as no surprise as it was widely speculated that the Big 12 would go with this model. For the Longhorns they have two teams on their nonconference schedule remaining after the Louisiana State game was cancelled. The Longhorns were scheduled to open the season with South Florida on September 5th and Texas-El Paso on September 19th. So which game will they have?

Conventional wisdom leads you to believe they would host UTEP at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in mid September. That is where it gets a bit tricky. UTEP is also scheduled to play Texas Tech in the nonconference portion of the schedule. Texas Tech lost one of their opponents in Arizona when the Pac-12 Conference cancelled all of their nonconference games. That leaves UTEP and Alabama State for the Red Raiders. Alabama State’s season was postponed on July 20th.

So who would play UTEP as the lone game of the nonconference schedule in the Big 12? Well, Tech is closer geographically to El Paso than the Miners are to Austin. They might lean in their favor. The only question is would Texas keep South Florida on the schedule? Much like the state of Texas, Florida is a hotbed for the coronavirus.

Stay tuned to Longhorns Wire as we keep you up to date.