NFL
By: Lamarr Fields
The Texas Longhorns open the season Saturday against the Texas State Bobcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, beginning a season in which anything short of a deep College Football Playoff run will be viewed as a disappointment.
Texas enters the season with one of the most talented rosters in the country. Texas State, meanwhile, arrives in Austin with a program that has steadily built credibility under head coach G.J. Kinne. The last time the two teams met was in 1930.
Three Things to Watch
1. Arch Manning’s accuracy
Texas is expected to win comfortably. The more important question is how Manning looks. Can he consistently hit his receivers and make quick decisions?
2. Texas State’s rushing attack
Texas State needs to stay balanced to have any chance of making this competitive. Jackson’s running could be the Bobcats’ best weapon.
3. How long Texas’ starters play
If Texas builds a big lead early, Sarkisian will have an opportunity to get younger players meaningful snaps. That’s important with Ohio State coming to Austin the following week.
Arch Manning
The Texas quarterback enters his second season as the Longhorns’ starter with significantly more experience and considerably more pressure. Manning showed flashes of elite play during the second half of last season, finishing the final seven games with 1,846 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Texas shouldn’t need Manning to throw 40 times against Texas State. The bigger objective is to get him comfortable, establish rhythm, and let him build chemistry with a revamped group of playmakers.
Colin Simmons and the Texas Defense
Texas’ defense enters the season with championship-level expectations. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has brought an aggressive approach to the Longhorns, emphasizing pressure and physicality. The unit has plenty of talent, led by edge rusher Colin Simmons. Simmons could be a nightmare for Texas State’s offensive line.
Texas State
The Bobcats have to find a way to keep him from consistently disrupting the backfield. If Texas forces Jackson into obvious passing situations, Simmons and the Longhorns’ defensive front could make this a long afternoon for the Bobcats. Texas State has become a legitimate Group of Five program under Kinne. The Bobcats have won at least seven games in three consecutive seasons and enter their first season as a member of the Pac-12.
The biggest threat comes from quarterback Brad Jackson. Jackson is an intriguing dual-threat quarterback who rushed for 744 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. His ability to extend plays and create yards with his legs could give Texas some early problems. That makes the game important for Texas’ linebacker.
The Longhorns have too much talent to lose to Texas State. They may hang around early, but Texas will start to pull away in the second half for a convincing double-digit victory.
