Ninety-six years between meetings
Texas hosts Texas State in Austin on Saturday afternoon. The last time these two played, the year was 1930. It is only the second meeting in the history of two programmes that sit 30 miles apart on I-35.
The fifth-ranked Longhorns arrive off a 10-3 season with a roster their own coaching staff rates as the most complete in close to 20 years. Arch Manning runs the offence. Cam Coleman was named a preseason first-team All-America receiver. Colin Simmons rushes the passer and is projected to go in the first round of next year’s NFL draft.
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Expectations Texas has not carried since 2009
Austin has not seen a season open with this much attached to it since 2009, the last year the Longhorns played for a national title. They have not won one since the 2005 season. Steve Sarkisian spent Monday narrowing the frame.
“We are locked in on that first opponent,” he said. “This year it happens to be Texas State.”
Sarkisian also described how far Manning’s control of the offence now extends. The quarterback can strike plays off the call sheet before kickoff. “Just because it’s on the call sheet doesn’t mean I have to call it,” Sarkisian said. “I want to call the things that he really likes and the things that he feels comfortable with.”
Will Muschamp returns for a second stint as defensive coordinator. Simmons said the change registered immediately. “Muschamp comes in each and every day and sets the tone,” he said. “This is my first year seeing this type of tone.”
What Texas State brings up the highway
The Bobcats went 7-6 and routed Rice in the Armed Forces Bowl. They have since joined the new-look Pac-12. GJ Kinne keeps a dual-threat quarterback in Brad Jackson and an offence he says has ranked in the top five nationally over the past four years, built on tempo and on forcing defences to choose what to surrender.
Their problem sits on the other side. Texas State conceded an average of 383 total yards and 29 points per game last season, and gave up 40 or more in four defeats. Austin is not the venue in which to fix that.
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