Last Saturday, the Longhorns finally etched a win against Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes team. This weekend, the group will look to shift gears with a non-conference game against UTSA. Despite of a miraculous comeback victory, much of the storylines this week have occurred off of the field. However, it’s worth noting that, for the purpose of this article, we will focus on topics related to the field.
Three Storylines Entering Week 3
The first question the Longhorns will have to face is whether there will be any sort of hangover effect following their recent victory over then-top-ranked Ohio State. The Texas offense has struggled in recent years to get out of the gates hot. That was on display several times last season, resulting in many late, nail-biting wins and losses. As a result, let’s see if the Longhorns can put their best foot forward in a game where we will likely see much of the team’s bench.
Speaking of the team’s depth, the UTSA game should be an important matchup. It will likely be the last game of the season in which the Longhorns can test all of their pieces. Consequently, an underrated storyline will be which players can secure a foothold in the team’s rotations. Of course, this will not be a concern at positions such as starting quarterback. However, it will be an opportunity to see where underclassmen shake out on the roster.
Another question the Longhorns will look to answer is their ability to defend the passing game. Last weekend, there were several coverage breakdowns that resulted in explosive plays for the Buckeyes. While Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith tallied 164 receiving yards, that was somewhat to be expected. On the other hand, there were plays in which the middle of the field was left unoccupied. This weekend, look for defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to test his defense against UTSA quarterback Owen McCown, a seasoned veteran.
