First year Big 12 member BYU thumped the Texas Tech Red Raiders 27-14 last week in Provo to improve their season record to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Last week’s effort by the Cougars earned BYU cornerback Eddie Heckard Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and defensive back Jakob Robinson the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week recognition.
The Texas Longhorns held on to a slim 31-24 victory over the Houston Cougars last week, losing starting quarterback Quinn Ewers to an AC Joint Sprain. Maalik Murphy, a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, received the nod by head coach Steve Sarkisian as the starter in the absence of Ewers. Murphy has the arm and the talent, but he is inexperienced. The Longhorns will need a strong effort from their offensive line and running backs to allow him time to be successful in the pocket, as he is not a dual-threat type of quarterback.
BYU ranks 93rd nationally in total defense and 122nd in total defense. On paper the Longhorns hold the overwhelming advantage, but the same was true last week against the University of Houston.
This is an important game for the Longhorns, who are favored by almost three touchdowns, because they need to find out who they are without Quinn Ewers on the field. Murphy has potential, but potential doesn’t win football games. Execution does. On Saturday we will find out if the Longhorns, led by Murphy, will execute on both sides of the ball and improve Texas to 7-1.
The meeting between Texas and BYU marks the fifth all-time and the first since 2014. The Cougars hold an all-time advantage over the Longhorns 4-1, including a 2-1 record in Austin and a current two game winning streak over Texas.
Kickoff comes at 2:30 PM at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium with Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvorcek and Tom Luginbill calling the game on ABC.
What: #7 Texas Longhorns vs. BYU Cougars
When: Saturday, October 28, 2023
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Austin, TX
Venue: Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Spread: Texas -20.5
All Time-Record: BYU leads Texas 4-1
Last Meeting: BYU defeated Texas 41-7 (9/6/2014 – Austin, TX)
