GAME DAY: Sam Houston Bearkats @ No. 8 Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns (2-1) and Sam Houston Bearkats (0-3) meet today for the second time in history, with the Longhorns winning the first matchup decisively in 2006 by a score of 56-3. Texas enters the game ranked No. 8 nationally and is heavily favored, with the goal of building momentum before entering SEC play against Florida in two weeks. Sam Houston State, under first-year head coach Phil Longo, is still searching for its first win of the season after losing their first three games by a combined 51 points.

Key things to watch in this one include the performance of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who has thrown for 579 yards and six touchdowns but has struggled with consistency, completing just 55.3% of his passes. Texas’ defense has been a bright spot, allowing only 10.3 points per game, while Sam Houston has struggled defensively, giving up 38.7 points per game. For the Bearkats, quarterback Hunter Watson has shown dual-threat potential, rushing for 108 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense has yet to find rhythm through the air. Expect Texas to use this game to fine-tune its offense and give younger players valuable reps, while Sam Houston will aim to stay competitive and build confidence heading into the rest of their Conference USA schedule.

Relevant Game Information