After an instant-classic comeback against then-No. 1 Ohio State last weekend, the Longhorns looked to waltz past UTSA. Instead, Texas slogged through a 30-6 win over the Roadrunners. The Longhorns entered Saturday’s matchup as roughly 35-point favorites. The expectation was clear: Texas would steamroll Jeff Traylor’s squad and get its backups on the field early. That didn’t happen until late in the fourth quarter.
Offensive Missteps
Texas also entered the game amid a swirl of headlines surrounding quarterback Arch Manning. Most stemmed from his reaction to a TikTok featuring ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. Manning looked inconsistent throughout the night. He missed several open receivers by several yards. Still, Cam Coleman continued to show why Texas pursued him in the transfer portal. Coleman caught two first-half touchdowns and now has four through three games.
Manning finished the night completing 50% of his passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t a flashy performance, but it was enough to give the Longhorns a comfortable win over an American Athletic Conference opponent.
Defense Leaves No Doubt
Defensively, Will Muschamp’s squad controlled the game. UTSA managed just 143 yards of total offense. Yes, you read that correctly. The Longhorns made an immediate impact, too. Linebacker Rasheem Biles intercepted a pass on the first play of the game. Texas turned the takeaway into a touchdown just one minute later.
UTSA also hurt itself throughout the night. The Roadrunners committed 12 penalties for 119 yards. Texas made strong defensive adjustments, while penalties and officiating stoppages repeatedly disrupted the game’s rhythm.
Looking Ahead
Next weekend, the Longhorns open conference play against the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers. Both Steve Sarkisian and Manning admitted after the game that Texas must play much better to win in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Sarkisian preached consistency and efficiency throughout his postgame press conference. The best teams don’t just show out. They show up every week and on every drive. The road to a national championship gets more serious next weekend. If Texas wants to keep that goal alive, the Longhorns must find answers quickly and unlock their offense.
