After a shaky win over San Jose State last week, the Longhorns looked to assert themselves at home against UTEP on Saturday. But much like recent outings, Texas’ offense sputtered more than it surged. Despite ultimately securing a 27-10 win, it was another underwhelming performance – particularly through the air.
On Saturday, Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning turned in a lackluster showing, throwing for just 114 yards. The Miners managed to hang around for much of the game, in part due to Texas’ inability to find rhythm offensively. Overall, in a game where the Longhorns desperately needed a spark in the passing game, they instead face-planted once more.
Adding to the woes, Manning and Ryan Wingo, who entered the season as Texas’ WR1, didn’t connect for positive yardage until there was just 4:36 left in the third quarter. By the start of the fourth, Texas had amassed only 97 passing yards, despite holding a 20-3 lead. Simply put, Manning looks like a young quarterback struggling with confidence. For Texas’ sake, the hope is that both his self-belief and chemistry with receivers will grow over time – but the question remains: how long will that take?
Unfortunately for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, the running game hasn’t been able to consistently pick up the slack either. While Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter have shown promise, both backs have been plagued by injuries. Wisner was sidelined this week, and Baxter exited early due to another knock. That left Texas leaning on a trio of Jerrick Gibson, Christian Clark, and James Simon. Complicating matters further, the offensive line has been inconsistent when it comes to generating push at the line of scrimmage. As a result, Sarkisian has found himself unable to rely on either the pass or the run to anchor the offense.
The bright spot? The defense.
Texas’ defense has been nothing short of dominant. Against UTEP, the unit forced five turnovers – two interceptions and three turnovers on downs. While the Longhorns only notched two sacks, defensive backs Jelani McDonald and Graceson Littleton each came away with a pick. And while there have been occasional lapses, this defense has been remarkably consistent. On Saturday, Texas held UTEP to just 50 rushing yards and 209 passing yards. Through the first three games, it’s clear that defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has his group firing on all cylinders.
Still, Texas’ postseason hopes hinge on more than just defense. If the offense can’t pull it together, and fast, the Longhorns’ title ambitions may be dead on arrival.
Next weekend, Texas will host Sam Houston, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.
