The Texas Longhorns have a blueprint to success.
It’s not sexy but when done well, it will keep them in the running for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
It’s a wildly offensive (in a points-scoring way) era in the sport but the Longhorns are a defensive minded ballclub that will go into each game knowing that a more conservative approach can possibly defy some rough odds to get them to the postseason.
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If they’re going anywhere, it will be the defense that leads.
That’s no news flash but it bears repeating every game for the rest of this season.
Saturday’s 31-3 win over Mississippi State was a perfect illustration of what powers this group. Quarterback Arch Manning made some nice throws – he tossed three touchdowns – and used his legs more than he has in any game this season, but it was all about the hard-nosed defense shutting down the banged-up Bulldogs over four quarters of rough and tumble ball.
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Maraad Watson, a 333-pound defensive tackle who earns his paycheck in contained spaces, went the long-distance route with a 61-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to put a game that was never in doubt out of reach in the second quarter.
The scoop and score, which came on Rasheem Biles’ strip sack – the nation’s best ballhawking linebacker had three sacks – was reminiscent of Rodrique’s Wright touchdown in the 45-12 win over Oklahoma in 2005, difference being the that Texas team was averaging 50 points per game and were well on its way to a showdown with fellow offensive juggernaut Southern Cal.
How good has Biles been this year? To steal a line from Sarkisian, the Pitt transfer is a problem.
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The current crew placed itself in an unexpected position when it dropped consecutive games to Oklahoma and Florida, meaning the only guaranteed punching of a CFP ticket can only come if they won their final six games. Sure, their two top-10 wins might get them a spot if they finish 9-3 but the Horns aren’t thinking that way.
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The defense played its collective butt off on a night when Manning had one of its better games behind an offensive line that gave up five sacks despite coach Kyle Flood flipping starting tackles Andre Cojoe – he went from left to right – and Melvin Siani.
But the Horns looked a bit better because Steve Sarkisian decided he would call Manning on designed runs instead of allow him to be a sitting duck in the pocket. He toted it a season high 13 times and gave a new dimension to the offense.
Right now, it’s survive and advance. After those two losses, the Horns have responded with a pair of wins and have four to go. They improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in league play and now comes a tough two-game stretch against No. 23 Missouri and No. 15 LSU.
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Great defense travels and when the Will Muschamp’s wolves are in hunting mode – they had nine tackles for loss – it can take a ton of pressure off the offense.
Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp runs onto the field ahead of the game between Texas Football and Ohio State at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, Sept. 12, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Texas flexed its defensive muscles
The Bulldogs were already reeling from the news of quarterback Kamario Taylor being ruled out for the rest of the season with a turf toe injury.
Backups AJ Swann and Billy Puckett were thrown into the fire and the Horns, playing for a second straight game without the nation’s top sack master Colin Simmons and his high ankle sprain, were at their swarming best.
They finished with seven sacks and will enter the most crucial stretch of the season with plenty of confidence, especially if Simmons is back.
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Great defense travels and Texas can get this type of playmaking with a some good complementary play from Manning’s side of the ball – that means keeping turnovers at a minimum and taking advantage of short fields this defenses figures to create – the Horns will have a chance to win these next two.
It’s the Mamba mentality, baby.
The job is far from finished.
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This article originally published at Defense is Texas’ pathway to CFP, but Arch Manning’s legs are a useful tool, too | Golden.
