Texas didn’t reach the offensive total we predicted, but the Longhorn defense was even better than expected in a comfortable 30-6 victory over UTSA.
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Predicted Score: Texas 42, UTSA 14
Actual Score: Texas 30, UTSA 6
The original prediction called for Texas to win 42-14. Instead, the Longhorns held the Roadrunners without a touchdown and allowed only 142 total yards.
UTSA managed just 70 passing yards. Quarterback Owen McCown completed 14 of 23 passes but was intercepted once, and the Roadrunners averaged only three yards per offensive play.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning had a somewhat uneven statistical night, completing 17 of 33 passes for 164 yards. However, he threw two touchdowns without an interception, and both scoring passes went to Cam Coleman. Their first connection covered 24 yards and gave Texas an early 7-0 advantage. Coleman finished with four catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
The Longhorns also rushed for 228 yards. Hollywood Smothers led the team with 54 yards, Manning contributed 50, and Derrek Cooper scored Texas’ final touchdown.
Texas controlled possession for nearly 37 minutes and ran 83 offensive plays to UTSA’s 47.
The biggest negative was penalties. The Longhorns were flagged eight times for 88 yards, while UTSA committed 12 penalties for 115. The game wasn’t especially clean on either side.
Still, Texas was never in serious danger. The Longhorns led 20-3 at halftime, allowed only another field goal in the second half and gradually squeezed the life out of the game.
The offense wasn’t as explosive as the 42-point prediction suggested, but the defense compensated. Texas surrendered eight fewer points than projected and remained unbeaten heading into the much more demanding portion of its SEC schedule.