Texas vs BYU Game Preview

Austin – With its storied tradition and status as one of college football’s all-time winningest programs, the Texas Longhorns have losing records against few opponents. Saturday night’s upcoming foe, the Brigham Young Cougars, however, is one of those opponents. The programs have met only twice previously, and the Cougars have won both matchups, including a 22-17 win in Austin in 1987, and a season-opening 47-6 pasting in Provo in 1988. That was another time and place: David McWilliams was head coach; the SWC was still in existence, and well, … – never mind, that’s all ancient history.

Flash forward to 2011. Mack Brown, head coach at the Forty Acres for his 14^th season, has – last year’s nuclear hiccup, aside – rebuilt a previously flagging program, restored a luster to the Burnt Orange and White, remade the Longhorns into the marquee program they have historically claimed. Enter BYU head man, Bronco Mendenhall, who in six seasons as head coach, has fashioned a not exactly pedestrian record of 57-21 during his Cougar tenure. Two proud programs, two winning traditions, two highly successful football teams meeting for just the third time in their history. Something has to give.

Texas O vs BYU D

Much-maligned following last year’s dismal production and very much under the microscope entering last week’s season opener versus the Rice Owls, the Longhorn offense was a mostly positive, though mixed sack of tricks and treats.

Treats: WR John Harris passing for a TD, 229 yards on the ground*, 506 overall yards including drives of 99 and 94 yards, Malcolm Brown’s 86 rushing yard college debut, Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis each hauling in big pass receptions, the O-Line dominance in second half.

(* UT is 69-0 in the Mack Brown era when rushing for over 200 yards.)
Tricks: The O-Line taking until 3^rd quarter to dominate, ineffective pass blocking early, a few dropped passes, too many penalties for not being set.

For the game with BYU, the Horns will need to come out faster and meaner, earlier in the game, find ways to run against a smallish, but stout, veteran Cougar defensive front, that, last week, held the Ole Miss Rebels to 64 yards rushing, and only 208 total yards in a bruising, come-from-behind 14-13 road win. Look for more Fozzy Whitaker pass-catching out of the backfield, more action from freshman RB Malcolm Brown, and a steady stream of wideouts, Davis and Shipley, catching balls downfield. Don’t be surprised to see Offfensive Coordinator Harsin opening up his bag of trick plays this week, in what will be a sterner test for the Longhorn O.

Texas D vs BYU O

Gone are the days of BYU passing attacks averaging 400+ yards per game, the fantastical scores, the Heisman Trophy candidates. Don’t expect to see a return of those glory days either this Saturday. The Cougar O, vintage 2011, is a decidedy more terrestrial sort. The trigger man is sophomore QB Jake Heaps, two years removed from a nationally celebrated high school career. While steady, Peaks has not yet developed into the phenom many predicted of him. Against Ole Miss in last week’s opener, he was solid, if unspectacular, though, to be quite honest, ultimately disappointing in light of the single offensive touchdown generated by his offense. Still, a win is a win…

If BYU can receive mistake-free direction from Peaks, generate some ground success quick-hitting up the middle (much as the Owls did for the first half), they could hang tight with the Horns for much of the game. For the Longhorns, much improvement will be needed in the gut of the defense, which surrendered frequent blasts from the Owl running game. Longhorn Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz seems unworried, though, feels confident that the Horns were just a step off from making the big plays in the trenches against Rice, and will step up and make the big plays against the Cougars. And you know what? I believe him.

Predicted score

Both head coaches suscribe to the belief that a team improves most between the first and second games of a season. That said, Texas will get another solid game from the defense, improved especially against the quick hitters up the gut, and will ring up perhaps three turnovers against a team that went scoreless for over three quarters in its opener against Ole Miss. The Texas O will get a more complete game from the line – perhaps three solid quarters this time – and the bruising running of Malcolm Brown will cut the heart out of BYU’s defense late. Expect a low-scoring game with hard-hitting and bruising play on both ends of the game.

Texas 24 BYU 16 (opening line: Texas -7)

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