Game 7 – What Matters Most: Texas Longhorns vs Houston Cougars

Ask anyone and the Texas Longhorns are predicted to beat the Houston Cougars by 30, or 40 points by some accounts. Sound familiar?

Alabama was supposed to beat Texas by 16 in 2022, 14 in 2023, and Texas was favored over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.

So, not so fast.

Let’s assume Texas does win. The most important aspect of the victory will be how they won. How Texas plays in all phases of the game is more important than the final score. 

Well, unless the final score is 20-17 or 40-35. That would mean Houston stopped Texas on one hand and Texas could not stop Houston if the other happened.

The score could be 70-10 and that does not matter. What matters is: does Texas play efficiently, execute their plays without penalties, score in the red zone, not turn over the ball, protect Ewers, stop Houston’s quarterback Donovan Smith passing and running game, and not allow any kickoff returns by Houston to change the momentum of the game.

Side note: Houston is ranked No. 13 in kickoff returns averaging 25.72-yards per return. They have scored two touchdowns on a kickoff return.

Houston has NOTHING to lose and EVERYTHING to win. A Houston loss, well everyone is expecting it. A Houston win, well it would bring hell, fire, and brimstone down for the Texas Longhorns for one.

Secondly, Houston would claim the first, and maybe only, team in the State of Texas to beat the Longhorns in their final season in the Big 12. This alone would have many years of bragging rights.

Thirdly, it would give Houston a tie with Texas in the Big 12 standings (2-2), and would wash away any talk of Texas being the Big 12 Champions or having a chance at the National Title.

Joel Klatt and Greg McElroy would be so disappointed and have to disavow their love for Texas once again.

For Texas the most likely scenarios will be that they come out playing like the semi-professional looking team they have been for the first six games. Well, in the first five games of the season, Oklahoma threw a wrench in Texas’ game.

If Texas wins and it is a close game, this would cause serious red flags and most likely cause a drop in the AP Top 25 ranking, justifiably so.

The most likely scenario will be Texas wins 40 or 45 to 13. They will have 9 of their 11 drives be super efficient. They will control the ball like an older brother who is taller, faster, and stronger keeps the ball away from the younger brother (think Peyton and Eli).

Quinn Ewers will have a (close-to) 300-yard passing game and we can expect some scrambles for yardage, at least attempts.

Jordan Whittington will have 100+ yard receiving. Gunnar Helm and Ja’Tavion Sanders will see some attention with Sanders scoring a time or two.

We know, it is a given, that Ewers will throw deep balls to Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.

Bert Auburn will attempt a 45+ yard field goal, just to keep his in-game practice for future situations where a field goal may be a deciding factor, like it was during Oklahoma.

This game is more about returning to the style of play Texas started with; controlling the ball, efficiently running plays and exerting field dominance, stopping (aka forcing a punt) the Cougars. Basically, tiny details of the game that end up the determining factors for the win or loss against elite opponents like Oklahoma and potentially Georgia.

We will be there in the press box and field level to capture your Texas Longhorns.

| #HookEm

A Little History

The last time Texas played Houston was in 2002 and Texas crushed them DKR 41-11 at DKR Cendric Benson ran for 160 yards and a touchdown with a carrer his 37 carries. Texas's defense held the Cougars to just 42 yards of total offense and one first down at the half.

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The year prior in 2001, Texas played at Houston and apparently there was drame/controversary with the seating. Craig Way explains it as "BleacherGate"...listen in.

Texas still routed Houston 53-26. The headline read: UT doubles Housto, 53-26

See more

Ever wondered why Texas hasn't played Houston since 2002?@Hornvoice tells us the story of BleacherGate...#HookEm pic.twitter.com/4zyKexmgCG

— AM 1300 The Zone (@am1300thezone) October 20, 2023