Taking part in at Baylor is the primary of many lasts for the No. 3 Texas Longhorns this season.
It’s the primary Huge 12 sport in Texas’ closing season within the league. And it’s the final sport in a rivalry that has been performed 112 occasions since 1901 and yearly since 1944.
The Saturday evening sport in Waco guarantees to carry the primary of a number of hostile crowds hoping to ship the Longhorns to the Southeastern Convention with an emphatic loss.
There’s plenty of historical past between two faculties 100 miles aside in Central Texas. Texas (3-0) and Baylor (1-2) have been in the identical convention collectively since 1915 at first of the outdated Southwest Convention. Texas lengthy had the higher hand, however the first time Baylor gained a Huge 12 title, the Bears clinched it with a win over Texas on a freezing day in Waco in 2013.
“I can’t let you know what number of occasions this offseason it’s been, ‘Hey Dave, simply win one sport please,’” Baylor coach Dave Aranda stated.
“That’s been introduced as much as me a number of, a number of occasions. I sense it and I do know it,” he added. “We’re undoubtedly going to speak in regards to the historical past and simply a number of the greater video games of the previous, as a result of I feel that’s method vital with one thing like this.”
Texas expects nothing much less. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian informed his group months in the past to “embrace the hate” on their Huge 12 farewell tour. Baylor gained’t the one longtime rivalry ending this season.
“We now have to stroll in there and play our model of soccer in plenty of these historic video games which can be going to come back to a detailed this season. Now greater than ever are their horns down. Now greater than ever are they going to say, ‘Let’s take yet one more shot at them on their method out,’” Sarkisian stated. “We will’t sit there and be a punching bag. We now have to go in and be in assault mode.”
Texas tight finish Gunnar Helm will get it.
“Huge 12 play,” Helm stated. “It’s an entire new ball sport.”
BEARS QUARTERBACK
The Bears will begin Sawyer Robertson for injured starter Blake Shapen for the third consecutive sport. Robertson is a switch from Mississippi State who has handed for 444 yards, however has three interceptions in opposition to one landing move and is finishing simply 45% of his throws. Will probably be the second straight week Texas has confronted an opponent’s backup quarterback.
UNEVEN EWERS
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers adopted his massive sport in opposition to Alabama with a ragged one in opposition to Wyoming. His 131 passing yards have been the second-lowest of his profession as he missed a number of open receivers. Nonetheless, he prolonged is streak of move makes an attempt with out an interception to 205, which ranks second in class historical past.
“Each facet of the passing sport wants to enhance,” Sarkisian stated. “We weren’t sharp.”
FOURTH QUARTER LONGHORNS
Texas has been dominant within the fourth quarter the final two weeks, scoring 21 factors every in opposition to Alabama and Wyoming to interrupt open shut video games. Add in a 21-point third quarter within the season-opener in opposition to Rice and the Longhorns have been a group with the boldness and expertise to dial up late touchdowns.
RUNNING GAME
Baylor wants a breakout sport from operating again Richard Reese to assist management the tempo in opposition to Texas. He was final season’s Huge 12 offensive freshman of the 12 months after dashing for greater than 900 yards in 2022. However he didn’t rating within the first video games and was largely quiet till scoring twice final week in opposition to LIU.
Texas operating again Jonathon Brooks, 6-foot and 207 kilos, is popping right into a late-game battering ram. He pounded out 164 yards on 21 carries in opposition to Wyoming, and a 61-yard run within the fourth quarter.
“I’m not quick,” Brooks stated. “I imply I’m not sluggish, however I simply attempt to make the primary individual miss.”
BALL HAWK
Texas defensive again Jerrin Thompson has made a few game-changing performs already this season. His fourth-quarter interception return in opposition to Alabama arrange the game-breaking landing. His pick-six in opposition to Wyoming within the closing minutes sealed that sport as properly. Texas has 5 in interceptions by 4 gamers this season.
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AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll