Game Analysis:

For the final time before Texas moves to the SEC conference, the Longhorns travel to Fort Worth to take on the TCU Horned Frogs. In this week 11 matchup, we have a tale of two different seasons, as the host TCU enters with a 4-5 record following a year where they shocked the world to reach the national championship. On the other hand, Texas enters this game as the 7th ranked team in the nation, sitting at 8-1 and still very much alive in the playoff conversation. However, they cannot afford to look past their in-state rival, despite their down season, as a second loss for Texas would essentially end their playoff hopes.

Following a week 6 loss to the arch rival Oklahoma Sooners, Texas has bounced back with 3 straight wins, including a few tight ones. Last week was the tightest of them all, as the Longhorns had a sizable lead on the Kansas State Wildcats, but following a 4th quarter collapse, the game went to overtime, where Texas would kick a game winning field goal for a 33-30 win. Starting QB Quinn Ewers missed this game, and the one before with an injury, but he is targeting a return this week at TCU. In his absence, the running game carried the load last week, as Jonathon Brooks carried the ball 22 times for 112 yards and a score, and CJ Baxter contributed as well with 10 carries for 90 yards and a score. Backup QB Maalik Murphy filled in and went 19/37 for 248 yards and a touchdown plus two interceptions, but he did connect with WR Adonai Mitchell 8 times, including that touchdown, for 149 yards. Getting their star QB back this week would help this offense become complete all around and very hard to stop.

Expectations were high for the Horned Frogs coming into the season, following a national championship appearance, and they came into the year ranked 17th, but they dropped out of the poll right away following a week 1 loss to Colorado and haven’t been close since. If there’s anything for this team to look forward to this week, it’s that they finally return home, after 2 straight ugly road losses. In a rematch of last year’s Big 12 title game 2 games ago, TCU got absolutely stomped 41-3 by Kansas State, and failed to avenge their loss. Meanwhile in their most recent loss, they fell 35-28 at Texas Tech, as they were unable to come back from a rough second quarter. With starting QB Chandler Morris hurt, backup Josh Hoover has filled in, and has struggled with turnovers, including two more last week. TCU was forced to air the ball out a ton after falling behind early, and couldn’t rely on a balanced attack to help their backup QB. They will need a fast start this week if they want to have a chance to beat Texas, but I don’t think they have the firepower to hang with them all game. Give me the Longhorns to make a statement in this one, as they try to reach the heights that TCU reached last year.

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