Football Preview 2023 | College, NFL

Wednesday, aug. 23, 2023 College / nFl

UMHB has plan for being a consistent winner

By ERIC DRENNAN TELEGRAM SPORTS EDITOR

BELTON — Mary Hardin-Baylor made a massive leap into the upper echelon of NCAA Division III football in the program’s sixth year of existence in 2004. After falling in the first round in each of their previous trips to the postseason, the Crusaders reeled off four playoff victories and advanced to the national championship game before falling short of the title.

That was just the beginning. There have been 38 more postseason wins and two national championships — both within the last four full seasons — since that breakout year of 2004.

It begs a question. How did a program that had never tasted success get one bite of it, and then never leave the table?

The answer is long and involves numerous aspects, but there are a few things that are vital for a program to stay at the top — having a blueprint for successful football and sticking to it, having an administration that continually nourishes the program and allows it to succeed, and making sure to benefit from the recognition that comes from success.

“You have a blueprint of what championship football is, and you don’t deviate from it. You don’t lower the standard anytime for anything,” UMHB head coach Larry Harmon said. “We’re going to be physical. We’re going to be passionate. We’re going to be unselfish. We’re going to be relentless.

“We never cater to somebody just because they’re a great player. They have to buy into who we are.”

After players have their eye-opening moment when discovering what it’s

going to take to play for the Crusaders, some don’t stick around. Those who stay accept the work and sacrifice it takes to be a perennial title contender, and the pressure that comes with it.

“Pressure is a privilege. Don’t come here if you don’t want some expectations and pressure put on you, because we’re going to run to it and accept it,” Harmon said. “I like when people say, ‘What happened?’ It doesn’t offend me. It means they really care and that what I’m doing is important to them.”

It’s also important to the university.

What some schools don’t understand is that once its football program starts to ascend, the work isn’t finished. Good coaches have to be retained and facilities need to be upgraded among myriad of things that must happen or else that quick rise will turn into a rapid descent.

“The best thing we can do is to have very high expectations, hire great people, provide the tools they need to compete at the highest level, and stay out of their way,” said Dr. Randy O’Rear, the UMHB President. “I keep asking, but our coaches won’t let me call any plays, so clearly the

best way I can help is to support them. We have seen what championship athletics can do for a university, so we will continue to invest in our programs.”

There’s no doubt that championship athletic programs are a boon for colleges, especially private, tuition-driven universities such as UMHB and most of its fellow DIII members.

“Many people first learn about UMHB because they hear or read about the success of our athletic programs,” O’Rear said. “It would be hard to measure the positive branding, name recognition, and overall marketing benefits for UMHB that are a direct result of our athletic success.”

The same goes for the football program, which is in a constant recruiting battle with other teams to land the best players. Harmon has learned first-hand about how the notoriety that accompanies success gives championship-caliber programs a leg-up in the recruitment race.

“When I got in here in ’99, I’d tell a recruit, ‘I’m Larry Harmon from Mary Hardin-Baylor.’ They’d say, ‘Baylor?’ or ‘Mary Hardin-Simmons.’ Nobody knew who we were then,” Harmon said. “Now, everybody knows who we are.

“When high school coaches have good players, they reach out to us now because they want their kids in good programs where they’re going to be treated well. The reason we’re getting talented kids is because they want to be at a place that’s going to be in the playoffs and compete for a national championship. They already have that expectation when they get here. They know that. What they don’t know is how hard it is and how to get through the everyday grind.”

n edrennan@tdtnews.com

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Telegram file

Mary Hardin-Baylor players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl to win the NCAA Division III championship in 2018.

It’s one step at a time on UMHB’s quest for title

By ERIC DRENNAN TELEGRAM SPORTS EDITOR

BELTON — Having survived last year’s pressure of trying to win back-to-back NCAA Division III championships, only to come up short in the semifinals, Mary Hardin-Baylor is finally to the point where it can exhale.

The incessant thoughts of capturing consecutive titles for the first time in program history that wore down players over the course of 2022 are gone.

They are replaced by the belief that focusing only on the present day — how to get better in that moment — will carry the Crusaders all the way to the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va., in mid-December for the chance at a third walnut and bronze trophy.

“We don’t talk much about national championships right now. We talk about getting better every day. We’re just going out there every day and playing,” said UMHB second-year head coach Larry Harmon, the team’s longtime defensive coordinator before guiding the Crusad-

ers to a 12-2 mark in his first season in charge. “Last year, the national championship was all there was. It was either win it again, or the season is a waste. Unfortunately, that’s how the guys felt. We really are taking it one meeting and one day at a time this year. I think that’s really refreshing to our guys.

“That pressure of winning back-toback championships is off now. Winning a championship is still the goal, but it’s not something we’re talking about every single day.”

The offense

Gone are program passing leader Kyle King, dynamic slot receiver KJ Miller, big-bodied wideout Brandon Jordan and running back Aphonso Thomas — all key players in the 2021 national championship season and last year’s march to the semifinals.

Harmon doesn’t feel like the cupboard is bare, though, and the depth of offensive talent starts at the running back and receiver positions.

Please see UMHB, Page 13

Ray Swindle/Special to the Telegram

Top receiver Jerry Day and UMHB aren’t thinking about the national title yet, choosing to focus on the process that can guide them to the Stagg Bowl.

A&M looks to rebound from disappointing 2022

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLLEGE STATION — Coach Jimbo

Fisher had one of the worst seasons of his career last year when No. 23 Texas A&M won just five games with an unproductive offense.

His solution to help turn things around in 2023 was to bring in Bobby Petrino.

Fisher hired the former Louisville, Arkansas and Atlanta Falcons coach as his new offensive coordinator, bringing Petrino back to FBS football for the first time since 2018. Petrino was fired at Louisville after the Cardinals won just two of their first 10 games in 2018, and he took over at FCS member Missouri State in 2020.

“My knowledge of (Fisher’s) success and what he likes to do on offense made it very, very attractive,” Petrino said. “When I was coaching at Missouri State, I was having a great time. One of my goals there was to mentor and raise young coaches. So that was a lot of fun. But I always had the itch to get back to this conference and be able to coach at this level.”

Fisher’s job security has been a popular topic given the massive contract — and buyout — he has at Texas A&M, where he is a pedestrian 39-21 over five seasons. He is counting on Petrino to reignite the Aggies offense.

Petrino was 119-56 in 14 seasons as an FBS head coach, taking Louisville to eight bowl games over two stints and Arkansas to three bowls. Under Petrino, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016.

Petrino also had his share of controversies. He signed a 10-year contract before

Texas A&M Aggies

Colors: Maroon and White

Enrollment: 67,239

Coach: Jimbo Fisher, sixth season at Texas A&M (39-21), 14th overall (122-44)

2022 record: 5-7 (2-6, SEC)

Last bowl: 2020 Orange Bowl, beat North Carolina 41-27

Key returners: WR Evan Stewart, QB Connor Weigman, QB Max Johnson, OL Bryce Foster, WR Ainias Smith, DB Demani Richardson, DB Tyreek Chappell, DL McKinnley Jackson

Key additions: LB Taurean York (Temple), DB Tony Grimes, DL D.J. Hicks, RB Dalton Brooks, RB Rueben Owens, OL Chase Bisontis

the 2006 season with Louisville but left a year later for the Atlanta Falcons. After a 3-10 start in Atlanta in 2007, he left for Arkansas.

Petrino twice won at least 10 games with the Razorbacks, including two New Year’s Six bowl games, but was fired in 2012. He lied about a motorcycle accident involving a female staffer and failed to disclose when she was hired that the two were in an extramarital relationship. In College Station, Petrino inherits an Please see A&M, Page 14

Ainias Smith was Texas A&M’s top receiver before breaking his leg in the fourth game last year. He’s back this season, and the Aggies expect big things from him.

Baylor uses transfer portal, strengthens roster

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

WACO — When Baylor coach Dave Aranda reflected on what went wrong during last year’s losing season that followed a Big 12 championship, he came to the realization that he couldn’t always change people and that bringing different players into the program is the right thing to do sometimes.

“Those are really hard lessons from last year,” he said.

Aranda now embraces the transfer portal. In the aftermath of losing their last four games and finishing with a 6-7 record, the Bears added more than a dozen transfer players. That includes five from Power Five schools along with a pair of big brothers from BYU to bolster the offensive line that lost three six-year seniors, a four-year starting left tackle and a 10-game starter who transferred to Florida.

“I think one of the struggles for me has always been if you say yes to something, a player outside of your team that’s in the portal, you’re saying no to a player on your team,” Aranda said. “I think I had to come to grips with this is what needs to happen for the betterment of the team as opposed to just looking at what’s best for that one particular player on your team.”

This will be Aranda’s fourth season in his first head coaching job. His began with the fractured pandemic season in 2020, which was played without spring drills for the new coaching staff to install its schemes and get to know the players on the field.

Aranda, the defensive coordinator for

Baylor Bears

Colors: Green and gold

Enrollment: 20,709

Coach: Dave Aranda, fourth season at Baylor (20-16) and overall

2022 record: 6-7 (4-5, Big 12)

Last bowl: 2022 Armed Forces Bowl, lost to Air Force 30-15

Key returners: DL TJ Franklin (Temple), DL Gabe Hall, LB Matt Jones, DB Devin Lemear, WR Monaray Baldwin (Killeen Shoemaker), QB Blake Shapen, RB Richard Reese, OL Tate Williams

Key additions: DL Brendan Bett (Killeen Ellison), LB Mike Smith, DB Isaiah Dunson, QB Sawyer Robertson, WR Ketron Jackson, RB Dominic Richardson

LSU’s undefeated national championship team before coming to Baylor, fired defensive coordinator Ron Roberts — previously his boss — at the end of last season after Baylor allowed 370 yards and 27 points per game.

Shapen up Blake Shapen completed 17 passes in a row and threw three touchdowns in the Big 12 championship game in 2021

Please see BAYLOR, Page 14

AUG 11 BISHOP REICHER CATHOLIC

AUG 25 BRENTWOOD CHRISTIAN

SEPT 1 SHELTON SCHOOL OF DALLAS

SEPT 8 MILANO

SEPT 15 BRAZOS CHRISTIAN

SEPT 22 LEGACY PREP

SEPT 29 ST. DOMINIC SAVIO

OCT 6 JOHN PAUL II

OCT 20 ST. PAUL

OCT 27 NEW BRAUNFELS

NOV 3 SACRED HEART

NOV 10 AREA

NOV 17 REGIONALS

NOV 25 SEMI-FINALS

DEC 2 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

/ AWAY

Waco Tribune-Herald

Temple product TJ Franklin (9) is a starting defensive lineman for Baylor, which hopes the former Wildcats standout will lead an improved defense.

Houston amped up for its first season in Big 12

By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — Houston coach Dana Holgorsen talked with former star quarterback Case Keenum earlier this summer about when he should name a starting quarterback and end the competition between Donovan Smith and Lucas Coley.

Keenum’s answer?

“I wouldn’t,” Holgorsen said he told him. “Just let them compete, because if they compete, it makes them better, and then it should take care of itself.”

Keenum’s answer came from experience with the same situation when he and Blake Joseph competed for the job in 2008 before Keenum was eventually named the starter on a Houston team for which Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator.

Smith and Coley are competing to replace Clayton Tune, the Cougars’ quarterback for the past four seasons.

Smith joined the Cougars after appearing in 21 games for Texas Tech over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-5 Smith threw for 1,505 yards and 12 touchdowns last season after throwing for 1,181 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. Coley came to Houston after spending last season at Arkansas, where he appeared in three games but threw just three passes.

Though Holgorsen hasn’t named a starter, he certainly seems to be leaning toward Smith as the Cougars make the jump to the Big 12 after playing in the American Athletic Conference since 2013.

“The expectations are high for Donovan,” Holgorsen said. “I felt like it was important to bring a guy in with experience, with Big 12 experience.

“Donovan has impressed me. I think

Houston Cougars

Colors: Red and white

Enrollment: 46,581

Coach: Dana Holgorsen, fifth season at Houston (27-20), 13th overall (88-61)

2022 record: 8-5 (5-3 AAC)

Last bowl: 2022 Independence Bowl, beat Louisiana-Lafayette 23-16

Key returners: TE Bryan Henry (Belton), RB Brandon Campbell, WR Matthew Golden, WR Samuel Brown, OL Patrick Paul, LB Hasaan Hypolite, DL Nelson Ceaser, DL Chidozie Nwankwo, LB Malik Robinson

Key additions: WR Mikal Harrison-Pilot (Temple), OL Jaylen Garth, DL David Ugwoegbu, LB Ish Harris, DB Brian Goeorge

his best days are ahead of him. He’s only been playing quarterback for a couple years. He’s got the upper hand right now based on 21 games of experience, but Lucas Coley has been battling and is really competing hard and has got a lot of good football ahead of him, as well.”

Big 12 return

Though the Cougars are new to the Big 12, Holgorsen has plenty of experience

Please see HOUSTON, Page X

Associated Press

Wide receiver and punt returner Matthew Golden is a playmaker for Houston, which is primed for its first season in the Big 12 Conference.

Texas wants league title in final Big 12 season

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The last go-around in the Big 12 for Texas could be dubbed the Longhorns’ “Embrace the Hate” tour.

Coach Steve Sarkisian suggested as much for a season in which No. 11 Texas is expected to finally contend again for an elusive league championship before the Longhorns leave for the Southeastern Conference in 2024.

Texas hasn’t won the Big 12 since 2009, and every road stop — from Waco to Ames, Iowa — promises to bring extra spice from home crowds eager to kick the Longhorns in the rear end on their way out.

“We’re the University of Texas. We get it,” Sarkisian said. “I think that our guys have kind of assumed this mentality of ‘Embrace the hate.’ We can sit there and be a punching bag or we can go attack the people we’re going to play. I think that they’ve assumed that responsibility to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to go after everybody else, too.’”

Texas has a lineup ready to deliver some haymakers. Ten starters return to an explosive offense, key transfers have added depth on both sides of the ball, and all that talent made the Longhorns the preseason favorite for the league crown.

That raises the pressure on Sarkisian, who can answer whether he is really the guy to lead Texas’ long-sought return to glory.

Sarkisian is 13-12 heading into his third season at Texas and is 59-47 overall as a head coach, with previous stints at Washington and Southern California.

Evolving Ewers

Quarterback Quinn Ewers had an in-

Texas Longhorns

Colors: Burnt orange and white

Enrollment: 52,189

Coach: Steve Sarkisian, third season at Texas (13-12), 10th overall (59-47)

2022 record: 8-5 (6-3, Big 12)

Last bowl: 2022 Alamo Bowl, lost to Washington 27-20

Key returners: QB Quinn Ewers, WR Xavier Worthy, WR Jordan Whittington, OL Kelvin Banks, LB Jaylan Ford, DL T’Vondre Sweat, DL Barryn Sorrell, DB Jerrin Thompson

Key additions: OL Jaydon Chatman (Harker Heights), QB Arch Manning, WR Adonai Mitchell, DL Trill Carter, LB Anthony Hill, DB Jalen Catalon

consistent and injury-plagued freshman season but emerged from spring drills as the clear starter for 2023 ahead of Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning. Teammates and coaches have praised Ewers’ growth in the locker room and huddle. Gone is the flowing mullet haircut, but the talented arm with a quick release is still there.

“I wanted it short,” Ewers said of his new buzzcut. “It’s too hot here in Austin.”

Ewers also changed his diet and workouts to help him lose almost 20 pounds.

Please see TEXAS, Page 12

Associated Press

After battling injuries during his freshman season last year, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is healthy again and emerged from spring drills as the starter.

TCU rolls into 2023 after title game appearance

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

FORT WORTH — TCU cornerback Josh Newton still looks at a photo showing him standing on the field after last season’s lopsided loss in the national championship game as confetti rained down and Georgia celebrated its second title in a row.

“I was just standing out there. I try to remember that feeling forever so I can come back and conquer it,” Newton said.

The other figure in that photo from last January is Chandler Morris, the quarterback who was the starter for the Horned Frogs in their opener before he got hurt and spent the rest of the season backing up Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan.

“One thing (Morris) told me is we’ll be back next year,” Newton said. “I haven’t doubted it since.”

There are other doubters, though. The 17th-ranked Horned Frogs were picked fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll after the departures of Duggan, their top two running backs, top three receivers — including Temple product Quentin Johnston, a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers — and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.

Then again, no one expected the Horned Frogs to have an undefeated regular season and be in the College Football Playoff in their first year with Sonny Dykes as the head coach.

“When last season started, I felt like we were an average football team, honestly, probably slightly below average. We won some games, got a little confidence,” Dykes said. “It was a fun ride to go on.

“At the same time, we’ve got to move

TCU

Horned Frogs

Colors: Purple and white

Enrollment: 12,212

Coach: Sonny Dykes, second season at TCU (13-2), 13th overall (84-65)

2022 record: 13-2 (9-0, Big 12)

Last bowl: 2022 CFP championship, lost to Georgia 65-7

Key returners: TE Jared Wiley (Temple), QB Chandler Morris, WR Savion Williams, OL Andrew Coker, DL Damonic Williams, LB Johnny Hodges, LB Jamoi Hodge, DB Josh Newton

Key additions: DB Javeon Wilcox (Lake Belton), DB Avery Helm, DL Zachary Chapman, RB Trey Sanders, WR JoJo Earle, WR John Paul Richardson, OL Tommy Brockermeyer

forward. What happened last year is certainly not going to have any bearing on what’s going to happen this year. It’s a big challenge for us.”

TCU got into the four-team playoff even after an overtime loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game then beat Michigan in a national semifinal game

Please see TCU, Page 12

TCU tight end and former Temple standout Jared Wiley (19) helped the Horned Frogs reach the national title game last season and will be a key player for them again.

McGuire, Shough want Tech to take next step

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

LUBBOCK — Tyler Shough again goes into a season opener as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback, and he hopes to play every game his third time around with the Red Raiders.

“That’s why I wanted to come back this year, to put a whole season together,” Shough said. “I feel like if we all stay healthy, we’re going to make a run at a Big 12 championship just with the talent we have and our relationships.”

Texas Tech was 8-1 in the games Shough started the past two years, winning all eight he started and finished. But the former Oregon transfer missed significant time both of those seasons because of an injured left (non-throwing) shoulder.

“He’s a pro. He’s a guy that comes in and prepares at such a high level,” second-year Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire said. “He’s such a great example to our football team as far as this is how you have to prepare to play at a high level. It’s really important for him to stay healthy.”

The Red Raiders went 8-5 last season by winning their last four games. That streak coincided with the return of the 6-foot-5 Shough to the starting role in mid-November. He had a career-high 436 yards passing against Oklahoma to end the regular season then was MVP of the Texas Bowl with 353 yards (242 passing, 111 rushing) and three touchdowns in a win over Mississippi.

“Candidly, it was just, ‘I’m going to go out there and have fun, because I’m not going to worry about getting injured. I’m not going to worry about playing bad, or this and that,’” Shough said. “I just went out there and was having fun with

cott Reid

Texas Tech

Red Raiders

Colors: Scarlet and black

Enrollment: 39,743

Coach: Joey McGuire, second season at Texas Tech (8-5) and overall

2022 record: 8-5 (5-4, Big 12)

Last bowl: 2022 Texas Bowl, beat Mississippi 42-25

Key returners: RB Cam’Ron Valdez (Rockdale), QB Tyler Shough, QB Behren Morton, RB Tahj Brooks, DL Jaylon Hutchings, DL Tony Bradford, DB Malik Dunlap, DB Dadrion Taylor-Demerson

Key additions: DB Jordan Sanford, DL Dylan Spencer, DL Isaiah Crawford, WR Aiden Meeks, OL Rusty Staats, OL Daniel Sill

my teammates. I think that showed, and I think it fired up a lot of guys. We all have that similar mentality.”

Featured runner

Tahj Brooks finally gets his chance to be Tech’s featured running back after leading the Red Raiders in rushing each of the past two seasons when sharing the load with SaRodorick Thompson.

Brooks ran for 691 yards and seven touchdowns last season and caught 26 passes.

Please see TECH, Page 12

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Running back Cam’Ron Valdez, a Rockdale product, and quarterback Tyler Shough are back after helping Texas Tech win its final four games last season.

Texas FBS Schedules

Baylor

Sept. 2 Texas State

Sept. 9 Utah

Sept. 16 Long Island

Sept. 23 Texas

Sept. 30 at Central Florida

Oct. 7 Texas Tech

Oct. 21 at Cincinnati

Oct. 28 Iowa State

Nov. 4 Houston

Nov. 11 at Kansas State

Nov. 18 at TCU

Nov. 25 West Virginia Houston

Sept. 2 UTSA

Sept. 9 at Rice

Sept. 16 TCU

Sept. 23 Sam Houston State

Sept. 30 at Texas Tech

Oct. 12 West Virginia

Oct. 21 Texas

Oct. 28 at Kansas State

Nov. 4 at Baylor

Nov. 11 Cincinnati

Nov. 18 Oklahoma State

Nov. 25 at Central Florida

North Texas

Sept. 2 California

Sept. 9 at Florida International

Sept. 16 at Louisiana Tech

Sept. 30 Abilene Christian

Oct. 7 at Navy

Oct. 14 Temple

Oct. 21 at Tulane

Oct. 28 Memphis

Nov. 4 UTSA

Nov. 10 at SMU

Nov. 18 at Tulsa

Nov. 25 Alabama-Birmingham Rice

Sept. 2 at Texas

Sept. 9 Houston

Sept. 16 Texas Southern

Sept. 23 at South Florida

Sept. 30 East Carolina

Oct. 7 Connecticut

Oct. 19 at Tulsa

Oct. 28 Tulane

Nov. 4 SMU

Nov. 11 at UTSA

Nov. 18 at Charlotte

Nov. 25 Florida Atlantic SMU

Sept. 2 Louisiana Tech

Sept. 9 at Oklahoma

Sept. 16 Prairie View A&M

Sept. 23 at TCU

Sept. 30 Charlotte

Oct. 12 at East Carolina

Oct. 20 at Temple

Oct. 28 Tulsa

Nov. 4 at Rice

Nov. 10 North Texas

Nov. 18 at Memphis

Nov. 25 Navy TCU

Sept. 2 Colorado

Sept. 9 Nicholls State

Sept. 16 at Houston

Sept. 23 SMU

Sept. 30 West Virginia

Oct. 7 at Iowa State

Oct. 14 BYU

Oct. 21 at Kansas State

Nov. 2 at Texas Tech

Nov. 11 Texas

Nov. 18 Baylor

Nov. 24 at Oklahoma Texas

Sept. 2 Rice

Sept. 9 at Alabama

Sept. 16 Wyoming

Sept. 23 at Baylor

Sept. 30 Kansas

Oct. 7 vs. Oklahoma

Oct. 21 at Houston

Oct. 28 BYU

Nov. 4 Kansas State

Nov. 11 at TCU

Nov. 18 at Iowa State

Nov. 24 Texas Tech

Texas A&M

Sept. 2 New Mexico

Sept. 9 at Miami

Sept. 16 Louisiana-Monroe

Sept. 23 Auburn

Sept. 30 vs. Arkansas

Oct. 7 Alabama

Oct. 14 at Tennessee

Oct. 28 South Carolina

Nov. 4 at Mississippi

Nov. 11 Mississippi State

Nov. 18 Abilene Christian

Nov. 25 at LSU

Texas State

Sept. 2 at Baylor

Sept. 9 at UTSA

Sept. 16 Jackson State

Sept. 23 Nevada

Sept. 30 at Southern Mississippi

Oct. 7 at Louisiana-Lafayette

Oct. 14 Louisiana-Monroe

Oct. 28 Troy

Nov. 4 Georgia Southern

Nov. 11 at Coastal Carolina

Nov. 18 at Arkansas State

Nov. 25 South Alabama

Texas Tech

Sept. 2 at Wyoming

Sept. 9 Oregon

Sept. 16 Tarleton State

Sept. 23 at West Virginia

Sept. 30 Houston

Oct. 7 at Baylor

Oct. 14 Kansas State

Oct. 21 at

Nov. 2 TCU

Nov. 11 at Kansas

Nov. 18 Central Florida

Nov. 24 at Texas UTEP

Aug. 26 at Jacksonville State

Sept. 2 Incarnate Word

Sept. 9 at Northwestern

Sept. 16 at Arizona

Sept. 23 UNLV

Sept. 29 Louisiana Tech

Oct. 11 at Florida International

Oct. 18 New Mexico State

Oct. 25 at Sam Houston State

Nov. 4 Western Kentucky

Nov. 18 at Middle Tennessee

Nov. 25 Liberty UTSA

Sept. 2 at Houston

Sept. 9 Texas State

Sept. 15 Army

Sept. 23 at Tennessee

Oct. 7 at Temple

Oct. 14 Alabama-Birmingham

Oct. 21 at Florida Atlantic

Oct. 28 East Carolina

Nov. 4 at North Texas

Nov. 11 Rice

Nov. 17 South Florida

Nov. 24 at Tulane

TCU

Continued from 9

before the 65-7 loss to the Bulldogs to finish 13-2.

“It’s motivated us,” said linebacker Johnny Hodges, who led the Frogs with 87 tackles after transferring from Navy. “We had a great year. We had a fun time. The end of the season kind of left a foul taste in our mouth.”

The starter again Morris, the former Oklahoma transfer, again goes into the season as TCU’s starting quarterback.

“No one wants to lose their job in the way that Chandler lost his last year. But I think that Chandler is smart enough to understand in a lot of ways that it’s an opportunity to kind of sit back and to watch and to learn and to come out of the other end better,” Dykes said. “He just seems like a different guy right now than he did a year ago. I think he’s more mature. I think he’s more focused. I think he understands his role more than he did.”

Even after playing games in each of the last three seasons, Morris is listed as only a sophomore. After the 2020 season at Oklahoma during the pandemic that didn’t count against any player’s eligibility, he got in four games for TCU in 2021. That included his first start when he had 531 total yards (461 passing and 70 rushing) filling in for an ailing Duggan. Morris got hurt after starting the

next game.

“I want to go prove that I’m the best on this team, and I want to go prove that I’m the best in the country,” Morris said.

He will be working under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, a former Baylor assistant who left Arkansas after three seasons to replace Riley after he left for the coordinator’s job at Clemson.

Tide turned Frogs

Three Alabama transfers could have immediate impacts on TCU’s offense, two of them returning closer to home.

JoJo Earle, a receiver who broke his foot in preseason practice last season before returning late to start five games for the Crimson Tide, is from nearby Aledo. Former five-star offensive lineman Tommy Brockermeyer is back in his hometown of Fort Worth after two seasons in the Alabama program. The other Tide transfer is running back Trey Sanders, another former five-star player who played in 23 games the past two seasons.

The schedule

In one of the nation’s most-hyped season openers, TCU will host Colorado in Deion Sanders’ coaching debut with the Buffaloes, who will rejoin the Big 12 next season. The Horned Frogs’ league opener is at former Southwest Conference rival Houston on Sept. 16, and they go on the road for their championship game rematch against Kansas State on Oct. 21. Departing Big 12 members Texas and Oklahoma await in the last three weeks of the regular season.

receptions for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. He played in 11 games with eight starts in 2022.

Tech

Continued from 10

Conference wins

The Red Raiders had a winning record (5-4) in Big 12 play last year for the first time since 2009, which was Mike Leach’s final season as their coach. Their conference opener and finale were overtime victories at home, marking the first time they beat Texas and Oklahoma in the same season.

Almost ranked

The Red Raiders just missed getting into the preseason top 25 for the first time

Texas

Continued from 8

Ford tough

Texas was shocked when linebacker Jaylan Ford wasn’t selected Big 12 defensive player of the year last season after he was player of the week three times, led the team in tackles and had four interceptions. The Longhorns were maybe just as surprised when Ford opted not to turn pro and returned for this season.

“My motivation, as humble as I can be, is telling myself every day when I wake up that I’m the best linebacker in the country,” Ford said.

Receiver riches

since 2008. They were the first team listed among others receiving votes. Texas Tech hasn’t been ranked at any point since a one-week stay at No. 25 early in the 2018 season.

The schedule

The Red Raiders play five of their conference games on the road, including trips to Baylor and BYU before ending the regular season at Texas the night after Thanksgiving in the last Big 12 regular-season game for the Longhorns. Tech doesn’t have another game scheduled with Oklahoma before the Sooners go with Texas to the Southeastern Conference next year.

field, you can’t double everybody or load the box to stop the run,” Sarkisian said. “And all those guys are hard tackles in space.”

Replacing Robinson

Texas’ mediocre record over the past three seasons never let Longhorns fans truly appreciate what they had in tailback Bijan Robinson. Now he’s gone to the NFL. That leaves a group of running backs who are light on experience but have the luxury of playing behind five returning starters on the offensive line. Freshman running back Cedric Baxter was one of the top recruits in the country and enrolled early to join spring drills.

The schedule

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in the conference after coaching at West Virginia for eight seasons before leaving to take over at Houston. He was the coach at West Virginia when the Mountaineers moved from the Big East to the Big 12 in 2012 and knows the difficulties of moving up to a Power Five conference.

“This is the deepest conference in the country,” Holgorsen said. “By adding the four schools that we added, I think it adds to the deepest conference in the country. You better get ready to line up and prepare your best each and every week to put your best foot forward. I think we will do that, and I think we’ll be competitive.”

Golden receiver

Receiver Matthew Golden is expected to star for Houston’s offense after a standout freshman season in which he had 38

Rekindled rivalries

Holgorsen is looking forward to renewing old rivalries in Houston’s return to the same conference as fellow Lone Star state schools Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor for the first time since the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1996.

“I think the rivalries will reform actually a little bit quicker,” he said. “That’s great for college football. That’s great for the Big 12. Certainly, that’s great for the University of Houston and our fan base.”

The schedule Houston opens the season Sept. 2 at home against UTSA and hosts No. 17 TCU in Week 3. The Cougars host No. 11 Texas on Oct. 21 and travel to No. 16 Kansas State the following week. In all, the Cougars play eight games in Houston.

Wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s 21 career touchdown catches rank third in program history. The Longhorns’ receivers group added Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchel, and former Wyoming standout Isaiah Neyor is ready after sitting out last season with a knee injury. Tight end J.T. Sanders set a school record for catches at that position last season.

“If we can deploy five people on the

Texas opens the season at home against Rice on Sept. 2 before heading to a showdown with No. 4 Alabama a week later in a matchup of future SEC rivals. The Longhorns start their final Big 12 schedule Sept. 23 at Baylor. There are backto-back games against new Big 12 foes Houston and BYU in October after the annual showdown with Oklahoma on Oct. 7.

UMHB

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Hard-charging, 225-pound Kenneth Cormier will be the primary ball carrier after averaging 4.4 yards per carry and scoring 10 touchdowns as Thomas’ backup last season, and the explosive Kenneth Miller — who averaged 9.5 yards an attempt and is a threat as a pass catcher — will get the ball in his hands more often as a running back and slot receiver.

“Kenneth Cormier is our starting tailback. He can do it all and is an everydown kind of guy,” Harmon said. “Kenneth Miller is one of the most explosive players we have on our team. To have him backing up a guy and not being on the field wasn’t something I liked, so we devised a way to get them both on the field at the same time. He might be the most explosive player in Division III.”

Jerry Day is the top returning receiver after making 43 catches for 726 yards and seven scores, and Academy product Jerry Cephus and the speedy Matthew Jackson also are expected to be primary targets along with a few skilled newcomers.

“Jerry Day is the only proven commodity. He played well last year. But we’re very talented at receiver,” Harmon said. “We have some young guys and some transfers, and we’ll see how it develops. I really think we’ll be a little harder to defend this year because we won’t be as predictable as far as who we’re going to throw to.”

Harmon believes returning tight end Will McClintock has the highest ceiling of any player UMHB has had at that position, and Ethan Ruckman and Jesse Hoke are back along the line after performing well last season.

The other spots along the line — including at center — are up for grabs.

“Our line is a work in progress,” Harmon said. “We think we have some guys who can do it, but we’re still trying to build it. When we get it figured out, I don’t think there will be a drop off from last year because of the talent that we have there.”

The most important decision for Harmon and his staff to make is at the quarterback spot, where they must choose a successor to King.

It’s a three-player battle between Jackson Tingler, Landon Howell and Isaac Phe. Tingler was 11-of-22 for 90 yards, with one TD throw and one interception as the primary backup last season. Howell completed one of two attempts in mop-up duty, and Phe played on the junior varsity squad.

Tingler and Howell figure to be the front-runners, but the long-term starter won’t be determined until late in the week of the season opener or even later.

“We’re going to battle it out to see who the guy will be,” Harmon said. “There’s not a lot of separation between Jackson and Landon. They can both really throw it. The question I have is about the decisions they’re going to make with people coming at them. That’s what we don’t know.”

As for the receivers’ take on the QB battle, Day said they’re confident the coaches will choose the right guy because the offense has a chip on its shoulder from the 49-14 semifinal loss to eventual national champion North Central.

“We still have something to prove,” Day said. “It’s not that we’re worrying about that right now, but it’s definitely on our back. When you lose a game like that, you just have to keep looking forward and keep grinding.”

The defense

Staunch defense has always been a hallmark of the UMHB program, but the Crusaders gave up an average of 305.6 yards per game last season — the first time that stat wasn’t in the 200-yard range since 2015 — primarily because of early struggles while breaking in new young players and transfers as first-time starters.

They hope the lessons learned in 2022 pay bigger dividends in 2023.

“We took our lumps on defense last year because we lost all of those guys from the ’21 team that were fifth-year seniors. I thought we really made gains later in the season, though,” Harmon said. “Our back seven this year has experience and athleticism. The unknowns are up front. We’re in a building process with those guys, but they have a lot of pride and know how important it is. We’ll get there.

“There will be some freshmen playing for us earlier rather than later this year because I think we did a great job recruiting. Our overall team speed is as good as we’ve ever had here. We just have to keep bringing people along.”

The back seven includes the linebackers trio of Durand Hill in the middle, Johnny Smith-Rider on the weak side and Omari Frazier or on the strong side — the top three leaders in tackles a year ago — and free safety Dorian Pittman, who had two interceptions in the quarterfinal win over Bethel.

“Dorian might be faster than the other free safeties we’ve had. He has a great personality. Everybody likes to be around him. He’s kind of like the pied piper,” Harmon said. “And at linebacker, we feel a lot more comfortable with who we have there. We had a lot of question marks at linebacker going into last year, but those guys kept working at it and proved they could do it.”

Khyren Deal or Trace Holmes should be the strong safety, with Titus Dunk back

at one cornerback spot and Trashawn Adams and Chaka Watson fighting for the other one.

Ends Trey Belyeu-Witcher, Dorian Pittman and Myles Terry return after seeing playing time last season, and Preston Johnson, Mason Cavness and Te’Ron Brown lead the group of tackles.

Jack Bruner will be the punter and kicker.

“We think we’re going to be alright (at tackle). Our ends are our biggest question mark right now,” Harmon said. “We don’t have that dominant pass rusher, unless it’s Dorian Pittman. He’s capable of doing it.”

The hope is that when all of the pieces of the puzzle are in place, the defense will be strong enough to persevere when games are tight.

“One thing I learned a lot last year is to push through, because there’s going to be hard times throughout the season. You have to keep pushing through it,” said Hill, who made a team-high 124 stops last season. “I’m a lot more prepared, and I think a lot of us are, because we have a year under our belt.”

The schedule

It all starts for real Sept. 2 when UMHB — ranked No. 3 in the preseason — visits No. 23 Wisconsin-River Falls, and it doesn’t get easier the following two weeks with matchups against No. 4 Trinity on the road and No. 11 UWWhitewater in the home opener before American Southwest Conference play begins.

“The schedule is what it is. Nobody wants to play a defending national champion or semifinalist. The only ones that will play you are the other ones that nobody wants to play,” Harmon said. “All we can worry about is doing our part. We’re going to put together the best product we can and put it on the field.”

n edrennan@tdtnews.com

FOOTBALL 2023

DALLAS COWBOYS

Key additions: WR Brandin Cooks, CB Stephon Gilmore, OL Chuma Edoga, DT Mazi Smith, TE Luke Schoonmaker.

Key losses: RB Ezekiel Elliott, TE Dalton Schultz, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, G Connor McGovern, DT Carlos Watkins.

Key storylines: Quarterback Dak Prescott has head coach Mike McCarthy as his play-caller for the first time after Moore took that role with the Chargers the day after he and the Cowboys parted ways. It’s also the first time Prescott won’t have Elliott behind him in the backfield. They starred as rookies together seven years ago. Elliott was released in a cost-cutting move. McCarthy hasn’t called plays since his Green Bay days. This is his fourth season in charge of the Cowboys, who were 13-6 last year. Just about everything is the same for a Dallas defense that led the NFL in takeaways each of the past two seasons. It’s the third year together for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and star linebacker Micah Parsons. The season will start with nagging questions over whether the Cowboys can end a 27-year run of not reaching at least the NFC championship game. Dallas lost at San Francisco in the divisional round last season after a wild-card loss to the 49ers at home to finish 2021.

Continued from 5

offense that ranked 101st in scoring by averaging just 22.8 points a game last season and 93rd in total offense at 360.9 yards per contest.

“He’s been very productive as a head coach and as an offensive coordinator, and he has balance,” Fisher said. “It’s not just all throws. It not just all pass. It’s a balanced attack. He has a very similar philosophical nature and is a very proven guy who has a great mind for the game and does a great job teaching and getting great production.”

Quarterback battle

Petrino is poised to improve Texas A&M’s offense, but he and Fisher haven’t chosen a starting quarterback yet. Max Johnson and Conner Weigman are vying for the job.

Johnson threw for almost 4,000 yards in two seasons at LSU before transferring to Texas A&M prior to last season. He had 517 yards passing with three touchdowns in four games last year before a seasonending hand injury.

Weigman threw for 896 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception in five games as a freshman after Johnson was injured.

Both players say the competition in camp has made them better.

“He has done a great job of understand-

ing the system,” Johnson said. “I think he’s really athletic. We learn from each other’s successes and mistakes. We pick each other’s brains, talk off the field and are able to understand offenses more from each other.”

Smith returns

Top receiver Ainias Smith returns for a fifth season. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Smith is back after breaking his right leg in Texas A&M’s fourth game last season. He was off to a great start last year before the injury, piling up 291 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Smith had more than 500 yards receiving with six touchdowns in each of the two years before the injury, and the Aggies expect him to build on that this season.

Richardson leads defense

While Smith paces the offense, the Aggies will look to senior defensive back Demani Richardson to lead the defense. Richardson ranked first on the team in 2022 with 73 tackles and broke up five passes, had an interception and forced a fumble.

The schedule

Texas A&M opens the season Sept. 2 at home against New Mexico before a visit to Miami the following week. The back end of the Aggies’ schedule should be the most challenging when they face teams currently ranked in the top 25 in four of their last seven games. They host No. 4 Alabama on Oct. 7 and end the regular season with a trip to fifth-ranked LSU.

WEDNESDAY,

HOUSTON TEXANS

KEY ADDITIONS: Head coach DeMeco Ryans, QB C.J. Stroud, DE Will Anderson Jr., WR Tank Dell, QB Case Keenum, TE Dalton Schultz, CB Shaquill Griffin, OL Shaq Mason, C/G Juice Scruggs, OT Greg Little, OLB Denzel Perryman, FS Jimmie Ward, WR Robert Woods.

KEY LOSSES: WR Brandin Cooks, DL Mario Addison, OL A.J. Cann, LB Jalen ReevesMaybin, OL Justin Britt.

KEY STORYLINES: After three seasons as one of the league’s worst teams, the Texans have tasked Ryans with turning around the franchise in his first head coaching job. Ryans, a former Texans linebacker who spent the past two seasons as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, is Houston’s fourth coach in as many years after Bill O’Brien, David Culley and Lovie Smith were fired in consecutive seasons. He takes over a team that was 313-1 last year but should be on the upswing after taking Stroud with the second overall pick in the draft. General manager Nick Caserio said Stroud will compete for the starting job. Stroud is almost certain to replace Davis Mills, who was ineffective in two seasons as a starter. The Texans also beefed up their defense by trading up to nab Anderson, a defensive end from Alabama, with the third pick in the draft.

Baylor

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as a redshirt freshman. The quarterback followed that with an inconsistent 2022 season — just like the entire team.

“Anytime you don’t have the season you want to have and not be able to perform like we did the year before, it’s tough,” said Shapen, who threw for 2,709 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. “But I think it was good for me to grow from it, see what it looks like going through a whole season.”

Aranda said Shapen has grown as a leader and put in a lot of work since last season.

“Big fan of his,” Aranda said. “The team sees that, and the guys see that and they want to work hard for him.”

Running Bears

Richard Reese set a Baylor freshman record with 972 yards rushing last season, when he also ran for 14 TDs.

While the Bears’ second- and third-leading rushers are gone — Craig Williams is now a high school coach and Qualan Jones was recently dismissed from the team because of an off-field issue — they added Oklahoma State transfer Dominic Richardson.

“Dom keeps pushing me every day and making me a better player,” Reese said.

Richardson led the Cowboys with 543 yards rushing and eight TDs last season. Having him could allow Baylor to use Reese in different ways, such as third-down situations and catching the ball.

New DC no stranger

Matt Powledge was away from Baylor for only one season before returning to replace Roberts as the defensive coordinator.

Powledge was the safeties coach and special teams coordinator for the first two seasons on Aranda’s original staff. The 36-year-old Texas native spent the year away as the co-coordinator and safeties coach at Oregon.

“To find people that are real and authentic and comfortable with who they are and don’t have to be anybody else, I know players see that,” Aranda said.

“They connect with that.”

The schedule

The Bears will spend a lot of time along the banks of the Brazos River this season, with their first four games at home and a record eight overall. Utah — one of four Pac-12 teams joining the Big 12 next season — gets a preview of McLane Stadium on Sept. 9, two weeks before Texas makes its final scheduled visit to Waco prior to leaving for the Southeastern Conference. The Bears also host new league member Houston in the teams’ first meeting since the Southwest Conference broke up in the mid-1990s.

McCarthy Ryans