Double Coverage 2016-09-02

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Friday, September 2, 2016

By Sydney Rubin @sydenyrrubin

Double Coverage Editor................Daniel Clay Design Editor..............................Lillian Michel Photo Editor............................Daulton Venglar Copy Editor................................Victoria Recer Writers Noah Brooks Claire Cruz Trenton Daeschner Steve Helwick Tyler Horka

Shane Lewis Sydney Rubin Michael Shapiro Ezra Siegel Leah Vann

Editor’s Note

A year ago, Charlie Strong and the Longhorns began the season with a team made mostly of holdovers from the Mack Brown era. That squad got trounced 38-3 by Notre Dame in South Bend.

Now that Strong has two of his own recruiting classes under his belt, his stamp is firmly on the team. Will the new Texas be able to hang with the Irish this time or will the losing ways continue?

The answer could decide how long Strong remains in charge on the 40 Acres.

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Notre Dame’s quarterback tandem of senior Malik Zaire and junior DeShone Kizer will supply a substantial challenge for a Texas defense that was not up to par last season.

Head coach Brian Kelly has yet to announce whether Zaire or Kizer will take the first snap on Sunday, but both are equally capable of leading the Irish.

Zaire started for the Irish last year and threw 19-of-22 for 313 yards and three touchdowns against the Longhorns before injuring his ankle later in the season.

Texas’ defense needs to show major improvement from last season. Sophomore linebacker Malik Jefferson is the face of Texas’ defensive unit and proved to be a reliable leader during his freshman campaign, but the rest of the squad, especially the defensive line, needs to stay strong to keep Notre Dame’s offense in check.

Check out the rest of our Double Coverage online!

Since Texas’ season concluded last December, all eyes in Austin have been on Notre Dame. When Sunday night rolls around and the Longhorns take the field surrounded by a lively home crowd, the pressure will be on.

The pressure of performing on a nationally televised stage in a showdown between two storied programs could be overwhelming for the youngsters, so the upperclassmen need to step up and lead the team both mentally and physically.

This is a statement game for Charlie Strong and the Longhorns and with a lot on the line, they need to block out distractions and stay focused.

When the two teams met in South Bend last season, Notre Dame scored two quick touchdowns and never looked back en route to a 38-3 victory. With various uncertainties remaining for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, they can’t afford to get stuck in an early hole. If they want any shot at winning this time around, playing catch up isn’t going to cut it.

The ground attack will carry the Longhorns on Sunday with the one-two punch of running backs junior D’Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren, but they’ll need to strike right off the bat.

Last season, Notre Dame held the Longhorns to 163 yards of total offense and limited them to three points. Offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert’s new and improved offense will have the chance to show what it’s truly capable of.

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Friday, September 2, 2016

Quarterback

Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan file photo

Texas will need production from junior D’Onta Foreman to ease the pressure off of the starting quarterback.

By Trenton Daeschner @TrentonDaeschner

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Whoever ends up starting at quarterback against Notre Dame — whether that be true freshman Shane Buechele or senior Tyrone Swoopes — will have to step up big time. Really big time. Quarterback is the one position to have consistently let Texas down the past six seasons. If head coach Charlie Strong hopes to stick around for a fourth year in Austin, he’ll need much better production behind center. Strong said at his Monday press conference that he already knows who will start, but that everyone else will have to wait and see for themselves on Sunday night. If Swoopes gets the nod, then put simply, he will have to be better than last year’s game in South Bend. He completed only seven of his 22 throws for 93 yards. If it’s Buechele, then he’ll become the first freshman quarterback to start a Texas opener since Colt McCoy.

Running Back

The backfield duo of junior D’Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren III is the foundation of new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert’s offense. Establishing the running game early on will be crucial if Texas hopes to start its season with a win. Foreman and Warren have to help alleviate pressure off of whoever starts at quarterback. Texas has to stay out of third-and-long situations, something it failed to do last year against Notre Dame. If Texas can the run the ball effectively then it may have a chance against the Fighting Irish.

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Offensive Line

Texas has had a shaky offensive line for the better part of Charlie Strong’s tenure in Austin, but this season’s unit is hoping to change that. The Longhorns return three starters from last year — senior Kent Perkins and sophomores Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe. Junior Tristan Nickelson and freshman Zach Shackelford are also projected starters, but both, along with Vahe, suffered injuries in the preseason. Their statuses for Sunday remain up in the air, and redshirt junior Brandon Hodges and sophomore Jake McMillon will likely see lots of playing time.

Regardless, the Longhorns will need a great game from their offensive line if they hope to win. Notre Dame dominated Texas at the line of scrimmage in last year’s contest, and the trenches will likely be the deciding factor again on Sunday.

Defensive Line

The defensive line was arguably the weakest component of last year’s team as it struggled tremendously against stopping the run. The Longhorns finished eighth in the Big 12 in rush defense. This year, Texas is without former tackle Hassan Ridgeway and will be looking for players like senior Paul Boyette Jr. and junior Poona Ford to fill his shoes. The Longhorns also haven’t had a serious pass rush threat in a few years.

Junior Naashon Hughes and sophomore Charles Omenihu are two largely unproven defensive ends who will need to put pressure on Notre Dame’s two-quarterback attack. Texas has to win up front if it wants to beat the Fighting Irish.

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4-Opinion

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Bluiett ready for new role in Gilbert’s offense

By Tyler Horka @TexasTy95

Redshirt sophomore Jerrod Heard’s switch from quarterback to wide receiver flooded the airwaves over the latter half of summer.

But Heard’s transition to a ball-catching position isn’t the first such change during the Charlie Strong era – senior Caleb Bluiett permanently moved to tight end a year ago, and he even flipped sides of the ball to do it.

He was hesitant to change at first.

When head coach Charlie Strong first told him that he’d make a better fit at tight end before the 2015 season, Bluiett said his “heart dropped.” For a guy that “hates quarterbacks,” going from chasing them down to catching passes from them is a tough transition.

Bluiett registered 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss as a sophomore defensive

end in 2014. Despite his initial objection to change, he reversed roles and snagged eight catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns as a junior tight end last season.

Bluiett enters his senior season at Texas as new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert enters his first. The new offense will be faster and more furious than in years past, a change that could favor Bluiett.

“We throw the ball a lot more, we run a lot more plays,” Bluiett said. “So hey, I might get a few more balls in the game.”

Bluiett has five career starts, but only two of those came at tight end. His career high for receptions in a single game is one – but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any significant catches.

He came down with the game-winning touchdown against Oklahoma in Texas’ 24-17 upset victory of the No. 10 Sooners last season. He hauled in a 57-yard

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Friday, September 2, 2016

Fighting Irish tight end returns to Texas roots

By Claire Cruz @claireecruz5

Durham Smythe almost came to Texas. In fact, he was verbally committed to the University for the majority of 2012.

On Sunday night, the senior tight end will return to Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. But this time, he’ll be playing in the blue and gold of Notre Dame instead of watching in burnt orange.

“It’s going to be special,” Smythe said.

“Most of my friends went to [Texas] or [Texas] A&M. I have about 30 family members and friends coming to watch.”

Smythe grew up just 60 miles north of Austin and became a star at Belton High School where he was a three-year starter, a Class 5A All-State First Team honoree and a 2013 inductee onto the Belton Wall of Honor.

His recruitment was jump started when he attended Baylor’s junior day in January 2012.

His father, Dr. Roy Smythe, played football for the Bears and was a member of the 1980 Southwest Conference champion team. Smythe grew up attending Baylor games with his family.

“We knew if he went to junior day at Baylor and didn’t commit, it would have a big impact,” Smythe’s high school head coach Rodney Southern said. “He kind of went from an unknown to a big time recruit overnight. After that weekend, he had about 17 offers the following Monday.”

One of those offers was from Mack Brown, and Smythe committed to the Longhorns in March 2012. But with all the questions regarding Brown’s status and the state of the coaching staff up in the air after the 2012 season, Smythe re-opened his recruitment.

Because Smythe was the No. 6 tight end in the nation according to ESPN, Southern said the phone was ringing before they even left Austin after the decommitment. Schools like Stanford, Ole Miss and Michigan were all expressing continued interest.

But Smythe always had an interest in the Fighting Irish, and shortly after his official visit in late January 2013 he signed a letter of intent to play for Notre Dame.

“Durham was a Notre Dame fan growing up, who knows why, so it wasn’t surprising,” Roy Smythe chuckled. “I always told him, ‘I’m not here to make the decision, I’m here as a resource.’ I definitely think he made the right decision for himself.”

Since moving to South Bend, Ind. Smythe has become one of the leaders for

Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics

Former Texas committ Durham Smythe has settled in nicely with the Irish offense.

the Fighting Irish tight end crew. He’s an intelligent, talented athlete known for his sure hands and blocking proficiency.

As a tight end, Smythe said he strives to excel in all aspects of the game and he’s put in the work over the years to develop into a well-rounded football player.

In last year’s season opener against Texas, he notched a six-yard reception. The following game at Virginia, he caught a seven-yard touchdown pass.

Unfortunately, he suffered a MCL tear in that second game that sidelined him until the Fiesta Bowl game against Ohio State. While he was unable to compete, Smythe focused on improving his strength and knowledge of the game.

“It was tough for a while, but in the long run it was good for me,” Smythe said. “Even though I wasn’t on the field, I continued leading and fixed the mental side of my game. I worked hard in film sessions and I really learned the offense well.”

Despite going to school far away, Smythe’s family attends as many of his games as possible. But getting to watch him play on such a big stage so close to home is meaningful in a different way.

“We’ll be there, of course,” Roy Smythe said. “It’s really special. We’re excited to watch this big game between two great programs.”

Friday, September 2, 2016

Opinion-5

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WINS IF / LOSES IF

By Shane Lewis @theREALsplewis

Texas wins if they put on a dominant rushing performance. With uncertainty at the quarterback position, the Longhorns will have to heavily lean on their running game. Lucky for Texas, they have two backs that are capable of carrying the offense.

Junior D’Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren III combined for 712 yards over the final four games of last season, and are the types of physical backs that can wear down a defense. The duo will be running behind an improved offensive line that helped lead Texas to the third best rushing attack in the Big 12 last season.

In last year’s matchup with the Irish, Texas was nearly doubled up in time of possession and was outgained by over 150 yards on the ground. If the Longhorns can reverse these trends, control the line of scrimmage, and slow down the game, then they have a great shot at coming away with a win.

Defensively, the Longhorns must slow down the vaunted rushing attack of the Irish. Last season, Notre Dame averaged more than 200 yards on the ground, and shredded the Texas defense for 214 yards. With Notre Dame having their own share of quarterback uncertainties, they will also be heavily reliant on the run game. If Texas can clog up the rushing lanes early and force Notre Dame to throw, the Longhorns have the talent in the secondary to cause problems for a young Irish receiving corps.

Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan file photo

Texas loses if the Irish can strike first and build a lead early. The matchup with Notre Dame is one of the most anticipated of the season for the Longhorns, and a sold-out Darrell K. Royal is sure to be rocking come game time. If the Irish can come right out of the gate, make a few stops and score a few touchdowns, this will go a long way in seizing the momentum and quieting the crowd.

With Texas being so reliant on the run, an early deficit would turn them away from their game plan and put pressure on their quarterbacks.

If the game turns into a battle of quarterbacks, then the advantage definitely goes towards Notre Dame. Both quarterbacks in the Irish’s dual system have experience playing in big games. In 2014, senior quarterback Malik Zaire helped propel the Irish to an upset victory over LSU in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl and junior quarterback DeShone Kizer led Notre Dame to the cusp of qualifying for the College Football Playoff last year.

Although no starting quarterback has been announced for the longhorns, both options are wildcards. Freshman Shane Buechele has yet to play a collegiate game, and senior Tyrone Swoopes has been erratic over his career with the Longhorns.

If the Irish can generate enough offense and force Texas to play catchup with their quarterbacks, then they should be able to take home a win.

Amy Zhang | Daily Texan file photo

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Friday, Septem

Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan file photo

Sophomore tackle Connor Williams (No. 55) was not expected to be a top recruit, but earned first-team All-American honors as a freshman and has established himself as a key part of the Texas line.

By Michael Shapiro @mshap2

Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe don’t garner many headlines.

While the off-season has been filled with stories on Texas’ quarterback battle and Charlie Strong’s attempts to revive the program, the linchpins of the Longhorn line have been moved to the back burner.

But don’t let the lack of attention lessen the impact Williams and Vahe have on the Longhorn attack. Both were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, and both started ten or more games as freshman. Despite being underclassmen, Williams and Vahe now provide some much-needed experience to a group teeming with freshman.

“The things that are invaluable is having game experience,” offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said. “And both of those guys carry that having them play last year as two true freshmen.”

Williams and Vahe are set to anchor the left side of Texas’ line in 2016. Vahe will make the switch from right guard to left guard, while Williams will be tasked with protecting the quarterback’s blind side at left tackle. And although the two work in unison, they are a study in contrasts.

Their differences began in the recruiting process — with Vahe the No. 2 center and Williams just the No. 44 offensive tackle according to the 247Sports Composite. However, those rankings were ultimately little more than February fodder. Upon entering fall camp, both had secured their place on the starting line.

The two linemen clicked quickly, using each other’s styles to fuel a Texas rushing attack that ranked No. 17 in yards per game in 2015.Williams impressed with his quick feet and fluid ath-

leticism, Vahe took to bulldozing defenders, and both created ample running room for the Texas backfield. They look to bring their contrasting styles together on the left side of the line this year.

“We both have different ways of playing the game and we try to put it together in unison,” Vahe said. “If we’re trying to double team on one player, we try to make sure that our steps are there and that we can execute the play and make sure that we score.”

The accolades rolled in for the duo in 2015. Williams ended the season as the only freshman lineman to receive a positive overall grade from Pro Football Focus, and was named a first-team freshman AllAmerican alongside Vahe.

However, Texas limped to 5–7 record despite Williams and Vahe’s individual success. The Longhorns spent Bowl Season at home for just the second time in 18 seasons, leaving a bad taste in the team’s mouth.

“Oh yeah, it leaves a burn,” Williams said. “We all want to prove everybody wrong and go out and have a good season.”

The Longhorns have plenty of question marks heading into opening night on Sep. 4. The Notre Dame defensive line is heralded as one of the best in the nation, one head coach Charlie Strong deemed, “the most physical front four that we’ll face all season long.”

But Williams and Vahe aren’t fazed.

“I’m hoping that [fans] see a different team from last season,” Vahe said. “We’ve progressed and hopefully they can enjoy the show.”

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mber 2, 2016

By Ezra Siegel @SiegelEzra

Head coach Charlie Strong pumped his fist in the air as several players lifted him on top of their shoulders.

Texas was celebrating a shocking 24-17 victory over No. 10 Oklahoma on Oct. 10, 2015, just a week after the team fell 50-7 to No. 4 TCU in Fort Worth.

But the feel-good moments have been few and far between for Texas fans during Strong’s Longhorn tenure. Since his arrival on the 40 Acres in 2013, the team has compiled an 11-14 record with several gut-wrenching losses along the way — including a 24-0 loss at Iowa State last October.

“There is no reason for us to go 6-7 and 5-7,” Strong said at Big 12 media days on July 19. “I totally agree with [high expectations], and that’s what we’re working for. Our goal is to win every game.”

This season must be different for Strong to keep his job in Austin. The Longhorns finished their season under .500 in just three years since 1997, with Strong’s first two campaigns accounting for two of them.

Texas fans will count every win this campaign. And while a bowl appearance is expected — the Longhorns missed a bowl game for just the third time since 1993 last season — Strong will need to prove the program is heading into the right direction.

“We get into the Bowl Season [last year] and I texted a few of them … they were all upset,” Strong said. “But you should be, but now it stings a little and it should sting because if you’re a competitor, it’s going to sting.”

Strong made strides this off-season by reeling in the No. 7 recruiting class, according to 247sports. With more talent on the roster, it’s up to the coaching staff to put the pieces together and start winning games.

“I keep pressure on myself,” defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said.

“Every game, every play to me is a championship game. And you have to approach it that way.”

Texas’ players are adamant the culture is different this season. Senior safety Dylan Haines emphasized there’s been “better team building” this year and the team is closer than he’s seen before.

And senior tight end Caleb Bluiett said his teammates don’t ever think about Strong’s job security.

“I’m just so excited to play for him,” Bluiett said. “He’s already made history and I’m just excited. I know these guys are as well.”

Strong made another crucial decision this off-season in hiring offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert away from Tulsa after the Longhorns struggled to move the ball last season. Gilbert comes from a background of coaching up-tempo spread offenses — the system Strong has hoped to incorporate since his first season.

Haines said he expects the offense to finally live up to expectations in 2016.

“Everyone always says we’re going to run fast,” Haines said. “This is the first year our offense is starting to actually do that from my perspective on the defensive side of the ball.”

But saying the team will turn around this year and accomplishing it are two different things, especially after players expressed similar sentiments before last season. The program is out of excuses with a new system and a re-stocked cupboard of talent.

Now it’s time for Strong and his players to prove things are different in 2016 — it may be his last chance.

“We know what the expectations are and what the standard is and we haven’t lived up to it,” Strong said. “It’s about week in and week out as a coaching staff, we have to go out there and get our guys ready to play.”

Amy Zhang | Daily Texan file photo

Guard Patrick Vahe came onto campus last year as one of Charlie Strong’s most prized recruits. The current sophomore delivered with flying colors, earning first-team freshman All-American honors.

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Friday, November 6, 2016

STOCK UP STOCK DOWN

By Leah Vann

@Vanntastic_Leah

Tyrone Swoopes

Standing tall at 6-foot-4 249 pounds, the highly-anticipated quarterback has failed to move the ball effectively. Swoopes is not a strong passer. During the 2014 and 2015 seasons, his completion percentages were a paltry 58.5 and 50.2 respectively. In his debut game against BYU in 2014, Swoopes handed Texas its worst home-loss since 1997. In the Texas Bowl against Arkansas, he racked up just 57 yards of total offense. After losing his starting position to Jerrod Heard following the game against Notre Dame, Swoopes mostly played as an “18-wheeler” option to pound the ball into the end zone. If Swoopes takes the field in 2016 as the starting quarterback, it will be because of his experience, but the outcome is likely to be the same.

D’Onta Foreman & Chris Warren

Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan file photo

A strong spring game by freshman Shane Buechele has sparked hope that Texas has finally found its passer of the future.

Shane Buechele

The Arlington Lamar High school native was one of the top prospects in 2016. The 6-foot-1, 191 pound dualthreat quarterback passed for 6,379 yards and 73 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,805 yards and 21 touchdowns during his high school career. During the Elite 11 camp, the nation’s top high school quarterback competition, he won the “Golden Gun Challenge” for passing accuracy and finished No. 2 in the camp’s overall rankings.

As an early enrollee, Buechele spent an entire off-season on campus. On April 16th, Buechele showed he was ready to compete when he went 22-of-41 for 299 yards passing within 2 quarters of the spring game . Although not officially named a starter, he has put in the work and shown what he could do for the Longhorns against Notre Dame.

The 6-foot-1 249 pound junior Foreman and 6-foot-2 252 pound sophomore Warren have been dubbed the “smash brothers” for their power and tough running style.

Last season, Foreman eclipsed 100 rushing yards in 4 separate games, including a 117 yard performance in a win against Oklahoma. In his 95 attempts, Foreman racked up 681 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. With two years of experience under his belt, Foreman is ready to be a bigger part of the Texas offense. Warren, with just one year of experience, rushed for 470 yards on 71 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per carry last season. Warren’s breakout game was against Texas Tech, when he rushed for 276 yards. The duo showed their potential to dominate the offense in the spring game, running for a combined 174 yards on 16 carries for two touchdowns.

Defensive Line

Last season, the Longhorns allowed 219.2 rushing yards per game, third highest in school history, while also allowing 452.6 total yards per game, another school record.

During the spring game, not much improvement was shown by veterans senior Paul Boyette, junior Poona Ford, and sophomore Chris Nelson. The two offensive units rushed for 241 yards on 53 attempts in two quarters against the defense. The five freshmen defensive linemen Jordan Elliot, Chris Daniels, DeAndre Christmas Giles, Marcel Southall, and Gerald Wilbon arrived on the forty acres this summer, but it is uncertain they will be in shape and ready to take the field in time against Notre Dame.

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Friday, September 2, 2016

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NOAH BROOKS

CLAIRE CRUZ

TRENTON DAESCHNER

STEVE HELWICK

TYLER HORKA

SHANE LEWIS

SYDNEY RUBIN

MICHAEL SHAPIRO

EZRA SIEGEL

LEAH VANN

Notre Dame at Texas

Notre Dame 31-17

Notre Dame 24-17

Texas 30-27

Notre Dame 38-20

Notre Dame 31-24

Notre Dame 42-14

Texas 28-21

Notre Dame 27-20

Texas 27-24

Notre Dame 21-17

Alabama vs.

USC

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Oklahoma vs.

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Florida State vs.

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Georgia vs.

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Clemson vs.

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LSU vs.

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UCLA vs.

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Kansas State vs.

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BYU vs.

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BIG 12 NOTEBOOK

Friday, September 2, 2016

By Noah Brooks @NTBrooks1011

Baylor Opens Season with New Coach Interim head coach Jim Grobe was hired after Baylor had a particularly rough off-season. The summer started with the firing of celebrated coach Art Briles after he came under intense scrutiny about how he handled his players’ sexual abuse allegations and continued with the transfers and decommitments of several key players. Briles had transformed the Bears into a perennial powerhouse, making his firing a big shakeup for the school and the Big 12.

Grobe and the Bears will be looking to put the summer behind them when they play their home opener against Northwestern State on Sept. 2.

4 Big 12 Teams Included in Preseason AP Top 25 Poll Oklahoma predictably got the No. 3 spot in the recent poll due to return of redshirt junior QB Baker Mayfield and junior RB Samaje Perine, who are considered one of the best backfield tandems in the country, while TCU came in at No. 13 after an impressive rally against Oregon in the Alamo Bowl.

Rounding out the list is No. 21 Oklahoma State and No. 23 Baylor, who dropped in the rankings even after their bowl win against a higher ranked North Carolina.

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BLUIETT continues from page 4

Kansas State and Oklahoma Open with Tough Competition While most other schools in the conference, barring Texas, will open with what should be an easy win, Kansas State and Oklahoma will do just the opposite.

Oklahoma will face No. 15 Houston in Houston, and while the Sooners are ranked well ahead of the Cougars, Houston’s fantastic 2015 season, including a win at the Peach Bowl over Florida State, has proven that they’re not to be shrugged off.

The Wildcats will head to Palo Alto to face No. 8 Stanford, who ended last season strongly and have standout RB and Heisman-hopeful Christian McCaffrey behind their line. While Kansas State coach Bill Snyder has led the team to strong performances most seasons, the Cardinal may prove too big a challenge.

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touchdown during the opening series of the Longhorns’ 23-17 triumph over No. 12 Baylor. But Bluiett’s biggest impact may not show up on the stat sheet – not for himself, anyway. His time at defensive end taught Bluiett to become an imposing run-blocker, and blocking for a rushing attack that checked in at No. 18 in the nation last season demands him to employ his physical nature.

“I love the physical game,” Bluiett said. “I don’t mind hitting anybody, and I don’t mind getting hit.”

Gilbert said both Bluiett and junior tight end Andrew Beck will be very involved in both the running and passing games.

“Both of those guys are athletic,” Gilbert said. “They can do multiple things for us with their attitude and especially with their ability, what they can do.”

Splitting time with an-

Jayhawks and Cyclones Seeking to Right the Ships Kansas and Iowa State were two of the three teams from the Big 12 (the other being Texas) to not play in a bowl game, and both are looking towards their season opener to get a long awaited win.

Iowa State’s last win was its shutout of Texas last Halloween, and their 3-9 record was enough to prompt the replacement of veteran coach Paul Rhoads with former Toledo head coach Matt Campbell. The Cyclones will play nearby FCS school Northern Iowa.

The Jayhawks, for their part, have yet to win a game under second year head coach David Beaty and have yet to win a game since Nov. 8, 2014. After going 0-12 last year, Kansas is hoping to break their losing streak against FCS school Rhode Island. While no win against a FCS team is certain, Rhode Island’s 2015 record of 1-10 indicates that Kansas may finally snap the streak.

“I love the physical game. I don’t mind hitting anybody, and I don’t mind getting hit.

—Caleb Bluiett, Tight end

other tight end isn’t ideal for a player with less than 200 receiving yards in his career, but Bluiett knows that tight end isn’t a position where he can play every down. Instead, he’s fine with sharing the role with Beck because that’s the way Gilbert’s new offense is structured anyway.

“It’s not just built in for one guy, it’s built in for everybody,” Bluiett said of Gilbert’s new up-tempo offense. “I feel like we all understand the system. We’re all on the same page on that side of the ball.”

It’s not a side of the ball that has always been familiar with Bluiett, but it’s certainly one where he can use his 6-foot-4-inch, 258-pound frame to his advantage. Bluiett is the biggest tight end of Texas’ roster at that weight, but he’d be the smallest defensive lineman – by 29 pounds.

Bluiett was opposed to moving to tight end at first, and he still doesn’t have the lavish receiving numbers to back up that change. But he does have a new offense to work with, and that might be all he needs.

11

Friday, September 2, 2016

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By Steve Helwick @naqwerty3

No. 3 Oklahoma

vs.

No. 15 Houston

Saturday – 11 a.m. – ABC Saturday’s early slate of games features one of the best quarterback clashes of the season. Oklahoma takes the field with star gunslinger Baker Mayfield, who led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff in 2015 as a redshirt sophomore. Houston will challenge Oklahoma with dual-threat senior quarterback Greg Ward, Jr., who posted a perfect 13-0 record for Houston in Tom Herman’s first season as head coach. If the Cougars can pull off the upset in Houston, their schedule could provide a favorable passageway for the first non-Power Five team to be represented in the playoff.

No. 18 Georgia

vs.

No. 22 North Carolina

Saturday – 4:30 p.m. – ESPN After an 11-game win streak and ACC Championship appearance in 2015, the Tar Heels have emerged as one of college football’s top competitors. New redshirt junior starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky will inherit an offense that averaged over 40 points per game a season ago. Georgia counters with a relentless defense that yielded 17 points per game in 2015. Returning to the Bulldogs is junior running back Nick Chubb, who registered an FBS-best 8.1 yards per carry in 2015 before a season-ending knee injury. Expect Georgia’s offense to keep the ball on the ground to test the Tar Heel defense throughout.

No. 20 USC

vs.

No. 1 Alabama

Saturday – 7 p.m. – ABC The loaded week one schedule showcases a matchup between the dynasty of the 2000s against the dynasty of the 2010s. While USC has yet to return to their glory days, they have consistently fielded top-flight recruiting classes in recent years. Both teams will utilize new quarterbacks, redshirt junior Max Browne for the Trojans and junior Cooper Bateman for defending national champion Alabama. Browne will be tested by an elite defense that led the nation in sacks last year. The burning question of when USC returns to contention could be answered depending on how they fare against the nation’s best.

No. 11 Ole Miss

vs.

No. 4 Florida State

Monday – 7 p.m. – ESPN The Rebels have started 3-0 for three consecutive seasons, but that streak may be in jeopardy against the Seminoles in Orlando. Florida State returns ACC leading rusher junior Dalvin Cook and star senior pass rusher DeMarcus Walker, but the quarterback position remains questionable. Senior quarterback Sean Maguire’s status is unknown for the game, and redshirt freshman Deondre Francois will get the start. The Rebels are led by senior Chad Kelly, a 4,000 yard passer in 2015, but will have to adjust to life without receiver Laquon Treadwell and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche. The key to the Seminoles winning this game is to take advantage of an inexperienced Ole Miss offensive line to pressure Kelly and the Rebels.

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