Double Coverage 2013-11-08 by The Daily Texan

THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

VOL. 8, ISSUE 10

CATCHING FIRE PAGE 10

• • • •

Walk to UT campus Fully equipped kitchen Parking included Near Hike and Bike trail along Austin’s Greenbelt

Austin Vacation Apartments “Finest place in town for the die-hard U.T. Fan!” 512-522-9521 BOOK ONLINE TODAY! austinvacationapartments.org

• • • •

Great Central Location Newly Renovated Onsite Salon and Spa Walk to restaurants, shops and the drag

2 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

THELINEUP 3

Elisabeth Dillon / Daily Texan Staff

5-0 in conference play, Texas has established itself as a legitimate Big 12 title contender, thanks in large part to Johnathan Gray, who is on pace for his first career 1,000-yard season.

FALLING INTO THE TRAP

Mack Brown called last week’s win over Kansas a “true trap game,” but this week’s contest against West Virginia really has the making of a trap game.

IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT

The Longhorns needed an attitude change after starting 1-2. They got it and it all began when their offensive line toughened up and started pushing teams around like they were expected to all year.

Cover photo: Sophomore wide receiver Marcus Johnson / Elisabeth Dillon / Daily Texan Staff

PREVIEWS&NOTEBOOKS 8 13 14 16 18

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Texas makes its first-ever trip to Morgantown, so its players and coaches obviously don’t have much experience up there. How is it preparing for a hostile, unfamiliar atmosphere?

KEYS TO THE GAME MATCHUPS POWER RANKINGS PLAYERS TO WATCH HEISMAN WATCH

ONLINE POINT SPREAD PREDICTIONS THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

VOL. 8, ISSUE 10

Double Coverage Editor........Christian Corona Design Editor...........................Natasha Smith Photo Editor............................Elisabeth Dillon Writers..................................Garrett Callahan ..............................................Peter Sblendorio ................................................Evan Berkowitz .................................................Chris Hummer ............................................Cameron Kubena ....................................................David Leffler ..............................................Drew Lieberman ...............................................Darren Mitchell ...............................................Stefan Scrafield ....................................................Matt Warden ..............................................Rachel Wenzlaff

STILL SOMETHING TO PROVE

For the first time in conference history, a team has started 5-0 in Big 12 play but remained unranked. Why aren’t the pollsters convinced Texas is worth of a Top 25 spot?

PLAYING CATCH UP

Starters Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley battled injuries this year, a sort of blessing in disguise as younger wideouts like Kendall Sanders and Marcus Johnson gained valuable on-field experience.

EDITOR’SNOTE No last-minute heroics from Case McCoy were necessary this year against Kansas, just a 22-point victory sparked by another timely Chris Whaley touchdown. Texas won’t be able to high-step down the stretch, though, as it faces ranked opponents in each of its last three games. Before that gauntlet comes the first trip to Morgantown in program history to play a West Virginia team that handed Oklahoma State its only loss of the year and will be looking to hand Texas its first loss in conference play.

3 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Facing West Virginia a true ‘trap’ game By Christian Corona Double Coverage Editor @ChristianC0rona

Just like it did last year, Texas, like it usually does, walked off the field a winner over Kansas. Unlike last year, the Longhorns didn’t need a last-minute touchdown pass from Case McCoy to beat the Jayhawks. Instead, despite McCoy getting picked off twice without scoring a touchdown, Texas picked up a relatively easy 35-13 victory over last-place Kansas. “This was a true trap game,” head coach Mack Brown said. “Everybody talks about the struggles of Kansas all week, and that’s all the kids hear. Everybody is bragging on them and I did tell them during the week… They came out and I thought they did well to handle what they needed to win the game decisively.” For the most part, Brown is right. All anyone talked about leading up to the Kansas game was how bad the Jayhakws, who are still trying to snap a 26-game losing streak against Big 12 opponents, were and how great the Longhorns, 5-0 in Big 12 play now, were. But last week’s game against Kansas was not a “trap” game. Not nearly as much as this week’s contest in Morgantown against West Virginia is a “trap” game. A traditional “trap” game is one where a team overlooks an overmatched opponent because of a big game the following week. In Texas’ case, it has THREE big games to look forward to after facing West Virginia. The Longhorns host Oklahoma State two

Saturdays from now, then host Texas Tech on Thanksgiving before going to Waco to play the only other team in the Big 12 still unbeaten in conference play – Baylor. “We have as good a chance as anybody to win the next four games,” Brown said. “We’ve just got to do it one game at a time.” It won’t just be easy to overlook West Virginia, but the Mountaineers can make the Longhorns pay for overlooking them. West Virginia comes into this game with a losing record at 4-5 and is fighting just to become bowl eligible this year. But Texas is making its first trip to Morgantown in school history. As a head coach at Syracuse, current Longhorns defensive coordinator Greg Robinson made two trips there, losing both times. “It’s a great atmosphere, especially at night,” Robinson said. “It’s a good football town. It really is. They’re all about their program and they’re going to let you know it.” It will face a team that was shut out by Maryland and allowed 73 points to Baylor earlier this year, but also handed Oklahoma State its only loss this season and nearly knocked off Oklahoma the same day Texas was blasted by BYU. So don’t sleep on the Mountaineers. Don’t fall for the “trap” Texas’ game against West Virginia presents. Because they might creep up on Texas and snatch an unexpected victory from the Longhorns’ grasp and burn that couch you’re sleeping on.

Illustration by Tallis Davidson Daily Texan Staff

YOUR Go -To STORE

FOR SAVINGS. Shop Spec’s for lower prices on our stadium-sized selection of wines, craft beers, hard-to-find spirits and gourmet goods!

WINES · SPIRITS · FINER FOODS TEXAS SUPERSTORE SM

CHEERS TO SAVINGS! ® LOCATIONS ALL ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS

(512) 366-8260 • specsonline.com Spec’s selection includes over 100 stores in Texas!

4 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Elisabeth Dillon / Daily Texan Staff

Junior center Dominic Espinosa has started in all 34 of Texas’ games since his freshman season in 2011, but the offensive line he’s playing on right now is arguably the best he’s played on since stepping on campus. The Longhorns are running the ball at will and keeping Case McCoy’s jersey squeaky clean.

Like its offensive line, Texas gets tougher By Chris Hummer

Daily Texan Sports Editor @chris_hummer

This offseason Kansas State linebacker Tre Walker took a shot at the Longhorns. He stepped out and labeled one of the country’s most successful programs soft. “They kind of laid down a little bit,” Walker said. “That’s nothing to say about their character. That’s just what they do.” Seven games into the season, it’s hard to give much credence to his opinion. The Longhorns are a physically

and mentally tough unit. It’s a drastic change, an alteration that began in the trenches with the offensive line. “We were tired of hearing everyone talk down on us,” senior left tackle Donald Hawkins said. “When you get tired of people talking you step up.” The Longhorns haven’t been known for a physical running style since Ricky Williams roamed the Texas backfield in 1998, winning the school’s second Heisman trophy. But this team and coaching staff envisioned a change.

OFFENSIVE LINE BY THE NUMBERS BIG 12 PLAY

CONF. RANK

Sacks allowed/game

1.0

Rushing yards/game

201.8

4.3

5.2

Yards per carry Rushing TD Carries/game

NAT’L RANK

NON-CONFERENCE PLAY

CONF. RANK

NAT’L RANK

1.7

205

46.4

39.3

Three years ago Mack Brown set out to alter the offensive mindset at Texas. Instead of the fast-paced spread offense the team ran under Colt McCoy, Brown sought to employ a physical,

run-heavy attack that would wear down quicker Big 12 defenses. It was a sound strategy. Almost every team in the Big 12 had shifted to the nickel as its base defense in an attempt to counteract

the four and five-wide sets offenses frequently utilized. But the shift in styles wasn’t effective for Texas. A young, small group of Longhorns offensive linemen weren’t capable of

consistently dominating opposing defensive lines. They’d be fine pass blocking, but when the time came to charge ahead and create the

OFFENSE page 9

5 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Banged-up Walters anchoring Horns O-line By Garrett Callahan @CallahanGarrett

Texas has been struck with a variety of adversities this year, from starting 1-2 to the reassignment of its defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to numerous injuries on both sides of the ball. No other place have those injuries been more relevant than in the offense, specifically the offensive line, which has been without Josh Cochran and includes a bangedup Mason Walters, who has been playing through a knee injury all year. However, Walters has taken his leadership role to propel against those adversities and help lead his team back from a 1-2 start. “I think we’ve continually come closer and gelled more and more,” Walters said. “[There’s] a different chemistry than we’ve had in the past.” Walters has helped make that chemistry happen. The senior offensive guard came into this season as one of the most experienced players in the nation. The fifthyear player started the last 46 games, marking the secondlongest streak in the nation among offensive linemen. Walters has also helped the offense gain an average of 446.6 yards per game this season and push a much-improved run game from where it was earlier in the season. Though, before this turnaround could come, a standard had to be changed. “I think in their mind there is a standard that allows them to free up and play for whatever reason,” co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite said. “It is a mental block and once that gets out, then it is all about expecting oneself to be great. It is a lot of peer evaluating

Elisabeth Dillon / Daily Texan file photo

Senior guard Mason Walters congratulates junior running back Malcolm Brown, who has scored six touchdowns in the last two weeks, including four scores in last week’s win over Kansas. Walters, who has made 46 straight starts, has been playing through a knee injury all year but continues to be effective.

and making sure everybody is staying accountable.” One of the biggest factors that has helped Walters and his offensive line change that standard is an increase in chemistry among his teammates. After injuries forced new faces to join the huddle, a sort of fluidity became evident in which any player

could be called on to step in for his team. “I think as long as the offensive line room stays where it can be fluid with whoever is in that starting lineup and not only have good relationships off the field but on the field with one another and want to see each other succeed, then

that’s what its going to take for us to have that trend we got going right now,” Walters said. To keep that trend going, Walters admits there needs to be more improvement. He said they have only three goals: win, run the ball a lot and prevent any sack. “[We need] execution,”

Walters said. “When we go watch film we’re going to look and see where the challenges are that we want to overcome and go out there and do it. The most telling sign for us accomplishing our goals is seeing how the backs end up, seeing how clean case’s jersey is and if we win or not. Those are the challenges.”

I think we’ve continually come closer and gelled more and more. [There’s] a different chemistry than we’ve had in the past. —Mason Walters, senior offensive guard

6 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Horns make first-ever trip to Morgantown By Peter Sblendorio @petersblendorio

Orlin Wagner / Associated Press

West Virginia’s mascot, The Mountaineer, and his hat look at the crowd during the game against Kansas StateonSaturday, Oct. 26.

Between 2011 and 2012, the Longhorns reeled off a number of impressive victories in hostile environments. They knocked off Texas A&M in College Station on Thanksgiving 2011, then racked up road wins against Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in each of their opposing stadiums last season. Texas has yet to truly weather the storm of a vicious opposing crowd this season, and it will get its first opportunity to do so on Saturday at West Virginia. “We’ve heard so much about the atmosphere there and how great the fans are and how much they love football and love their team,” head coach Mack Brown said. “It’ll be a fun challenge for us, but the guys are sure looking forward to it.” Nobody on the Longhorns’ roster has played at West Virginia before, as the trip to Morgantown will be the first in school history. While the players are prepared for the rowdy Mountaineers fan base, senior cornerback Carrington Byndom admits he knows little else about the opposing venue. “Nothing at all,” Byndom said. “I know it’s going to be cold, that’s for sure. I’ve never been there or never really been to West Virginia. But I heard it’s going to be a pretty crazy atmosphere, another great away atmosphere for us, so we’ll see how we handle it.” The forecast currently calls for a high of 54 degrees and

ON THE ROAD AGAIN LAST 10 SEASONS

TEXAS ROAD RECORDS

WVU HOME RECORDS

2012

4-1

4-3

2011

3-2

5-2

2010

2-1

6-1

2009

5-0

7-0

2008

3-1

6-1

2007

4-1

5-1

2006

3-1

6-1

2005

5-0

5-1

2004

4-0

5-1

2003

5-0

5-2

Total

45-8 (.860)

56-14 (.803)

a low of 41 degrees in Morgantown this Saturday. While Texas does not have much experience playing in the cold, junior center Dominic Espinosa is looking forward to taking a break from the elevated temperatures he is accustomed to. “You’re so used to playing in 100-degree weather all summer, all camp and early on in the season,” Espinosa said. “Definitely, as an offensive line, you’re excited to go play somewhere cold where you might not be sweating as much as you might normally.” Aside from the frigid weather, Texas must deal with a Mountaineers squad that continues to play well at home. West Virginia boasts a 3-1 record in front of its home crowd this season, including an early-season victory over No. 15 Oklahoma State. Brown still remains excited about the opportunity to pick up his third road

It’s so much fun to go where the other fans hate you. The fans are stirring it up and screaming at the kids, and I think it’s just a great feeling to overcome that and win against all odds. —Mack Brown, head coach

victory of the season in front of the most raucous fan base they’ve faced thus far. “I love that,” Brown said. “It’s so much fun to go where the other fans hate you. The fans are stirring it up and screaming at the kids, and I think it’s just a great feeling to overcome that and win against all odds.” While none of the players have suited up in Morgantown, defensive coordinator Greg Robinson made the trip during his tenure as head coach of Syracuse from 2005-08. Robinson confirmed West Virginia is a difficult place to play, and he expects the Mountaineers fans to go all out with Texas in town. “They’re all about their program, and they’re going to let you know about it,” Robinson said. “The thought of Texas coming up there, these people are going to love that now. We’re going to get their best shot.” Despite this, the Longhorns remain confident they will be able to overcome West Virginia’s wild environment, and a victory would push Texas one step closer toward a Big 12 championship.

7 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Transfers Trickett, Sims make for solid backfield By Evan Berkowitz @Evan_Berkowitz

West Virginia bursted onto the Big 12 scene last year. Behind a dazzling crop of seniors, the Mountaineers danced on the sidelines after having knocked off the No. 11 Longhorns. They watched as their ranking rocketed to No. 5. They were confident Morgantown was going to be home to the Heisman winner and a Big 12 championship. But when the Mountaineers take on the Longhorns this time around, the expectations won’t be as high and they won’t be dependent on hopeful first-round draft picks. Geno Smith is no longer there. Tavon Austin is no longer there. Without the centerpieces of last year’s team, there were questions on offense. Through spring and the early season, those questions remained. A few months later, those questions are finally answered. Two transfers came in and took over the offense—junior quarterback Clint Trickett and senior running back Charles Sims. And because both are transferring as graduate students, they were able to start immediately.

West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett prepares to pass against TCU during the game, Saturday, Nov. 2 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The quarterback Like Kansas State’s Jake Waters, Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace and Kansas’ Jake Heaps, all of whom have faced Texas this year, Trickett transferred to the school he’s at right now. But, unlike them, Trickett didn’t start at a junior college. He didn’t struggle at his first school. He was just unfortunate. He was unfortunate to be behind two (maybe three) first-round picks. As a redshirt freshman, Trickett

watched as Christian Ponder snuck his way into the first round. He spent the next two years learning how E.J Manuel played his way into being the top quarterback taken in the 2013 draft. And when current Heisman hopeful Jameis Winston soared past him on the depth chart, he decided he had enough. So Trickett packed up and moved north to the team he grew up watching as his dad was their offensive line coach from 2001-2006.

Jim Cowsert / Associated Press

“It’s official, I will finish my academic/athletic career at WVU,” Trickett tweeted in May. “This is a dream come true to be playin for the state I love.” He wasn’t immediately thrust into the starting role, though, beginning the season third on the depth chart. But after junior Paul Millard and freshman Ford Childress struggled in early-season losses, head coach Dana Holgerson turned to the transfer. Trickett carried West

Virginia to a shocking upset of then-Big 12 favorite Oklahoma State. And he hasn’t looked back as he has started every game for the Mountaineers since. But he is still a far cry from Geno and Holgorsen expresses his concern. “He needs to sit in a room and study it, then go outside and work on that for a couple months,” Holgorsen said. “He’s going to need that downtime and offseason time in order to grasp what

we are asking of him.” The running back Unlike Trickett, Sims didn’t transfer because a lack of playing time. At Houston, he started all three years. And at 6-foot-1, 213 pounds, he is a promising NFL prospect that ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks as the sixth-best running back prospect for the upcoming NFL Draft. But shockingly, at the end of his redshirt junior year, he announced he was moving on.

“I don’t know what my next step will be,” Sims said. “I may look to play one more year of college football or I may enter the NFL Supplemental Draft later this year.” But why not stay at Houston? He didn’t give an answer besides it was time to move on. After Houston restricted him from joining any team that played Houston, was in the AAC or was a Division I

SIMS page 8

8 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

t *OEJWJEVBM MFBTFT t MPDBUJPOT CMPDLT GSPN DBNQVT t $BCMF BOE JOUFSOFU JODMVEFE t IPVS mUOFTT GBDJMJUZ t *OEJWJEVBM MFBTFT t MPDBUJPOT CMPDLT GSPN DBNQVT t $BCMF BOE JOUFSOFU JODMVEFE t IPVS mUOFTT GBDJMJUZ

KEEP RUNNING THE BALL Texas ran the ball 44 times for 221 yards against Kansas, the third game in a row the Longhorns have won running the ball at least 40 times. Malcolm Brown re-established himself as a key member of the Texas backfield with a four-touchdown performance against the Jayhawks and Case McCoy was able to remain calm in the pocket as a result. Although it is a very simple key, when the Longhorns carry the ball more often, they win more often. They are now No. 29 in the nation in rushing, proving they can make the most of all the carries. West Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense has given up a lot of points this season and if Texas can wear the Mountaineers down with the run, look for McCoy to throw some deadly deep balls.

FORCE THE MOUNTAINEERS TO PASS

As a unit, the Mountaineers quarterbacks have completed just 54.2 percent of their passes this season with 10 interceptions and only 11 touchdowns. The Texas defense has forced six turnovers in the last three games and should look to do the same against West Virginia by forcing it to pass. Although the Mountaineers have some deep threats in their receiving corps, the quarterbacks have had a tough time staying consistent and will likely look to run the ball to find success. The Longhorns should pressure relentlessly and make West Virginia rush throws, Jun reco tilting the odds even further in the Longhorns favor.

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T UNDERESTIMATE WEST VIRGINIA

Download our Free iPhone App Download our Free iPhone App

www.quartersoncampus.com www.quartersoncampus.com 512-531-0123 512-531-0123

It would be dumb of the Longhorns to underestimate any opponent at this point in the year given their early struggles, but the Mountaineers record doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell the whole story of their level of play. West Virginia is only 4-5 on the season but has kept games close in shootouts with other Big 12 opponents. They have a solid running back leading their offense and a few receivers that can make plays if the defense falls asleep. The West Virginia defense is giving up 30 points per game this season but has a few stars in the secondary that can make things difficult for McCoy if he is even slightly off. If Texas views West Virginia as another tough conference opponent, its win streak should continue.

SIMS continues from page 9 school in Texas, Sims opted to run for the coach that recruited him at Houston. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re extremely fortunate to have his services for one year,â&#x20AC;? said Holgorsen, who was Houstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offensive line coach when Sims was

recruited. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tremendous football player..â&#x20AC;? And his one year under Holgorsen was his best. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had him for the first year there in 2009,â&#x20AC;? Holgorsen said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was probably his best year statistically.â&#x20AC;?

And Texas head coach Mack Brown knows that Sims is the biggest threat on the Mountaineer offense. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a top pro prospect and a really good football player and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where it all starts for him,â&#x20AC;? Brown said.

9 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

OFFENSE

continues from page 4

Elisabeth Dillon / Daily Texan Staff

Junior Malcolm Brown scores one of his four touchdowns in last week’s victory over Kansas, Texas’ fifth in a row since going 1-2. Despite the Horns’ perfect record in Big 12 Conference play, they remain unranked in all major polls, making them the first unranked team to be 5-0 in Big 12 Conference play ever.

Texas unranked despite 5-game win streak By Garrett Callahan @CallahanGarrett

Texas walked into this season ranked a comfortable No. 15 in the nation and the Big 12 championship looked almost like an easy task. But after an awful start to their hyped-up season, the Longhorns moved out of sight and a conference title looked almost unmanageable. Now, after five straight wins, Texas is relevant again and in the Big 12 but, nevertheless, still sits nationally unrecognized. “We’ve played like a Top 25 team enough in the past five weeks and in my estimation

we should be ranked,” head coach Mack Brown said. After two consecutive losses in non-conference play, the Longhorns lost most of their national interest and moved to the background of many college polls. The defense gave up an embarrassing 550 yards on the ground to BYU, which led to more defensive woes and to the eventual reassignment of defensive coordinator. “We would like to be ranked, but obviously there’s a lot left out there that we need to prove,” senior quarterback Case McCoy said. “I think you always hear, you

can only make a first impression once, and we made our first impression and it wasn’t what we needed to make. There are voters that it’s hard for them to overcome.” Texas is using its unranked status to its advantage. A variety of motivational factors have become a key for the team this year in propelling to the top of the Big 12 and the fact they are unranked provides another. Some even prefer to remain unranked. “I hope they keep us unranked,” junior defensive back Quandre Diggs said. “It just makes us hungry in the locker room. We really don’t

care about rankings. We’ve got four tough games coming up, and I feel like we’ve got to take care of ourselves. We’ve just got to continue to go out and showcase what we can do and continue to get people on board.” Four of the five wins the team has this season have been against teams bottom half of the Big 12. To prove they deserve to be ranked, the Longhorns need to continue their win streak and make it know they can be a dominant team. “Our job is just to keep playing consistent,” McCoy said. “I think that’s what they’re looking for through

us. If I was looking at this team, I’d want to say, okay, are you consistent? Can you continue to play at a level that you’re playing at?” Texas, however, is trying to look past the rankings. Its main priority is its longtime goal, which has been in place since the Longhorns started fall camp. Once they find their way to the Fiesta Bowl for a Big 12 title game, everything else will fit into place. “The goal here is to win the Big 12 and win out and go to a BCS bowl, and if we do that everything else will take care of itself,” McCoy said.

gap needed for a one-yard gain, the unit often fell short. Fast forward three years and the offensive line looks quite different. Three seniors – four when right tackle Josh Cochran is healthy – one junior and a sophomore have combined for one of the best seasons by a Texas offensive line in the last decade. “Those guys are playing at a very, very high level,” head coach Mack Brown said. “They’ve taken a lot of criticism over the last couple years. This is who we’ve wanted to be for the last three years.” Before Kansas sacked Case McCoy in the third quarter last weekend, Texas had not allowed a sack in its previous 11 quarters. That’s an attitude stat. It’s takes a strong sense of pride to keep a quarterback’s jersey clean for so long, and the Longhorns have displayed that. McCoy is appreciative of the effort, but now knows he’ll have to keep feeding them. “They’re playing unreal,” McCoy said. “I guess I gotta keep feeding them. It’s getting expensive, but if that’s what I’ve got to do, I’ll do it.” The extra meal or two a week benefits the group, but the increased focus on the rushing attack has been the greatest augment to their performance. The linemen know Texas is committed to run the ball, and it’s up to them to make sure the effort is successful. Thus far, it has been. The Longhorns have cleared the 200-yard barrier on the ground in each of their last three games. “We want to run the ball down people’s throats,” junior center Dominic Espinosa said. “It’s the mindset and that’s what we are going to do.” If the offensive line continues to do that, no one will call the Longhorns soft anytime soon.

GOING DEEP

Photos by Elisabeth Dillon / Daily Texan Staff

Far Left: Mike Davis hauls in a pass from Case McCoy in Texas’ win over TCU. Left: Jaxon Shipley, dependable as always, has yet to score this year. Below: Sophomore Marcus Johnson has been McCoy’s saving grace on third down this year and Texas’ biggest deep threat, averaging 23.2 yards per catch this year — the fourth-most in the country.

Depth at wide receiver paying big dividends for Texas By Peter Sblendorio @petersblendorio

Coming into the season, the Longhorns faced a bevy of questions at the wide receiver position. Veteran wideouts Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley missed time in training camp with nagging injuries, while sophomore receivers Kendall Sanders and Marcus Johnson were each inactive for games early in the season. These concerns are nothing but a distant memory now, though, as Texas’ now healthy cast of wide receivers form perhaps the team’s most dynamic offensive unit. “The depth at wide receiver has really helped us,” head coach Mack Brown said. “I’m not sure this isn’t our best group of wide receivers top to bottom that we’ve had since we’ve been here.” Texas’ starters at wide receiver both played well in the Longhorns first eight games, with Shipley leading the team with 39 receptions for 445 and Davis setting the high mark with five touchdowns. But Shipley and Davis hardly stand as the Longhorns’ only consistent threats through the air. Sanders racked up 28 receptions for 286 yards and a score in his first seven games this season, while Johnson places third on the team with 301 receiving yards. Adding to the depth are sophomore running back/wide receiver Daje Johnson, who has 14 receptions in six games, and junior wide receiver John Harris, who has two touchdowns.

“I think we’ve really developed two-deep at the wide receiver position, and [wide receivers coach Darrell] Wyatt has done a really good job of getting us blocking and getting us to do all of our assignments,” Shipley said. “We’re really excited about the wide receivers.” Senior quarterback Case McCoy continues to enjoy the depth at wide receiver, as having a number of viable options in the passing game allows him to spread the ball around without having to zero in on a single target. “Those guys are stepping in and can play,” McCoy said. “When we have our four wideouts on the field, that’s a good group right there. I can throw the ball to any of those guys and I know where they’re going to be.” Co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite believes that the injuries to Texas’ veteran wide outs early in training camp prepared the younger receivers for increased playing time, as players like Sanders, Marcus Johnson and Daje Johnson received extra reps with the first team offense. “Even though it was frustrating when Jaxon and Mike weren’t practicing and then you lose Kendall Sanders with an ankle and then Marcus with a knee, all those other guys started getting reps and now it has started to pay off,” Applewhite said. “Now all those reps that aren’t seen in the stat lines that are given out in August, now all those things are starting to come and you got top-to-bottom depth.” Brown expects the Longhorns receivers to continue

WIDE RECEIVERS REC

YARDS

YPC

Jaxon Shipley (Jr.)

445

11.4

Mike Davis (Sr.)

386

12.9

Kendall Sanders (So.)

286

10.2

Marcus Johnson (So.)

301

23.2

producing in the upcoming games, as teams figure to stack the box in an attempt to stop a torrid Texas rushing attack that has produced 221 yards on the ground in its last three games. “Those guys should be in one-on-one situations, because more people are going to be trying to stop the run the next four weeks,” Brown said. “It should leave some one-on-one shots. We need to do a better job of getting the ball in their hands in space or hit some deep shots.” The Longhorns know that maintaining a balanced offensive game plan is necessary if they hope to remain in the driver’s seat for a Big 12 title. This calls for McCoy to maintain a strong connection with his wide receivers, and unlike at the start of the year, he has plenty of options to throw to.

STOCK UP/STOCK DOWN

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

DAVID LEFFLER DAILY TEXAN STAFF

QB Case McCoy (Sr.)

Although McCoy has been the talk of the town lately after leading the Longhorns to a stunning upset over the Oklahoma Sooners and a crushing victory over TCU, he has struggled with inconsistent play and costly turnovers. Saturday marked the second straight game he has thrown multiple interceptions, giving him five in the past three games. With the way Longhorns have been dominating their opponents with a punishing running game, McCoy needs to realize that protecting the football comes first and foremost.

WR Mike Davis (Sr.)

Mike who? This isn’t the first time Davis has appeared on this list, and for good reason. The senior wideout has been a ghost, topping 60 yards only once in the past five games while netting a single touchdown. “Magic” has been anything but lately, as his one reception for five yards against Kansas showed.

DOWN

DT Chris Whaley (Sr.)

The big man in the middle of the Longhorn defense has been everywhere lately, returning a third-quarter fumble 40 yards to the house against Kansas on Saturday, his second momentum-turning touchdown in the last three games. Prior to Whaley’s 40-yard scamper — he was recruited as a running back, after all — the Longhorns were up 14-6 and struggling to distance themselves from the lowly Jayhawks, who are winless in the Big 12. Fueled by the senior’s deceptive speed and knack to make heads-up plays, the Longhorns were handed a comfortable lead that they didn’t relinquish.

DE Cedric Reed (Jr.)

Speaking of defensive linemen making plays, did you happen to notice who caused the fumble that Whaley recovered? Reed was a force against the Jayhawks, sacking quarterback Jake Heaps twice and harassing him all game. Although he only had two sacks in the past four games, the Reed has provided a consistent threat opposite Jackson Jeffcoat and helped this Texas defense develop a nasty attitude upfront. If he can put it all together and continue to play like he did against Kansas, watch out — this oncemaligned defense will really start turning heads.

RB Malcolm Brown (Jr.)

If it wasn’t clear before, it sure is now — Malcolm Brown is back, and he loves playing the Jayhawks. The junior out of Cibolo ran like a man possessed on Saturday, racking up 119 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Longhorns. That performances marks the second time Brown has had a huge day against the Jayhawks, as he also ran for 119 yards to go along with two touchdowns in a victory in 2011. Having scored six touchdowns in the past two games, it’s obvious he has emerged as Texas’ primary goal-line threat.

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

STEFAN SCRAFIELD DAILY TEXAN STAFF

1 2 3

ying ackces also red mary

4 5

BAYLOR The honeymoon is over for the Bears, it’s time to prove how good they really are. Baylor, whose players have complained about a lack of national respect, got off to an impressive start with the blowout victory over Oklahoma. Texas Tech is next, and Oklahoma State and Texas aren’t far away.

TEXAS

It was ugly, boring and statistically unimpressive, but the Longhorns posted their second consecutive 20-plus-point victory on Saturday. Texas will put its undefeated Big 12 record on the line this weekend in Morgantown, against a tricky Mountaineers squad that has already defeated Oklahoma State on their home soil.

OKLAHOMA STATE Five weeks after suffering an upset loss to West Virginia and tumbling down these rankings, the Cowboys are back in the Big 12 championship hunt. The offense has now posted over 50 points in consecutive games and the defense held the high-powered Texas Tech offense to just three touchdowns last week. The Pokes are hitting their stride.

OKLAHOMA The Sooners’ season was turned upside down when Texas knocked them off at the Cotton Bowl, despite being two-touchdown underdogs. Thursday’s loss to Baylor essentially knocks them out of the Big 12 hunt, but the big damage was done by Texas in Dallas last month.

KANSAS STATE

WEST VIRGINIA

TCU

KANSAS

Coming off their most impressive victory of the season, the Wildcats continue to improve each week. Bill Snyder’s bunch have the Red Raiders on upset alert this week and if they can get a win, they will put themselves in great position to make a bowl game.

The Mountaineers put an end to their losing skid with a comeback overtime victory over lowly TCU last weekend, keeping their bowl hopes alive in the process. West Virginia has a chance to play spoiler again this weekend against Texas but, even if they lose, they have a good shot at playing a 13th game this season.

The Horned Frogs blew a 14-point lead against West Virginia and ruined any chance they had of making a bowl game. While they are favorites this weekend against Iowa State, wins against Kansas State and No. 6 Baylor to finish the season seem virtually impossible at this point.

The fact that the Jayhawks’ loss to Texas was incredibly boring to watch is a positive for Charlie Weis and Co. Kansas was within one score of the Longhorns midway through the third quarter, and the defense looked impressive throughout. Their matchup with Iowa State, and only real chance to get a Big 12 win, can’t come soon enough.

TEXAS TECH

Kliff Kingsbury has hit his first rough patch as a head coach. After opening the season 7-0, the Red Raiders have struggled against the Big 12’s elite. The defense has been weak and quarterback Davis Webb has looked like the freshman he is. While Texas Tech clearly won’t be contending for a conference championship, the season has to be considered a success, regardless of how they perform down the stretch.

IOWA STATE Since their near upset of Texas, the Cyclones have struggled mightily, giving up at least 40 points in every game. Their inability to keep opponents off the scoreboard, combined with an even greater inability score points of their own, has made for several blowout losses.

Apartment Amenities:

NOW PRE-LEASING FOR FALL 2014! NEW APARTMENTS 512-906-0383 UT21pearl.com

• Studios to 5 bedroom • Full size Gourmet Kitchen • Washer/Dryer in units • Pet Friendly • Controlled Access • Walk to Campus

MATCHUPS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

CAMERON KUBENA DAILY TEXAN STAFF

QUARTERBACKS Case McCoy completed almost 70 percent of his passes against Kansas, but threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. McCoy’s play has worsened over the last two games and freshman Tyrone Swoopes has yet to demonstrate he is a legitimate passing threat. Clint Trickett is 2-3 as a starter, starting with the upset over Oklahoma State (7-1). Though his numbers are not impressive, Trickett has saved his best games for his best opponents, so the Longhorns should look out.

ADVANTAGE

DEFENSIVE LINE

RUNNING BACKS

WIDE RECEIVERS

OFFENSIVE LINE

Malcolm Brown matched his touchdown total from last year by running for four touchdowns against Kansas. Johnathan Gray has averaged four yards per carry in the past three games. Joe Bergeron’s role has decreased, but he has shown dedication in the special teams game. Charles Sims had a season-high 154 rushing yards in an overtime win over TCU, scoring two touchdowns. The Houston transfer is the Mountaineers’ biggest offensive weapon, and with 300 yards receiving on the year, he is also an effective pass-catcher.

West Virginia seemed short-handed at receiver after Ronald Carswell was suspended indefinitely by the program before the TCU game. But Daikiel Shorts stepped up with 98 yards on six catches in the win. Marcus Johnson has become the Longhorns’ most effective receiver, catching passes for 59, 65 and 31 yards in the last three games. Daje Johnson had a careerhigh seven catches against Kansas. Jaxon Shipley has been a consistent target averaging five catches a game, but has yet to score this season while Mike Davis has only caught four passes in the last three games.

West Virginia surrendered two sacks to the TCU defense last week, an average mark for the Mountaineers, who will face a Texas pass rush that has nine sacks in the last three games. The offensive line has helped West Virginia run for 145 yards per game in the last three weeks. The Longhorns offensive line gave up their first sack in three weeks against Kansas, and have only given up 10 all season. Texas has rushed for 200 yards per game the past three weeks and faces a West Virginia team that has the No. 78 rush defense in the country.

ADVANTAGE

LINEBACKERS

DEFENSIVE BACKS

SPECIAL TEAMS

West Virginia had two sacks against TCU, with Will Clarke forcing a fumble on one of them. That ended a five-week drought during which no Mountaineers defensive linemen notched a single sack. West Virginia has made 6.4 tackles for loss per game this year, No. 41 in the nation. A running back in high school, Chris Whaley has finally lived the dream of scoring in college, adding his second defensive touchdown of the season on a 40-yard fumble return against Kansas. Senior Jackson Jeffcoat’s four-game sack streak ended in the same game, but junior Cedric Reed had a career-high two sacks on the day.

No running back has rushed for 100 yards or more against the Longhorns in four weeks. Steve Edmond has stepped up, with 16 tackles in the last three games and an interception against TCU. The linebackers will face their toughest running game this week since facing Oklahoma. West Virginia forced two turnovers and a sack against senior Casey Pachall. Nick Kwiatkoski intercepted Pachall on the very first play, Brandon Golson earned his third sack of the season and Isaiah Bruce forced a fumble in the fourth quarter that put the Mountaineers back in the game. The group is playing at their best.

Darwin Cook leads the Big 12 with four interceptions on the year. Cook also recovered a fumble against TCU that led to a 10-point Mountaineers lead in the fourth quarter. Ishmael Banks had his second interception in the fourth quarter against TCU, sparking 14 straight Mountaineers points. Despite the turnovers, the secondary gives up 276 yards passing per game (12th-worst in the country). Texas has the No. 16 pass defense and have not given up a passing touchdown in three straight games. Duke Thomas leads the secondary with two interceptions on the year.

ADVANTAGE

Sophomore Daje Johnson has continued to be an explosive factor on the Texas kick return team, returning a kick 40 yards against Kansas last week. But the kick coverage team is now the thirdworst in the NCAA in yards allowed, allowing 27.2 yards per kick return. West Virginia allows 22 yards per kick return and allows four yards per punt return. Freshman kicker Josh Lambert has transitioned well into the college game, knocking down a 50-yarder two weeks ago against Kansas State.

ADVANTAGE

NEXT ISSUE NOVEMBER 15

Texas vs. Oklahoma State

FREE FOOD & FUNEVERYONE’S INVITED!

TAILGATE SATURDAY AT MLK & BRAZOS

PRESENTED BY

DON’T MISS OUR LAST 2 TAILGATES OF THE SEASON!

OKLAHOMA STATE ON 11/16

& A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING TAILGATE FOR

TEXAS TECH ON 11/28

FREE FOOD AND DRINK WITH A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Carter Goss Broadcast Manager & Sponsorships P 512.475.6721 E cartergoss@austin.utexas.edu

visit us at www.utexas.edu/tsm

The Daily Texan • TSTV • KVRX • Texas Travesty • Cactus Yearbook

TEXAS T STUDDEIN ME A

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

MATT WARDEN DAILY TEXAN STAFF

RB Charles Sims (Sr.)

Charles Sims is the leading rusher for a very balanced Mountaineers offense. Sims has carried the ball 144 times this season for 754 yards and five touchdowns. His solid 5.2 yards per carry average puts West Virginia in a lot of good positions on offense when the passing game is taking too much time to get going. The senior tailback is a versatile playmaker who can also catch the ball out of the backfield, racking up 36 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Sims is a bigger running back which helps him power through defenders when they try to wrap him up. The Longhorns defense has been vicious the last few weeks but Sims will be the guy they need to watch out for this week.

DB Darwin Cook (Sr.)

The Mountaineers defense is ranked No. 82 in the nation this season but Darwin Cook is not the reason for this. The senior safety leads the team in both tackles (65) and interceptions (four) this season, showing his versatility at the last level of the defense. Cook has a nose for the football and has emerged as a star for West Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense. The Longhorns offense is on a roll but they can bet that Cook will be around the football often in this matchup so they must do everything possible to minimize his impact. The Texas receivers are feeling good about their performances the last few weeks but look for Cook to do his best to curb their success and make a huge play to put West Virginia in the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat.

WR Daikel Shorts (Fr.)

Jim Cowsert / Associated Press

West Virginia running back Charles Sims, who transferred from Houston before this season, has ran for a team-best 754 yards and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

s expres

from

e tion fe

a reserv plus a

rvic bus se

With receiver Ronald Carswell suspended indefinitely as of this week, the Mountaineers will look to leading receiver Daikel Shorts to carry much more of the offensive load. Shorts leads West Virginia this season with 37 catches for 430 yards and has caught two touchdowns. Just a freshman, Shorts has shown that he can be a reliable receiver every game out and his confidence has grown each week. He is a smaller receiver that will force the Longhorns to focus on tackling in this matchup. Likely the premier deep threat with Carswell out, Shorts will be targeted on both short yardage and long yardage throws. Texas will need to keep an eye on Shorts in this one.

! HOOP IT UP

L A R U M A R T IN ALL B T E K S A B 3 - O N -3 LYM! N O Y A D E N O Y, NOV. 22, 3-9P

FRIDA

G REG O

M RY GY

OV. 19 ENTER BY N

ove... l u o y s the team o t d e t c onne

Stay c

Scan now to save!

Daily, express bus service for travel to/from Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth and San Antonio for as low as $1*! *plus a reservation fee

stay connected

utrecsports.org

TEAMWORK

STARTS HERE

17 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Report: Nick Saban interested in Texas Horns need quick start in hostile environment

By Stefan Scrafield @stefanscrafield

By Ryan Haddox

With Mack Brown on the hot seat at Texas, talk of potential replacements is constantly swirling around the 40 Acres. Of course, the most desirable candidate would be Alabama k ishead coach Nick Saban, onswho has won back-to-back fornational titles. e is While plucking Saban heyfrom Tuscaloosa may seem outvirtually impossible, a new andreport from the Associated Press suggests it may not be so far-fetched. Through an open records request, the AP obtained an email that detailed a call between Saban’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, and UT Regent Wallace Hall and former Regent Tom Hicks. According to the email, Sexton stated that Texas is the only school that his client would leave Alabama for. Sexton went on to say that Saban is under “special pressure” at the helm of the Crimson Tide as a result of the incredible success he has had in Tuscaloosa.

Arkansas AD gets raise He may not have gotten the job in Austin, but Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long has parlayed the interest from Texas into a raise from his current employer. Long has agreed to a new contract with the Razorbacks that will increase his annual salary to $1.1 million by next summer. The contract also includes a $100,000 bonus and raises his buyout to $1.3 million through June 30, 2015. Long, who was recently named the chairman of the College Football Playoff committee, was considered one of the finalists for the Texas men’s athletic director position, prior to Steve Patterson

@The_Real_RH

Dave Martin / Associated Press

Alabama head coach Nick Saban applauds following a score against Tennessee in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 26.

being selected on Tuesday. UNC quarterback out for rest of season North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner had surgery Wednesday to repair a detached labrum and fracture in his non-throwing shoulder, and will be out for the rest of the season as a result. Renner, a fifth-year senior, injured his shoulder on a scramble in the second half of last week’s game

against NC State. With no eligibility left after this season, the injury means the end of his collegiate career. The Virginia native has been the Tar Heels starter for each of the past three years, putting together one of the most impressive careers in the school’s history. Renner’s 64 career touchdown passes are the secondmost in program history while he sits third in school history in passing yards, completions and attempts.

Cal running back injured in locker-room brawl Cal running back Fabiano Hale was taken to hospital after a locker room altercation with a teammate last week, according to University of California police. University police officials said the walk-on was injured in a “one-on-one” fight with another player at the team’s facility. Police did not identify the other player involved in the altercation but do have a suspect.

Texas wins if…it gets off to a quick start. While West Virginia appears to be the weakest of the remaining opponents on the schedule, Morgantown is a tricky little place to play. Ask Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State, whose only loss of the season came courtesy of the Mountaineers in Milan Puskar Stadium. Texas has never played a game in Morgantown, and the crowd will surely be chaotic to welcome their new conference rivals into their house. The formula for the Longhorns is the same as it has been through their recent stretch of success, ground and pound the opponent to death. With the offensive line’s resurgence and Jonathan Gray and Malcolm Brown running the ball as well as they have at any point in their career, getting the ground game going early will be key. Nothing drains a raucous crowd more effectively than methodically moving the ball on the ground and putting up points early and often. If Case McCoy can continue to manage the game as well as he has while the running game finds its feet, the Longhorns will be in good shape.

Texas loses if…it lets starting West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett set up shop in the pocket. Before Trickett was inserted as the starting quarterback in the fifth week of the season, the Mountaineers offense was sluggish and inefficient, averaging 18 points per game, culminating in a shutout loss to Maryland. After head coach Dana Holgorsen inserted Trickett into the lineup, the Mountaineers offense quickly improved, immediately leading them to a win against No. 11 Oklahoma State. Since then, the offense has averaged 21.6 points per game. While Trickett won’t be confused for Geno Smith, who led West Virginia to a shootout win over the Longhorns a year ago, he has given the offense some much needed life. On the ground, the Mountaineers are led by Charles Sims and Dreamius Smith, averaging 5.2 and 4.6 yards, respectively. If Cedric Reed, Jackson Jeffcoat and the rest of the defensive line cannot make life tough for Trickett while stuffing the running game, the Mountaineers are sure to pile up some points, inciting a crowd that will already be boisterous. The Longhorns lose if they get behind early and let a shootout unfold in Morgantown.

DAILY TEXAN FLICKR ACCOUNT Check out the best football photos from this season

flickr.com/thedailytexan

HEISMAN WATCH

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

DREW LIEBERMAN DAILY TEXAN STAFF 1. FLORIDA STATE QB JAMEIS WINSTON (FR.) Last Week (W, 41-14, vs. Miami (FL)): 21-for-29, 325 yards, TD, 2 INT (27 rush yards) Season: 149-for-212 (70.3%), 2,502 yards, 24 TD, 6 INT (153 rush yards, 3 TD)

2. BAYLOR QB BRYCE PETTY (JR.) This Week (W, 41-12, vs. Oklahoma): 13-for-26, 204 yards, 3 TD (45 rush yards, 2 TD) Season: 135-for-202 (66.8%), 2,657 yards, 21 TD, INT (73 rush yards, 8 TD)

Mariota’s awful performance allowed Winston to claim the title as Heisman frontrunner. Although Winston wasn’t spectacular in his team’s rout of Miami, he did play pretty well. For now, though Winston has his Seminoles No. 2 in the BCS standings and with a great chance to finish the regular season undefeated and claim the ACC title. If the Seminoles continue winning and Winston continues to impress, he very well could become the second freshman to ever win the prestigious trophy.

4. OREGON QB MARCUS MARIOTA (SO.) This Week (L, 26-20, at Stanford): 20-for-34, 250 yards, 2 TD Season: 164-for-259 (63.3%), 2,531 yards, 22 TD (494 rush yards, 9 TD)

Petty and the Bears started the game slowly on offense but exploded after falling behind, 5-3. Petty proceeded to run by the Sooners’ front seven for his two rushing scores before tossing a touchdown to make it, 24-5, at halftime. He threw two more touchdown strikes and actually finished with impressive numbers considering he started the game 2-for-7. Petty proved that he is absolutely a Heisman contender and should remain highly in contention for the duration of the season.

Mariota struggled mightily against a stingy Stanford defense, and saw his team fall for the first time in 2013. He wasn’t entirely to blame for the loss, seeing that the Ducks couldn’t get Stanford’s offense off the field, but when he was on the field he was mostly ineffective. He also lost a fumble on a critical possession with the ball on the Stanford 24-yard line trailing, 20-0. He played better in the fourth quarter, helping his team nearly rally back, but his struggles earlier in the game doomed his team.

3. TEXAS A&M QB JOHNNY MANZIEL (SO.) Last Week (W, 57-7, vs. UTEP): 16-for-24, 273 yards, 4 TD (67 rush yards, 2 TD) Season: 200-for-276 (72.5%), 2,867 yards, 26 TD, 8 INT (564 rush yards, 8 TD)

5. ARIZONA RB KA’DEEM CAREY (JR.) Last week (W, 33-28, at California): 32 carries, 152 yards Season: 188 carries, 1,072 yards, 10 TD (18 receptions, 131 yards)

Manziel continues to play at an elite level and is on pace to surpass the passing numbers from his record-breaking freshman season. What hurts Manziel’s chances the most is that he threw two interceptions in each of the Aggies’ two losses. Also, his rushing totals are drastically down from 2012, though when needed to, he usually still makes the big play with his feet. Manziel probably won’t claim his second Heisman, but upcoming games at LSU and Missouri will keep him in the national spotlight and give him an opportunity to dazzle voters.

Carey carried the Wildcats to bowl eligibility, even though he was held out of the end zone for the second time this season. Carey probably would’ve scored, but quarterback B.J. Denker vultured three potential scoring opportunities in the red zone. Carey continues to dominate on the ground while making his case as the top running back in college football, building off a 1,929-yard, 23-touchdown sophomore campaign. The Wildcats host UCLA this weekend and Carey could make a big splash in the Heisman race if he pounds the Bruins.

GAMES TO WATCH

RACHEL WENZLAFF DAILY TEXAN STAFF

No. 10 LSU vs. No. 1 Alabama Overall 7-2

Overall 8-0

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa Saturday, 7 p.m. TV: CBS

This game is arguably one of the biggest and best rivalries in college football. Since 2000, the Tigers have won five of the last six road games against Alabama and hold more wins over the Crimson Tide than any other team in the nation. But Alabama isn’t currently the No. 1 team in the nation for nothing. With quarterback A.J. McCarron leading the Crimson Tide offense they are averaging 41.2 points and 462.8 yards per game with seven turnovers. LSU’s offense, on the other hand, led by quarterback Zach Mettenberger, has had a similar performance, averaging 40.2 points and 480 yards per game; however, they’ve had 14 turnovers. In this game, the Tigers will have to protect the ball. They’re going to need every offensive minute they can get against Alabama’s solid defense.

Arizona vs. No. 16 UCLA Overall 6-2

Overall 6-2

Arizona Stadium, Tucson Saturday, 9 p.m. TV: ESPN

Though Arizona’s and UCLA’s records are equal, UCLA has had a much tougher schedule than Arizona with their only losses coming from elite teams, Stanford and Oregon. Despite these though matchups, the Bruins have still averaged 37.2 points and 462 yards per game. UCLA managed to rebound from those losses and get back to their strong season by winning against Colorado last week. The Wildcats may have had it pretty easy thus far, but they have won three in a row and their offense is averaging a respectable 35.9 points and 463.1 yards per game while committing just eight turnovers this year. UCLA is looking for a spot in the Pac-12 title game, but Arizona has a lot they want to prove.

No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 10 Oklahoma Overall 8-0

Overall 7-2

Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco Thursday Baylor 41, Oklahoma 12

This game was anticipated to be an important Big 12 showdown but turned into more of a Oklahoma shutdown. After a slow start by Baylor, who scored only three points in the first quarter, the Bears woke up and got back to their usual high-powered offensive ways. The Bears went on to score 21 unanswered points in the second quarter, making the score 24-5 going into halftime. The Sooners struggled to keep up in the second half. Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell managed to pull himself together to throw for one touchdown reception in the third quarter, but the Sooners couldn’t come back from the momentum Baylor continued to gain until the clock hit zero. Baylor improved their record to 8-0 an possibly at Top 3 ranking with Oregon losing.

No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 5 Stanford Overall 8-1

Overall 8-1

Stanford Stadium, Stanford Thursday Stanford 26, Oregon 20

Oregon looked like it was about to get shut out since 2007. Stanford forced the Ducks to slow down—something they aren’t used to doing—by using their run game to take time off the clock. The Cardinal’s defensive line got pressure on Heisman candidate Marcus Mariota early and kept the pressure on, disrupting his timing. Stanford outrushed Oregon 141-22 en route to a 17-0 halftime lead, winning in the trenches. The Cardinal held the Ducks scoreless until 10 minutes were left in the fourth quarter. But that touchdown put life back into Oregon’s offense. The Ducks rallied to score two more touchdowns, but after Stanford recovered the final onside kick, Oregon’s fate was sealed in a 26-20 loss to the Cardinal.

TEXAN STAFF PICKS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013

CHRISTIAN CORONA

GARRETT CALLAHAN

PETER SBLENDORIO

EVAN BERKOWITZ

CHRIS HUMMER

DAVID LEFFLER

DARREN MITCHELL

STEFAN SCRAFIELD

MATT WARDEN

5-5

6-4

4-6

7-3

5-5

6-4

7-3

5-5

Overall Record

48-32

54-26

47-33

49-31

48-32

55-25

56-24

47-33

Texas vs. West Virginia

Texas 35-17

Texas 27-10

Texas 31-17

Texas 30-20

Texas 35-14

Texas 28-14

Texas 24-14

Texas 31-13

Texas 35-21

Texas Tech

Kansas State

Texas Tech

LSU vs. Alabama

Alabama

TCU vs. Iowa State

TCU

Iowa State

Nebraska vs. Michigan

Michigan

Nebraska

Michigan

BYU vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Arizona State vs. Utah

Arizona State

Utah

Arizona State

Virginia Tech vs. Miami

Miami

Virginia Tech

Miami

Notre Dame vs. Pitt

Notre Dame

UCLA vs. Arizona

UCLA

Last Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Record

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech

S:9.75”

With NFL Mobile,

NEVER BE WITHOUT FOOTBALL.

DOWNLOAD NOW Airtime, message & data usage applies for app download & use. Available on select smartphones. Subscriptions required for video content on all devices. Coverage not available everywhere. © 2013 Verizon. Google and Android are trademarks of Google. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Windows and Windows logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.