Double Coverage 2014-10-03

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DOUBLE presents

COVERAGE Friday, October 3, 2014

A STRONG MESSAGE PAGE 13

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FEATURES

Friday, October 3, 2014

After costing Texas the game against UCLA, Duke Thomas had a career performance against Kansas.

PAGE 12 Nine months after he first laid them out, Charlie Strong’s core values are drawing national praise.

PAGE 13

Sarah Montgomery | Daily Texan Staff

QUICK HITS Matchups PAGE 4

By The Numbers PAGE 6

Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager will face his father’s alma mater in front of his family in Austin Saturday.

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EDITOR’S NOTE After shutting out the Jayhawks and chasing Charlie Weis out of Lawrence last Saturday, the Longhorns return home to face No. 7 Baylor this weekend. Led by senior quarterback Bryce Petty, the Bears have the best offense in the country. Keeping Kansas off the scoreboard is one thing, but trying to contain the Baylor offense will be a much tougher challenge for the Texas defense. Is a major upset in store this weekend, or will the Longhorns get blown out in Austin?

Stock Up, Stock Down PAGE 8 Keys to the Game PAGE 9 Scenarios PAGE 10 Heisman Watch PAGE 17 Games to Watch PAGE 19 Power Rankings PAGE 21

DOUBLE presents

COVERAGE Vol. 9, Issue 5

Friday, October 3, 2014

Writers: Evan Berkowitz Garrett Callahan Nick Castillo Daniel Clay Jori Epstein Sebastian Herrera Drew Lieberman Jacob Martella Peter Sblendorio

Double Coverage Editor...............................................................................Stefan Scrafield Design Editor................................................................................................Omar Longoria Photo Editor..................................................................................................Shelby Tauber Copy Editor............................................................................................................Taiki Miki

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Friday, October 3, 2014

PHOTOS AFTER FOUR

A third of the way through the season, Texas sits at 2-2 as Baylor comes to town.

3 1 4

2 1. Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes evades a tackler against UCLA. Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan Staff 2. Sophomore safety Dylan Haines, a walk-on, makes a diving stop against Kansas. Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff 3. Freshman defensive back Jermaine Roberts Jr. looks on as Texas plays UCLA. Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan Staff 4. Sophomore defensive end Caleb Bluiett (42) looks to the sideline for a play. Lauren Ussery | Daily Texan Staff 5. Senior running back Malcolm Brown reaches for a score against North Texas Jonathan Garza | Daily Texan Staff

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MATCHUPS

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Friday, October 3, 2014

By Daniel Clay @dclay567

QB

RB

WR

OL

Advantage: Baylor

Advantage: Baylor

Advantage: Baylor

Advantage: Baylor

Redshirt senior Bryce Petty sat out one game with back issues, but he rebounded with two rushing touchdowns and 336 passing yards last week. If he can keep up the strong numbers against tough competition, he may find himself back in the running for the Heisman.

Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes had a career-high 218 passing yards last week, but those yards were against a miserable Kansas defense. That number is microscopic compared to the number of yards Baylor will put up. On the bright side, Swoopes has thrown only one interception through three games.

Baylor has morphed into “Oregon South” thanks to an influx of pocket-sized scat backs, who put up monster stats in the zone read offense. 5-foot-9-inch sophomore Shock Linwood has been the Bears’ feature back and has already scored seven rushing touchdowns while averaging a shade under five yards per carry.

Texas has two immensely talented backs, junior Johnathan Gray and senior Malcolm Brown, but neither has been able to pick up meaningful yardage behind their patchwork offensive line. The tandem has also been non-existent in the passing game, combining for just 20 yards on 10 receptions.

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Senior Antwan Goodley and redshirt sophomore Corey Coleman, two of Baylor’s top receivers, made their season debuts against Iowa State with 100-yard performances. Freshman KD Cannon is averaging 22.6 yards per catch and may be the most explosive weapon in the Baylor offense.

Senior John Harris continued his torrid streak against Kansas, posting his fourth consecutive game with a touchdown, and senior Jaxon Shipley made a couple of huge snags. Swoopes has not looked accurate enough to routinely connect on deep passes, so the receivers need to pick up the slack by running for more yards after the catch.

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The Baylor line has torn holes into opposing defensive fronts, allowing its running backs to routinely spring into the second level of the defense. Junior left tackle Spencer Drango is a potential AllAmerican and the anchor of a unit that has not allowed a sack in 162 drop backs.

Texas’ offensive line is an eclectic mix of inexperienced sophomores, juniors and a converted defensive lineman in Marcus Hutchins. The offensive line even struggled to pave the way for the running backs against a weak Kansas front.

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DL

LB

DB

ST

Advantage: Texas

Advantage: Baylor

Advantage: Texas

Advantage: Baylor

This unit has the individual talent to be the strength of the Longhorn defense, but senior Cedric Reed cannot continuously fight off the opposing offenses’ double teams. Sophomore defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway will have to win his matchups with Baylor’s interior linemen if the Longhorns hope to stop the run.

Statistically, Baylor’s defensive line is one of the best in college football, but Iowa State has been the only thing resembling a challenge so far this season. Junior defensive end Shawn Oakman, a Penn State transfer, was an All-Big 12 selection last season and could spend a lot of time in the Texas backfield.

Fifth-year senior Bryce Hager has two All-Big 12 distinctions under his belt and may add All-American to his résumé by the end of the year. The linebackers have been instrumental in holding opponents to a conference-best 80 rushing yards per game.

This unit played well against Kansas for the Longhorns but so has just about everyone who has faced the Jayhawks.

Fifth-year senior Jordan Hicks recorded an interception against Kansas, but he will have to make an extra effort to cover the sidelines in order to rein in Baylor’s speedy running backs.

This unit has quietly held opponents to the sixth-fewest passing yards in the nation. Junior Duke Thomas is still susceptible to the occasional big play, but he snagged two interceptions last week. He and senior Quandre Diggs have to play flawlessly in their biggest challenge of the year.

Baylor’s defensive backs have held opponents to 170.5 passing yards per game but that may be a result of a weak schedule through four games. That being said, redshirt sophomore cornerback Xavien Howard has already recorded two interceptions on the season.

Baylor’s punt coverage has been spectacular. It has held opponents to only one yard per return in the early going. Sophomore Lynx Hawthorne has been dangerous on kick returns, but sophomore kicker Chris Callahan is an atrocious 1-for-6 on field goal tries.

Extra points and blocked field goal tries have now been added to the long list of things that have gone wrong for the Longhorns’ special teams this season. Texas cannot beat ranked opponents if it makes a habit of missing field goals.

Shipley did have a big return against Kansas, however.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

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Weak fan support to blame for Texas’ poor home record

By Garrett Callahan Daily Texan Columnist @CallahanGarrett

Given all the changes new head coach Charlie Strong has made since arriving in Austin, not much remains from the Mack Brown-era at Texas.

However, one thing that has remained constant despite all the changes is Texas’ lackluster fan base.

In the last few years of Brown’s tenure, Texas became notorious in the Big 12 for its poor fan support.

Despite the program’s “come early, be loud, stay late, wear orange,” tagline, students were known to arrive late and, unless a game came down to the wire, leave early.

But, with a new head coach and a fresh attitude within the program, the Longhorn faithfuls were expected to be out in full force to usher in the new era.

However, just a day ahead of its third game of the season at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Texas has yet to sell out a home game. In fact, thousands of tickets are still available for tomorrow’s game against No. 7 Baylor.

For the Longhorns to return to national prominence, they need more from their fan base.

Among the current top-15 teams in the AP poll, the majority of them are supported by fans that rank among the best in the country. Having a favorable atmosphere at home games is perhaps a

♲

I like, without a doubt, playing on the road better than playing at home. It’s way louder and gets me way [more excited]. No offense to our fans, but [Darrel K RoyalMemorial Stadium] is not loud.

—Kenny Vaccaro, Former Texas safety

Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan Staff

The Longhorn faithful have developped a reputation as one of the worst fan bases in the Big 12. Students often don’t show up until after kickoff and tend to leave before the final whistle.

bigger advantage in college football than any other sport.

While it’s obvious that fan support will typically increase in response to a team’s production, Texas would benefit drastically from the opposite.

If Longhorn fans show up in greater numbers, they may be surprised by how much the on-field product improves.

A loud stadium creates an immense home field advantage for any team. Opponents are forced to overcome the noise level to effectively communicate and are usually intimidated by the atmosphere.

The home team, on the other hand, can feed off the excitement and use crowd response to build momentum.

Over the past few seasons, however, Texas simply hasn’t experienced such an advantage. Instead, fans of visiting teams have come into Austin and, at times, been louder than the home crowd. Ole Miss fans chanting “S-E-C” after the Rebels’ victory over Texas

last season and BYU faithfuls screaming as junior quarterback Taysom Hill ran all over the Longhorns this year are a couple of obvious examples.

It’s gotten so bad that in 2012, former Longhorn safety Kenny Vaccaro went as far as to say that playing on the 40 Acres may not be an advantage at all for Texas.

“I like, without a doubt, playing on the road better than playing at home,” Vaccaro said. “It’s way louder and gets me way [more excited].

No offense to our fans, but [Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium] is not loud.”

A week after that statement, against a top-10 West Virginia team, Longhorn fans produced one of the loudest home games of Brown’s tenure in Austin.

Strong and his players have yet to publicly state similar disappointment in this year’s fan support, but, as poor attendance numbers continue to mount, so will the losses.

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BY THE NUMBERS

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74-44-2

By Drew Lieberman @DrewLieberman

Texas’ all-time record in its fifth game of the season, a win percentage of 62 percent.

74-25-4

The all-time record, in Texas’ favor, between the Longhorns and Bears, a win percentage of 73 percent. While the Bears have never won more than two in a row against Texas, the Longhorns won 16 games in a row against Baylor from 1958-73.

25-13 The average score, in the Longhorns’ favor, between Baylor and Texas all time.

12.7

17-6-1

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The Longhorns’ record when they face a Baylor team ranked in the AP poll. Texas is 4-4 against the Bears when Baylor is ranked in the AP poll and Texas is not.

Unranked Texas teams are 3-1 against Baylor when it is ranked in the AP Top 10, however.

56.8

This season, Baylor is averaging 56.8 points per game, the best mark in the country. The Longhorns are only averaging 21.3 points per game, good for ninth in the Big 12.

12.8

Against the Bears, opponents only average 12.8 first downs per game, best in the conference and fifth-best in the nation. Texas only averages 16.5 first downs per contest, ranking dead last in the conference.

John Harris Receiver

Texas’ record when entering a game 2-2, a win percentage of 71 percent.

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The number of times Baylor scored at least 30 points against the Longhorns in the previous 103 meetings between the two teams. The Bears broke 30 in each of the last four meetings and won three of those meetings.

9-7

The average scoring differential of 12.7, in Baylor’s favor, against the Longhorns’ 2014 senior class would be the worst mark ever, if it holds. The 2013 seniors finished their careers being outscored by Baylor by an average of 11.5 points.

Friday, October 3, 2014

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The number of sacks allowed by the Bears’ offensive line on the season. The only other NCAA team that has yet to allow a sack is New Mexico State. The Longhorn defense has 17 sacks on the season and have yet to record fewer than three in a game.

The number of senior classes — 2013, 1992, 1991, 1989, and 1939 — at Texas that lost to Baylor in three out of four seasons. This year’s class sits at 1-2 against the Bears.

9

Texas has picked off nine passes, secondmost in the nation, so far this year. Of those nine interceptions, eight of them came in victories.

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The Bears have made just one field goal on six attempts this season, a conversion percentage of less than 17 percent.

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The number of passes by Baylor that have gone for 40-plus yards this season, tied for second in the country. The Longhorns have yet to allow a pass of over 35 yards.

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STOCK UP, STOCK DOWN

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Friday, October 3, 2014

By Evan Berkowitz @Evan_Berkowitz

Stock Up: Jordan Hicks Fifth-year senior linebacker Jordan Hicks, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, was dominant against Kansas, recording 15 tackles and an interception. Even he acknowledged that it was probably the best game of his career. He is leading a Texas defense that is 11th in the nation in tackles for loss and eighth in sacks. This week will be a bigger challenge as he will have his hands full with Baylor’s big offensive line, which is one of just two lines in the nation that has yet to allow a single quarterback sack this year. But with Baylor’s dynamic passing game lurking behind the line, Hicks will need to put pressure on senior quarterback Bryce Petty to keep him out of rhythm, so look for Hicks to really push the issue up front.

Stock Down: Malcolm Brown Since his two touchdown performance against North Texas to start the season, Brown has been inefficient. He’s averaging less than 48 yards per game while being a non-factor in the passing game. When former quarterback David Ash went out, many looked to the former five-star recruit to carry the offense, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. Part of the reason for his inefficiency is the rebuilt offensive line, which has struggled to get a push. Unfortunately for Brown, the offensive line isn’t going to turn it around overnight, and, with Baylor’s sixth-ranked run defense coming into town, things do not look bright for Brown at this point.

Stock Down: Kent Perkins With all the injuries, suspensions and dismissals on the offensive line, sophomore Kent Perkins made the transition to tackle. With Baylor’s defensive line playing incredibly well, albeit against sub-par teams, Perkins may struggle Saturday. Baylor is fifth in the nation in tackles for loss and second in sacks. That’s not a good sign for a line that has replacements all over, and Perkins may take the bulk of the blame this weekend.

Stock Up: Duke Thomas After spending a week on the wrong end of this list, junior cornerback Duke Thomas came back with arguably the best game of his career against Kansas. With Quandre Diggs on the other side, Kansas tried to pick on Thomas, who was torched for a game-winning touchdown against UCLA the game prior. But Thomas was up to the challenge, recording two interceptions and helping Texas record its first shutout since early 2012. With Baylor’s top offense coming into town this week, Thomas will certainly give up more catches and won’t have nearly as clean of a game. But, if he can slow them down even a little and make a play here and there, it could give Texas a chance. If there’s one game where it helps to come in with confidence, this week’s would be the one.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

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KEYS TO THE GAME

By Daniel Clay @Dclay567

STOP THE RUN Baylor’s ground game is the most potent and balanced attack that Texas will see this season. BYU and UCLA generate most of their offense through their athletic quarterbacks, but Baylor’s star running back Shock Linwood can tear up an offense entirely on his own.

The shifty redshirt sophomore has scored seven touchdowns and reeled off some long gains running between the tackles. Fellow running back, redshirt freshman Johnny Jefferson, is more than capable of picking up the slack when Linwood needs a breather.

A Texas defensive line that is missing a star, senior defensive tackle Desmond Jackson, may want to counter Baylor’s ability to run up the middle by crashing the defensive ends inside. An overemphasis on the inside runs, however, will invite redshirt senior quarterback Bryce Petty to tuck and run past the defensive ends.

Petty missed one game with a spinal injury, but his 47 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Iowa State last week showed he is not afraid to take a pounding.

LOCK DOWN CORNERS Texas has struggled to stop the run this season, so Longhorn defensive resources should be focused on neutralizing the ground game. With all the attention up front, the cornerbacks — senior Quandre Diggs and junior Duke Thomas — have to shine in man coverage while the safeties creep up for run support.

Petty has been endowed with a magnificent fleet of receivers, including senior Antwan Goodley and redshirt sophomore Corey Coleman, both of whom had over 100 receiving yards in their season debuts against Iowa State.

Baylor uses its effective ground attack to open up the screen game, where Coleman excels, meaning the Texas corners will have to prove that defensive coordinator Vance Bedford has cured their open-field tackling woes.

Texas’ linebackers have not proven they are fast enough to control the perimeter, so Diggs and Thomas will have to fight off blocks to help neutralize Baylor’s stretch runs.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SWOOPES’ ATHLETICISM The Longhorns’ porous offensive line has proven incapable of providing any surge ahead of its running backs, junior Johnathan Gray and senior Malcolm Brown.

Opposing defenses have also been sitting close to the line of scrimmage in an effort to stop the run and take the short routes away from inexperienced sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes.

Offensive play-caller Shawn Watson attempted to open the field for his quarterback by calling more deep passes, but Swoopes’ accuracy simply is not good enough to make the vertical passing game a real threat against Baylor.

Fortunately, Swoopes is athletic enough to draw the defense’s attention away from his running backs. Watson, however, has been hesitant to call plays that take full advantage of Swoopes’ athleticism.

What yards Swoopes has picked up with his feet have mostly been off of scrambles and broken plays, rather than designed runs that force a defense to readjust its game plan.

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SCENARIOS

By Nick Castillo

Friday, October 3, 2014

Texas Wins

@Nick_Castillo74

… If it is able to contain Baylor’s high-flying offense. It’ll be a difficult task, as the Bears average 56.8 points per game, best in the nation. Baylor’s passing offense is ranked fourth in the nation, averaging 401.3 passing yards per game. Baylor also averages 239.8 rushing yards per game. The Longhorn defense will have to put together its best performance of the season to pull off the upset. … If its offense is able to light up the scoreboard. If the Longhorn defense is unable to stop Baylor, it may be a long day as the Bears love to run up the score. And while the Bears’ offense has been dominant, Texas has struggled offensively. The Longhorns rank 101st in the nation in passing, averaging a mere 195 yards per game. Texas has also struggled to run the ball, averaging only 120.5 rushing yards per game. The Longhorns need to find their stride offensively. They have to find a way to establish the run and convert explosive plays if they want to take down the No. 7 team in the country. … If its special teams provide a spark. Junior kicker Nick Rose has had trouble converting field goals this season. If Rose is perfect, the Longhorns will be in decent position to win the game. Texas will also need its return men to make plays. Whether it’s senior Jaxon Shipley returning punts or junior Marcus Johnson returning kickoffs, Texas needs a big play from one of them.

Texas Loses

… If it doesn’t get to Baylor’s senior quarterback, Bryce Petty. The Bears’ offensive line has not allowed a single sack this season. But the Longhorns have had success getting to the quarterback, ranking eighth in the nation in sacks with 16. If Texas can’t sack Petty, the Longhorns are sure to drop their third game of the season.

T

… If it allows Baylor to live up to the “Wide Receiver University” moniker. The strength of the Bears’ offense is the wide receiver corps, led by freshman KD Cannon, who has a team-high 519 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Baylor has plenty of receivers to throw the ball to, and, if Texas can’t stop them, it’s going to be a long afternoon.

Lauren Ussery | Daily Texan Staff

Senior receiver Jaxon Shipley has been his usual, consistent self for the Longhorns this season. Texas will need him to create big plays against the Bears.

… If it can’t find the end zone. The Longhorn offense isn’t good enough to keep up with Baylor. Texas needs to find a way to score touchdowns, whether it’s the offense, defense or special teams crossing the goal line.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP

11 Junior kicker Nick Rose gets set to kickoff against UCLA. Rose has struggled mightily for Texas this season, and will need to be better for the Longhorns to upset Baylor.

By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74

Offensive Line This is already the second time this year the offensive line has been put on this list.

This time, it’s because they aren’t opening running lanes for their running backs — junior Johnathan Gray and senior Malcolm Brown. The Longhorns struggled to run the ball against Kansas as it put eight and nine men in the box. Texas needs to find a way to improve its running game, and that starts up front with the linemen. The Longhorns also need to protect sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes and allow him time to throw the deep ball.

John Harris and Steve Edmond Senior wide receiver John Harris and senior linebacker Steve Edmond have both had solid seasons. Harris has been a big surprise, leading the team in receiving yards, with 336 and receiving touchdowns with four. Edmond has recorded 40 total tackles and is a key component of the Longhorn defense this season.

But both provided Baylor with bulletin board material.

After the spring game, Edmond went on a rant about Baylor, which didn’t exactly sit well with the Bears.

“I really don’t like Baylor,” Edmond said. “I still think they’re trash … Baylor gets the win and acts like they had never won before. Even in high school, you know how to

react when you win a game. It’s not like you never won a game. I’m like, ‘They won it, so what?’ They still suck to me.”

Harris followed Edmond’s lead by misspeaking at Monday’s press conference. Bear fans weren’t too pleased with his statement either.

“They’re still Baylor,” Harris said. “Just because they started playing better, that’s good for them. We’re still Texas.”

Now, Harris and Edmond must step up and back up their statements.

Lauren Ussery Daily Texan Staff

Nick Rose Junior kicker Nick Rose hasn’t had the best 2014 season thus far. After Texas scored its first touchdown against Kansas, Rose missed the extra point, something he hadn’t done all season. Rose also had a field goal blocked against the Jayhawks, but he wasn’t given enough time to get the kick off after defenders blew through the line.

Rose has missed fifty percent of his kicks this season.

The Longhorns will need him to be much better when they take on Baylor.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

Thomas brimming with confidence

By Drew Lieberman @DrewLieberman

If there is anything to be learned from cornerback Duke Thomas’ performance in last week’s 23-0 victory over Kansas, it’s that the junior is brimming with confidence.

“The thing about Duke now is that he has a lot of confidence; sometimes he plays with too much of it,” head coach Charlie Strong said after the game.

At times, that confidence can work in his favor, as it did in his two-interception performance against the Jayhawks.

Other times, it can lead to a blown assignment that results in a game-losing touchdown, as was the case against UCLA. Regardless of the result, as every defensive back knows, the only thing that matters is the next play.

“You have to have a short memory at cornerback,” Thomas said.

He never watched the blown assignment against the Bruins again. When they got to that play in film study, defensive backs coach Chris Vaughn skipped over it.

“It didn’t really break my confidence,” Thomas said after beating Kansas. “I was upset that I let my team down, but it definitely feels good to come out and have two interceptions this game and have a good win.”

Thomas’ first interception came in the second quarter after he put himself in a great position to make the play.

“He does a great job of covering,” Strong said. “The thing he does is study receivers during the week, so he knows the throws and what is going to happen.”

Two possessions later, Thomas, a native of Killeen, Texas, was at it again. In the waning seconds of the first half, Kansas sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart fired a pass deep downfield and Thomas undercut it, notching what he thought was his second pick of the game. However, a roughing the passer penalty wiped the play out.

But, on the very next play, Cozart threw a Hail Mary into the end zone to end the half, and Thomas came up with it again.

“After [the first] play, I was really upset and Quandre [Diggs] is laughing at me talking about, ‘Yeah you get no picks; you not gonna have more than me,’” Thomas said.

“But I ended up getting another one [and] over here in the corner, we started laughing at each other.”

Thomas didn’t stop there. In the third quarter, he broke up a Kansas pass on fourth down from the Texas five-yard line to help preserve the shutout.

Strong’s v

THOMAS page 16

Texas head coach Charlie Strong has earned praise from m honesty, no stealing, no guns and no drugs. Among his fan

Sarah Montgomery | Daily Texan Staff

Junior defensive back Duke Thomas had the best game of his career against Kansas last weekend, intercepting two passes and coming up with a huge pass breakup in the second half. He’s hoping to duplicate that against the Bears.

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values garnering national praise

By Stefan Scrafield @StefanScrafield

Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan Staff

many around the country for the disciplinary measures he has taken to enforce his core values - treating women with respect, ns, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with Strong in Austin last weekend to discuss the coach’s penchant for discipline.

As Texas head coach Charlie Strong sat in his Moncrief office last Sunday morning, still savoring his team’s shutout victory over Kansas the day before, he received an unexpected phone call.

Troy Vincent, NFL’s executive vice-president of operations, whom Strong has known for quite a while, was calling.

He and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were in Austin visiting the headquarters of the National Domestic Violence Hotline and were hoping to meet up with Strong to discuss his commitment to his core values - treating women with respect, honesty, no stealing, no guns and no drugs - before they left town.

Sure enough, a couple hours later, Goodell and Vincent were overlooking Joe Jamail Field in Strong’s office while they picked the coach’s brain.

“Just talked about just dealing with young people,” Strong said of the meeting. “Trying to make sure that we help them and learn all about character. Then just how do we deal with some of the issues that we’re dealing with right now on this level.”

Amid a flurry of NFL player misconduct issues ranging from domestic violence to sexual assault, Goodell and Vincent clearly felt they could learn from Strong, who has demonstrated a penchant for discipline since arriving in Austin.

With high-profile athletes like Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy bringing the topic of domestic violence into the national eye, Strong has been lauded for what he’s done to combat misbehavior among athletes at the college level.

“I said to [Goodell] that what is happening in the NFL is we’re sending you some players of questionable character,” Strong said. “We have to do a better job in college of preparing these young men.”

Strong has preached a culture of discipline from the moment he stepped off the plane in Austin, but his recent actions have proven he’s about more than just saying the right thing.

The former Louisville boss has dismissed nine Longhorns and suspended three more in his nine months on campus, all for violations of team rules, which stem from his core values. Aside from the two players who were dismissed after

STRONG page 16

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Friday, October 3, 2014

Baylor’s Hager set to take on father’s alma mater

By Jori Epstein @JoriEpstein

When Baylor senior linebacker Bryce Hager steps on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, he’ll be competing on behalf of two families: his biological family and his Baylor family. Although both will undoubtedly root for Hager’s success, their common loyalties stop there.

Hager didn’t receive an offer from Texas as a high school senior, but he dwells among Longhorns when he visits home. Before entering the NFL, Hager’s father, Britt, played for Texas from 1985-88. He still holds the program’s single-season tackles record with 195 and all-time tackles record with 499 tackles.

After eight years in the NFL, Britt Hager came back to Austin to raise his family. In addition to sending his kids to Westlake High School, Britt molded each of his four sons into football players.

The youngest of the four, Breckyn, is a two-star linebacker, according to Rivals, who has received offers from SMU, San Diego State, Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas. Breckyn originally committed to the Bears, ready to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.

But on Sept. 24, he flipped his commitment from Baylor to Texas, crossing family lines.

The Hager legacy in Waco now rests on Bryce’s shoulders. An All-American candidate like his father — Britt Hager was an All-American at Texas before signing with the

Philadelphia Eagles — Bryce Hager is a leader for the Bears’ defense, both on and off the field.

Leading the team with 21 tackles through the first four games of 2014, Hager’s statistical dominance isn’t anything new. Even when a groin tear, which required surgery, shortened his 2013 season, he still racked up 71 tackles. And he’d already led the Big 12 in tackles as a sophomore in 2012, averaging 9.5 tackles per game for a total of 124 tackles.

The defense suffered without him down the stretch last season, allowing 446 yards per game compared to just 306 when he was on the field. Hager missed last season’s Texas-Baylor matchup, which proved to be the de facto conference championship game. And, as the missed games continued to mount and he underwent surgery, Hager worried he might not be able to return to form.

“Just being able to take on a hit again — you don’t know how it’s going to feel, if your legs are going to give out,” Hager told The Dallas Morning News in August.

“I could run around and do everything; it was just the mental side.”

Any mental struggles or lack of confidence should be long gone now. Allowing just 80 rushing yards per game, Baylor leads the Big 12 and rank sixth in the nation. Its 8.5 tackles for loss per game ranks fifth in the nation, and its 3.74 yards allowed per play rank fourth.

The Bears haven’t always been such a powerhouse, Hager recalls. But he says that’s what makes the success even more exciting.

“It’s been a crazy ride going from winning five games in the conference to being Big 12 champions,” Hager told KVUE this week.

“It’s something you could only dream about, it’s something that we accomplished and we’re really excited about the journey.”

Last year’s Big 12 championship was a dream come true for many Bears. But it was a dream Hager missed being a part of as he was sidelined by injury. Now, with the family rivalry renewed, Hager’s excited to take on the Longhorns.

When he looks to the stands, he’s not sure if he’ll find his family in burnt orange or green and gold.

But, as the leader of the Bears’ defense, he knows family will be by his side.

Photos courtesy of Baylor Athletics

Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager, the son of former All-American Longhorn linebacker Britt Hager, leads the Bears in tackles so far this season. The senior leader of the Baylor defense will get a chance to play in front of his family, who now live in Austin, this weekend.

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Friday, October 3, 2014

PLAYERS TO WATCH

By Peter Sblendorio @petersblendorio

Senior QB Bryce Petty Baylor leads the nation in scoring offense, and Petty is the biggest reason why. The Heisman hopeful is off to a torrid start for the Bears, passing for 913 yards and seven touchdowns against just one interception in his first three games. Petty, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2013, has been one of the nation’s most efficient passers in recent history. In his career, he’s thrown for 40 touchdowns against just four interceptions, and he’s never completed fewer than 62 percent of his passes in a season. He’ll likely be the toughest quarterback Texas faces this season.

Sophomore RB Shock Linwood

Lauren Ussery | Daily Texan Staff

Texas head coach Charlie Strong has dismissed nine players and supended three more for violating team rules since taking over at the helm of the Longhorns in January.

STRONG continues from page 13 being charged with sexual assault, it’s unknown which core value the other 10 athletes violated. But one thing is clear — regardless of who you are, if you do wrong, you will be punished accordingly under Strong’s rule.

“It doesn’t matter what level they are at — they’re all still looking for discipline, and you have to discipline players,” Strong said. “If we’re going to continue to let this happen, why are you going to say what you’re going to do and you don’t even

do it?”

With so many athletes making headlines for all the wrong reasons, many have cited Strong as the kind of leader American sports desperately need.

NFL executives are taking notice, Texas administrators are taking notice — the Board of Regents is scheduled to endorse Strong’s values Friday — students on campus are taking notice, and, most importantly, Longhorn players are taking notice.

“Everybody respects Coach Strong, and I think that’s evident,” senior linebacker Jordan Hicks said.

“The values that he’s brought in aren’t really anything new, but he shows the ability to stand by them and not bend or fold just because a player is a good athlete.”

In an era where the world of sports is dominated by the idea that winning takes care of everything, Strong is determined to take care of everything, and then worry about winning.

THOMAS continues from page 12 Thomas’ play may finally be catching up to his confidence level, which would drastically help the Longhorns navigate through their conference schedule.

“He’s just getting better every week,” senior receiver John Harris said. “You know, we go at it all the time in practice, and, I mean, it shows up on the field just like you saw.”

The Longhorns host Baylor this weekend and will

likely be more than twotouchdown underdogs come kick off. Fifth-year senior receiver Antwan Goodley is healthy, and freshman phenom KD Cannon is one of the Bears’ other receivers who can make plays.

“Our whole defense really got to take on challenges when they come,“ Thomas said. “And we are going to try to step up to the occasion and make plays happen.”

Only time will tell if

Thomas’ performance against Kansas proves to be the turning point of his career. One thing is certain, however; even when he struggles, the junior won’t be one to doubt his own abilities.

“I don’t think you are going to ever shatter his confidence,” Strong said. “Even if he had got beat out everyday, he would bounce back somehow. He’s not going to get broken down.”

As a freshman, Linwood starred as Lache Seastrunk’s backup last season, racking up 881 yards and eight touchdowns on just 69 carries. He’s been just as good this year in his first season as the starter, as he’s currently second in the Big 12 with 301 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The sophomore has scored at least once in every game this season, including last week when he recorded three touchdowns against Iowa State. Linwood has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game this year despite doing so four times last season. He’ll have a good chance to reach that mark this week against a Texas defense that has surrendered an average of 179.2 rushing yards per game so far this season.

Freshman WR KD Cannon In his first four games, the true freshman emerged as Baylor’s most dangerous receiving threat and Petty’s favorite target. Cannon leads the Bears with 23 receptions, 519 yards and five touchdowns in 2014, and he’s averaged an eye-popping 22.6 yards per reception so far. He’s more than just a home run hitter, though, as he’s hauled in at least six receptions in each of his last three games. Cannon is only six feet and 170 pounds, but he more than makes up for it with blazing speed. He’s already recorded two touchdowns of at least 81 yards this season.

Junior DE Shawn Oakman Baylor’s offense gets most of the publicity, but the defense deserves a lot of credit for the team’s perfect start, too. The Bears allow just 13.8 points per game, eighth best in the nation, and no player has played a bigger role than Oakman. The junior leads the team with four sacks, and he’s also recorded 13 tackles, a pass breakup and three quarterback hits.

The 6-foot-9-inch, 280 pound disruptive pass rusher creates a serious mismatch against just about every offensive tackle he faces. He’s primed for a field day this week against the Longhorns’ inexperienced offensive line.

Baylor’s senior superstar, Bryce Petty, is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Texas will have its hands full trying to stop the future NFLer in Austin this weekend.

Shelby Tauber Daily Texan file photo

r ce f

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Friday, October 3, 2014

HEISMAN WATCH

17

By Sebastian Herrera @SebasAHerrera

1. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota Last week: BYE 2014: 1,135 passing yards, 13 passing TDs, 3 rushing TDs Despite Mariota and the Ducks having last week off, the Heisman front-runner is still the still the clear favorite to win the award. The junior has been absolutely dominant through four games, leading the nation in both completion percentage and passer rating. It’s hard to argue that any other player in college football player is as important to their team’s success as Mariota. He’s kept the Ducks perfect heading into their matchup with Arizona and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

2. Georgia RB Todd Gurley Last week (W, 35-32, vs. Tennessee): 28 attempts, 208 yards, 2 TDs 2014: 69 attempts, 610 yards, 6 TDS Without Gurley on the field, Georgia would have likely suffered its second loss of the season last week against Tennessee. The junior did it all for the Bulldogs, racking up his third 100-yard game of the season, the key component in sealing the game for Georgia. Gurley has already had his way with three different SEC defenses, and he should continue doing so against a poor Vanderbilt team Saturday. Containing Gurley is just wishful thinking for teams at this point, as

Charlie Pearce | Daily Texan file photo

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is the clear cut favorite to win the Heisman Trophy heading into week six. The Ducks’ redshirt sophomore has thrown for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns without throwing an interception through four games.

Todd Gurley

Running back

he has proven to be as pure a running back as there has ever been in college football.

3. Alabama WR Amari Cooper Last week: BYE 2014: 43 receptions, 655 yards, 5 TDs

Cooper should be well-rested after the bye week and ready e for Alabama’s first big test of the season against Ole Miss. This season, the junior has made ng his first-time starter at quarure terback look like a seasoned n veteran and run circles around every team he’s faced. Cooper has failed to score in only one game this fall and has not had less than 130 receiving yards in any contest. With those kind of numbers, Cooper’s impact cannot be overstated.

Amari Cooper Wide receiver

4. Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah

5. Texas A&M QB Kenny Hill

Last week (W, 45-14, vs. Illinois): 22 attempts, 208 yards, 3 TDs 2014: 114 attempts, 833 yards, 8 TDs

Last week (W, 35-28 (OT), vs. Arkansas): 21-for-41, 386 yards, 4 TDs 2014: 1,745 passing yards, 17 TDs,

Had Abdullah played against tougher opponents, he’d be closer to the top of this list. Abdullah, a senior, recorded his third 200-plus-yard game of the season against Illinois last week, and, after only five games, he is already less than 200 yards shy of reaching the 1000yard mark. He’s now the nation’s leading rusher, and, against Michigan State this week, he finally has a chance to prove he can produce the same kind of numbers against one of the big dogs of college football.

fourth quarter last week, Hill still led the Aggies to an overtime win against Arkansas in what was his first taste of the SEC gauntlet he’ll go through to end the season. Hill seems to put up big numbers effortlessly, posting four more touchdowns against Arkansas. He’s still in his first year as a starter, which he’s made easy to forget. But, that fact alone makes his performance much more incredible.

Ameer Abdullah Running back

Despite turning the ball over at a critical time in the

Kenny Hill

Quarterback

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Friday, October 3, 2014

GAMES TO WATCH

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No. 3 Alabama at No. 11 Ole Miss

No. 14 Stanford at No. 9 Notre Dame

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi Saturday, 2:30 PM CBS

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana Saturday, 2:30 PM NBC

This could very well be a telling sign of how things will play out in the SEC West. If Alabama wins, like most are predicting, the race to the SEC Championship game should remain between Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M. But, if the Rebels find a way to pull off what might be the biggest win in school history, it would open the door for them or Mississippi State to find a way into the conversation. The Crimson Tide continue to roll with senior quarterback Blake Sims, who has completed 73 percent of his passes for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns, while senior quarterback Bo Wallace, with 1,271 passing yards and 11 touchdowns of his own, has the Rebels on a mission. This will be Ole Miss’ best shot to beat Alabama for the first time since 2003 and shake up what many consider the best division of the best conference in the nation.

No, this doesn’t feel like the same Stanford team that’s played in the past two Rose Bowls, and, no, this isn’t the same Notre Dame team that played in the national title game two years ago. Nonetheless, this will have a big impact on which team will remain in contention for the College Football Playoff. The Cardinal, even with the loss to USC three weeks ago, still have a realistic shot at making the playoffs.

They had a quality win at Washington last week and can potentially add a quality win at Oregon in November and against whoever they face in the Pac-12 title game. Notre Dame, playing as an independent, will likely fall out of contention with a loss but gain a lot of credibility with a win.

Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama Saturday, 6:00 PM ESPN Similar to the Alabama-Ole Miss matchup, this battle of Tigers could determine how the SEC West will be won.

LSU, having already lost to division foe Mississippi State, could play spoiler for rival Auburn and open the door to get back into the hunt for the division crown. Auburn, on the other hand, could get the inside track at the title with a big home win. The LSU Tigers aren’t exactly the same team that competed year in, year out with Alabama just a short while ago. They haven’t exactly impressed folks with a close 28-24 win over Wisconsin in week one and a 34-29 loss at home to Mississippi State. The Auburn Tigers are seeking to become the first team not named Alabama to win back-to-back SEC West titles since the division was formed in 1992.

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No. 4 Oklahoma at No. 25 TCU No. 15 LSU at No. 5 Auburn

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Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth Saturday, 2:30 PM FOX Oklahoma has steamrolled its opponents with relative ease so far but will likely face a test when it travels down I-35 to Fort Worth to play TCU on Saturday. The Sooners vaulted their way back to the top of the Big 12 title discussion with big wins over an improving Tennessee team and an always difficult West Virginia squad in Morgantown.

And, although the Horned Frogs aren’t the same squad that won the Rose Bowl before joining the conference, they’ll still be a challenge for the Sooners. TCU is coming off of a massive 56-0 win over SMU last Saturday and easily beat up on Minnesota earlier this year. With the quarterback issue of a year ago now solved, the Horned Frogs and their stout defense will not be a walkover for the Sooners.

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BIG 12 NOTEBOOK

Friday, October 3, 2014

By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox

Texas Tech QB Webb a game-time decision Texas Tech’s sophomore quarterback Davis Webb will be a game-time decision for the Red Raiders against Kansas State, after injuring his non-throwing shoulder against Oklahoma State on Sept. 25. After taking a hard sack in the fourth quarter, Davis appeared to injure his left shoulder. After a visit to the locker room, he seemed ready to come back into the game, but head coach Kliff Kingsbury kept him out. Davis underwent an MRI last Saturday, but the results have not been made public. If Webb is unable to play, freshman Patrick Mahomes will likely get the start. Mahomes was 2-of-5 for 20 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception against Oklahoma State.

Weis out as head coach at Kansas Interim Kansas head coach Clint Bowen will be tasked with trying to turn the ship around for the Jawhawks, as Charlie Weis was fired after a little more than two years on the job.

During his time in Lawrence, Weis compiled a 5-22 record — the lowest winning percentage of any coach in Kansas history.

While they did have a decent 2-2 record so far this year, the Jawhawks lost both games against tougher FBS teams — Duke and Texas — by a combined score of 64-3. Weis will collect the remaining $7 million on his contract with Kansas while still receiving the reported $19 million from his contract with Notre Dame, where he was fired from in 2009.

Garman, Hicks, Lockett take home Big 12 honors After a breakout performance against Texas Tech last week, Oklahoma State junior Daxx Garman was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his collegiate career. Garman was 17-of-31 in the 45-35 win over the Red Raiders and passed for 370 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions and also added a rushing touchdown. His five total touchdowns were the most scores by a Cowboy quarterback in a Big 12 game since 2011.

Texas senior linebacker Jordan Hicks took home the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 15 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception in the Longhorns’ 23-0 win over Kansas. Hicks was part of a Texas defense that posted its first road shutout since 2005.

Kansas State senior punt returner Tyler Lockett rounded out the weekly awards with the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honor following his performance in the Wildcats’ win over UTEP. Lockett had 143 punt return yards, including a 58-yard return for a touchdown, putting him second in school history for most single-game punt return yardage.

Lockett finished with 256 all-purpose yards in the 58-28 win over the Miners.

Top photo courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics, Bottom photo by Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff

Top: Texas Tech’s starting quarterback, Davis Webb, will be a game-time decision for the Red raiders against Kansas State this weekend. The sophomore injured his non-throwing shoulder against Oklahoma State last week.

Bottom: Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors last week after recording 15 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception against Kansas.

Friday, October 3, 2014

21

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS

By Evan Berkowitz @Evan_Berkowitz

1

No. 3

Oklahoma

6

Texas

2

No. 7

Baylor

7

West Virginia

3

No. 23

8

Texas Tech

4

Oklahoma State

9

Iowa State

5

No. 25

The Sooners are sitting pretty through four games, putting up nearly 45 points per game while allowing just over 16. Everyone knew redshirt sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight would come back from a rough start, but what has to be most encouraging for Oklahoma is its run game, led by freshman Samaje Perine and sophomore Keith Ford, which is averaging 222 rushing yards per game. This is a balanced team that many predict will represent the Big 12 in the College Football Playoff.

The Bears’ offense is No. 1 in the nation, for good reason. Redshirt senior quarterback Bryce Petty is near the top of the Heisman watch list and the offensive line has kept him upright, not allowing a single sack on the year. The real surprise for Baylor is how well its defense has played this season, although against some sub-par teams. They allow only 13.8 points per game and rank in the top five in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss.

Kansas State

If it weren’t for three missed field goals against Auburn, the Wildcats would be a top-15 team in the country. But that’s the way things went, and, although they lost, there were some positives. Senior Jake Waters is handling the quarterback position much better than last year, throwing and running with efficiency while the defense is playing well. Head coach Bill Snyder has them playing well, and while they could easily be upset by almost any team — sorry, Kansas — in the conference, they can also beat anyone.

The Cowboy offense proved l it can put up points with Daxx Garman at the helm last Thursday against Texas Tech. Coupled with senior running back Desmond Roland in the backfield, the Pokes’ offense is getting better every week. However, the Cowboys aren’t great at any one position, which limits their upside.

TCU

After a disastrous 2013 season, TCU is the surprise of the Big 12 so far. The Horned Frogs have quietly snuck themselves back into the top-25 with a dominant 57-0 shutout of SMU. They also crushed Minnesota, a team that blew out Michigan in the Big House. There are still some questions about how good they really are, but head coach Gary Patterson’s bunch is much better than many expected. However, the undefeated Horned Frogs won’t be perfect for much longer, as they play Oklahoma and Baylor in back-to-back weeks.

The Longhorns are making steady improvements, but they aren’t ready quite yet. Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes is making great strides, but with a shaky offensive line and inefficient run game, there will be too much pressure on him as the going gets tough with games against Baylor and Oklahoma over the next two weeks.

Nothing has changed for the Mountaineers since last week; they aren’t bad, but, at the same time, they aren’t very good. They played close games against both No. 2 Alabama and No. 4 Oklahoma, thanks to the play of senior quarterback Clint Trickett, but they also let Maryland hang around. With Kansas and Texas Tech coming up, West Virginia may be able to build some momentum before a home matchup against Baylor.

Sophomore quarterback Davis Webb is still really good. In fact, he may be the Big 12’s best quarterback.

However, the Red Raider defense is still atrocious. The defense is allowing over 38 points per game, which includes contests against the likes of Central Arkansas and UTEP. A good offense can only take a team so high; a bad defense can drop it really low.

A tough early season schedule has the Cyclones at just 1-3 with conference season underway. There aren’t many bright spots for Iowa State, and the schedule doesn’t get much easier with Oklahoma State coming into town.

10

Kansas

After getting shut out by Texas, the Jayhawks fired head coach Charlie Weis. That may be a step in the right direction, but their talent level won’t get better any time soon.

21

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All The Way From

23

STAFF PICKS

Friday, October 3, 2014

23

EVAN BERKOWITZ

GARRETT CALLAHAN

NICK CASTILLO

DANIEL CLAY

JORI EPSTEIN

SEBASTIAN HERRERA

DREW LIEBERMAN

JACOB MARTELLA

PETER SBLENDORIO

STEFAN SCRAFIELD

5-5

9-1

7-3

8-2

6-4

8-2

9-1

7-3

7-3

6-4

Overall Record

23-17

27-13

29-11

27-13

28-12

30-10

30-10

30-10

29-11

24-14

Baylor vs.

Texas

Baylor 56-14

Baylor 38-21

Baylor 49-21

Baylor 42-10

Baylor 43-16

Baylor 35-21

Baylor 31-17

Baylor 45-21

Baylor 41-21

Baylor 38-24

Alabama

Alabama

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

LSU

Auburn

LSU

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Texas A&M

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Mississippi State

Stanford vs.

Notre Dame

Stanford

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Stanford

Notre Dame

Stanford

Stanford

Notre Dame

Stanford

Nebraska vs.

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Michigan State

Florida

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

Georgia Tech

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Georgia Tech

Miami

Georgia Tech

Last Week’s Record

Alabama vs.

Ole Miss

LSU vs.

Auburn Texas A&M vs.

Mississippi State

Florida vs.

Tennessee

Oklahoma vs.

TCU

Arizona State vs.

USC

Miami (FL) vs.

Georgia Tech

Oklahoma

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