Don’t expect top-ranked Texas to move off its “business as usual” mantra just because the stakes increase as it opens Southeastern Conference play against Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas.
Yes, the Longhorns (4-0) will be playing their first ever game against an SEC opponent as a member of the consensus toughest conference in the country. But Texas is steeled by the fact that it played Alabama in both 2022 and 2023, beating the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last season, and by its consistency the past two years.
“We believe in our formula for success and what that looks like,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “We respect that this is our first SEC game at home and what that looks like. We’re going to embrace that side of it, but it’s not going to affect the way we prepare for the game and the way we go about our business in the game.
“The way we look at it, this is an SEC championship game.”
The Longhorns head into the Saturday clash off a dominating 51-3 home win over Louisiana-Monroe last week, when freshman quarterback Arch Manning passed for 258 yards, two scores, and two interceptions in just over three quarters of play. It was the much ballyhooed Manning’s first collegiate start, and afterward he said the game “felt long” to him.
Manning was behind center against the Warhawks because of an injury to erstwhile starter Quinn Ewers, whom Sarkisian called questionable for the game against the Bulldogs as he works his way back from a strained oblique. Ewers will be monitored throughout the week.
“Quinn has to be able to run the entire game plan (when he gets back),” Sarkisian said.
Texas is tied for first nationally in scoring defense with an average of 5.5 points allowed per game. The top three teams in the statistic — Ole Miss, Texas and Georgia — are members of the SEC, with fellow league members Tennessee fifth and Alabama sixth.
The Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1 SEC) travel to Austin for the first time since 1992 on the heels of a 45-28 home loss to Florida last week in their conference opener. Mississippi State, in its first season under coach Jeff Lebby, has dropped three games in a row.
The Bulldogs will be without starting quarterback Blake Shapen after the former Baylor signal-caller injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter of the loss to Florida. Shapen has been ruled out for the season.
True freshman Michael Van Buren Jr. replaced him for the remainder of the game and led two extended drives in mopup duty, one that ended with a rushing TD and another that ended at the goal line as time expired.
“I was proud of how Mike was able to put a drive together there in the fourth quarter for us,” Lebby said Monday. “He’s a guy that has great confidence in himself and the guys around him. It’s about focusing really small, taking great care of the football, creating predictable outcomes, and putting us in good situations.”
The Saturday game is the fifth all-time between Texas and Mississippi State and the first since the 1999 Cotton Bowl, in which the Longhorns earned a 38-11 victory. The series between the teams is tied 2-2.
–Field Level Media
As the anticipation builds for the upcoming clash between top-ranked Texas Longhorns and Mississippi State Bulldogs, fans and analysts alike are preparing for what promises to be an exciting game. With both teams looking to make their mark in the tough SEC conference, the stakes are high, and the outcome is uncertain.
Texas Longhorns, led by quarterback Arch Manning, are riding high after a dominant performance in their last game against Louisiana-Monroe. Manning, the highly touted freshman, showed poise and skill as he led the Longhorns to a resounding victory. However, with former starter Quinn Ewers dealing with an injury, the Longhorns’ depth will be tested as they face off against Mississippi State.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State Bulldogs are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Florida in their last game. With starting quarterback Blake Shapen sidelined due to injury, the Bulldogs will turn to true freshman Michael Van Buren Jr. to lead the offense. Coach Jeff Lebby is confident in Van Buren’s abilities and is counting on him to step up and make plays against a formidable Texas defense.
As the two teams prepare to take the field on Saturday, there is a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air. Fans are eagerly awaiting the matchup between these historic rivals, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for both teams’ seasons.
Will Texas continue their winning ways and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC? Or will Mississippi State pull off an upset and shock the college football world? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain — this game is sure to be a thrilling and memorable experience for all involved.
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