No. 9 Texas pits one of the nation’s top defenses against stumbling Florida on Saturday afternoon in a Southeastern Conference clash in Gainesville, Fla.
The teams, both idle last weekend, meet for the first time in Gainesville since 1940 and for just the fifth time ever. The Longhorns have never lost to the Gators, owning a 3-0-1 mark that includes a 49-17 win last year in Austin.
It’s the SEC opener for Texas (3-1, 0-0 SEC), who climbed one spot in the poll during their bye week. Since losing at Ohio State in its season opener, Texas has feasted on three mid-major teams to prepare for the league gauntlet.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian dispelled the notion that he’s been playing things close to the vest.
“I don’t know necessarily that we’ve held back,” Sarkisian explained. “We have laid a solid foundation in all three phases (of the game) to build upon for SEC play.”
Texas’ most recent contest was a 55-0 walloping of hapless Sam Houston at home on Sept. 20 in which quarterback Arch Manning passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more scores in a little more than a half of action.
“(Manning’s) got his swagger back,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said. “We’ve all known all the swagger that he’s got, and he’s just got to go play with it. Everybody knew that it was in there, and he just had to stay the course.”
The Longhorns outgained Sam Houston 607-113 and amassed 10 tackles for loss, including five sacks. Ryan Wingo hauled in two TD passes and racked up 125 total yards (93 receiving, 32 rushing).
Playing against Florida on the road to begin the SEC campaign will be a challenge for Texas, Sarkisian insisted.
“Obviously (Gainesville) has been known around the country as one of the more difficult places to play,” he said Monday. “(Florida has) been playing great defensive football all year and they’ve got explosive playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. They’ve been off the mark just a little bit offensively, but it’s not for lack of players and it’s not for lack of scheme.”
Texas has allowed just 31 total points over its first four outings and is ranked second in scoring defense (7.75 points per game) and fourth in FBS to total defense at 211.0 yards per game.
The Gators (1-3, 0-1) have dropped three straight games, most recently a 26-7 loss to then-No. 4 Miami on Sept. 20. Jadan Baugh rushed for a touchdown for Florida in the setback while DJ Lagway was 12-of-23 passing for just 61 yards with a long gain of 12 yards.
In the loss to Miami, the Gators did not convert any of their 13 third-down opportunities and finished with just 141 yards of offense. Florida’s offense ranks 15th out of 16 SEC teams at 328.3 yards per game, with only three touchdowns over its past three games.
“Each team has its own set of problems,” Florida coach Billy Napier said Monday. “I think it’s important that as the season goes, it’s about coming up with solutions. Your team has to improve as you go. Open dates present that opportunity and we certainly got a lot of good work done.”
Lagway said his team’s lack of execution has kept the offense in neutral.
“I love this system, man,” Lagway said. “Player-wise, we just gotta execute what Coach calls. I feel like that starts with me. That starts with, you know, the whole offensive unit.”