GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Texas offensive line versus the TCU defensive front-six. The Longhorns want to run the ball to keep it out of the hands of the dangerous and speedy TCU offense. Mixing in the run with short, high-percentage passes — even in the tempo offense — will keep the Horned Frogs out of quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s face and help limit TCU’s possessions.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Collin Johnson has the size (6-foot-6, 215 pounds), athleticism and speed that the NFL loves, but he needs to be more aggressive. Texas coach Tom Herman has ordered his quarterbacks to go to the go-route to Johnson anytime and every time he draws single coverage, and that strategy worked for a 22-yard TD in the loss to Maryland. Still, Johnson needs to produce more than the 13 catches for 175 yards he’s combined to amass in the first three games.
ROSTER REPORT:
–LB Malcolm Roach, who suffered a broken foot in the second quarter of Texas’ 37-13 win over Southern California on Saturday, will have surgery this week and miss six to eight weeks. Roach, the junior from Baton Rouge, had eight tackles, one of them solo, over Texas’ first three games.
–Freshman RB Keaontay Ingram, who is nursing a sore knee, had a good day running straight ahead during practice Sunday. “If we were in the NFL, he’d probably be questionable,” Herman said. “We will know more tomorrow.”
–Starting C Zach Shackelford would be listed as doubtful to play against TCU, but coach Tom Herman said Shackelford is working his way back from a foot injury. “He’s still having some pain but he’s going to try,” the coach explained. “What that means I don’t know yet. If we had to play today, he certainly could not play.”
–Freshman LB DeMarvion Overshown (knee) is coming on but probably a week or two away while wide receiver John Burt (foot) will “participate in drills as tolerated,” and be evaluated during the week for his availability for TCU.
–Texas’ 37-14 win over USC on Saturday marked the Longhorns’ 900th win all-time. They joined Michigan and Ohio State as the only programs in FBS history to reach that milestone.
–The Longhorns held USC to minus-5 rushing yards in Saturday’s victory. That came on 16 attempts (minus-0.3 yards per carry) and was the 24th-best effort in school history and the best since holding Texas Tech to minus-14 yards in 2010.
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