PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Sam Ehlinger, a sophomore, has taken every snap at the position this year after he and junior Shane Buechele split the starting position last season. He totaled 386 yards and five touchdowns in the 48-45 victory over No. 7 Oklahoma in the AT&T Red River Showdown. Ehlinger was 24-of-35 for 314 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 72 yards and three scores on the ground. His five touchdowns were the most for a Longhorn quarterback in the Red River Showdown and a new career high. His three rushing scores were a career high and the most for a Longhorn since the 2016 season. Ehlinger has now attempted a school-record 163 consecutive passes without throwing an interception, besting Major Applewhite’s previous school record of 156 set in 1999.
–WR Collin Johnson, a junior, had six catches for 81 yards against Oklahoma, including a two-yard TD pass from fellow wideout Lil’Jordan Humphrey. With every game Johnson is closer to producing the really big one that the Longhorns have been looking for from him. Johnson is the huge, intermediate target that the Texas needs to help open up the offense because the 6-foot-6 receiver can go over or through most of the defensive backs that are covering him. He now has 31 catches for 431 yards and four TDs combined in the first six games.
–LB Gary Johnson, a senior who came to Texas last year after playing in junior college, has already asserted himself as the Longhorns’ do-everything linebacker and one of the team’s leaders. Johnson registered three tackles, one of them for a loss, in the win over Oklahoma. At 6-foot and 230 pounds, Johnson might be a little undersized to be a constant run stuffer, but he plays bigger than his size and hits as hard as anyone in college football. Johnson will make some plays this season where he will come from the far side of the field to force a turnover.
–CB Kris Boyd has the skills to be a true shutdown corner — as long as he can keep his emotions in check. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, Boyd has the size to take on and stop most of the receivers that will line up across from him. Boyd had a pass breakup and two tackles, one of them for a loss, versus OU and has 21 stops, a sack, a tackle for a loss, an interception, and nine pass breakups for the season.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads Baylor 77-26-4 and owns a 46-10-2 record against Baylor at home. The Longhorns have won three straight games against the Bears, their longest streak since winning 12 straight from 1998-2009.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’ve always believed in competition. We want to go 1-0 every week but it’s much more micro in our program. It’s about winning every rep in practice, it’s about winning every offseason drill, it’s about winning every test you take in the classroom. Being competitive in everything you do in any facet life is going to lead to success, no matter how you define success.” — Texas coach Tom Herman on the team’s 0-0 mindset to the start of every week.