The collective gasp from 103,753 fans at Royal-Memorial Stadium Saturday night said it all: Arch Manning literally lost his helmet on a third-down scramble, and it summed up a No. 1 Texas offense that looked anything but top-ranked in their 30-6 win over UTSA. Yeah, the Horns moved to 3-0, but this was *not* the steamrolling anyone expected, especially on offense. This was a sputtering 397 yards, not the kind of clean performance you want from the top team in the nation.
Offense Stalls Despite the Scoreboard
Look, 30 points is a win, but let’s be real, the offense didn’t improve consistently. The first half felt eerily similar to last week, with the score hitting 20-3 by the break. Coach Steve Sarkisian even stuck around for his halftime interview this time, so hey, small victories. While Manning did improve to 11-0 in home starts, taking some nice shots downfield to electric wideout Cam Coleman,who snagged two touchdowns in the first half,he also took some nasty hits. That helmet loss? It happened because of some serious struggles in pass protection. Manning finished a pedestrian 16 of 32 for 161 yards and those two scores. It’s just not good enough for a team with championship aspirations. Yeah, young running back Derrek Cooper dazzled late with some good power running and his first career touchdown, but overall, red zone efficiency and pass pro were real issues.
Big Test Ahead, and a Fresh Injury Concern
On the bright side, the defense picked up right where it left off, holding opponents down just like they did against the Buckeyes last week when they allowed only three second-half points. Those guys are playing lights out, which is huge. But here’s the kicker: star edge rusher Colin Simmons was spotted in street clothes in the third quarter with a protective boot on his foot. That’s a massive concern for a defense that’s been carrying the team. Now, the biggest test of the season rolls up next week. The No. 1 Horns are heading to Knoxville to face No. 15 Tennessee, who just beat Kennesaw State 42-9, for their SEC opener.
So, here’s the question: Will this offense actually wake up before 100,000-plus screaming fans at Neyland Stadium? The coaching staff has the license to get after the troops even harder this week, and they’d better use it. This win was never about just beating UTSA; it was about improving. And on that front, there’s definitely work to do before Saturday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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