View from the Cheap Seats-Old “Rivalry” Re-newed
Déjà Vu, all over again
Déjà Vu, all over again
To quote the late great Yogi Berra, it was déjà vu, all over again. When we last saw TEXAS play Texas A&M, the game ended with Justin Tucker kicking a dagger through the Aggie hearts on his way to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. Fast forward 13 years, the last SEC game of the regular season, the winner gets an invitation to the SEC title game in Atlanta next weekend, prime time on ABC with Kirk and Chris making the call, with game day in Da House, the setting does not get any bigger. The nation is treated to the TEXAS Longhorns dominating the Aggies and stealing their cornbread, putting a dagger in the heart of the Aggie's best season in the SEC. Keep in mind the Ags bolted from the BigXII (after telling everyone they were staying) to “establish their own identity” which is code for getting out from under Big Brother’s shadow. For 13 years all they had to show for departing was 3 nice upsets but no real success. In fact, they never sniffed a division title or spot in the SEC title game. Oh yeah, they did get to claim the WORST CFB contract ever awarded to a Head Coach, so they had that going for them. 2024 seemed to be the year, they actually hired a good football coach, and their last regular season game offered them a chance to a) beat Big Brother b) at home before a loud androwdy crowd and c) victory promised Aggies the chance to have their seminal season in the SEC, a trip to the SEC title game.
There is a reason that TEXAS leads this series 77-36-5. TEXAS likes taking Aggie cornbread and we do it regularly. A cursory glance of the series' history, this most likely was the most significant game in series history based on the importance of the outcome. Our research could not find another time when so much was riding on the results of the game. As it is, TEXAS going to Atlanta for a rematch with Georgia for the SEC crown. For the Aggies, looks like they are headed back to the Music City Bowl . .. again. And to pour salt on the wound, TEXAS likely knocked the Ags out of ending the regular season ranked.
This video sums up the “TEXAS to the SEC” situation so well, enjoy:
Onto the game and did we mention the crowd was wild? This was the Aggie’s moment to shine, to bask in the glory of their milkman cheerleaders, odd traditions and maybe, finally football success in the SEC. Seems no one mentioned this to the team as the lights were simply too bright. Or maybe TEXAS was just that much better. TEXAS would dominate the 1st half of the game on both sides of the ball, taking a 17-0 lead. The only blip in the 1st half was following the D’s 2nd 4th and short, turnover on downs was TEXAS missing a long field goal attempt. TEXAS, Coach PK’s defense and Quinn Ewers were clicking on all cylinders completely dominating the 1st half of the game.
In an all too familiar pattern, the TEXAS D would have to once again carry the day in the 2nd half as the TEXAS offense lost its rhythm and could not sustain drives. Worse, on 2 of TEXAS' 5 trips into the red zone, Quinn would throw a pick-six off a batted ball and would fumble at the 5, giving our friends from College Station a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal night for them. TEXAS would in fact be shut out in the 2nd half. Another trend Sark/TEXAS continues to struggle with, not putting teams away in the 2nd half. Like games with Arkansas and Kentucky, when the offense wasn’t clicking, Sark put the ball in the hands of Quintrevion Wisner and the offensive line to grind the clock to close the door on an inferior opponent trying to hang around. Some fans are frustrated by the low scores and lack of “explosives”, this fan likes wins and when your D is this good, you don’t give dogs a chance to hang around.
Time to heap glory on the side of the ball that has delivered from Day 1 this season. The D took everything the Aggies threw at them and didn’t flinch. In fact they pitched a shutout with the Ags only score coming off a pick-6. On the Aggies 1st drive, they would move the ball 65 yards on 9 plays where they faced a 4th and 1. Elko gambled and lost as the TEXAS D was up to the challenge and turned the ball back over to the TEXAS offense. The tone was set, the die was cast, TEXAS’ D issued and would then back up a powerful statement, this was a championship D ready to carry the Horns deep in the playoffs. It is fine to use statistics to support a belief but we have always considered how a D responds to a sudden change on the field as a great measure of their ability. Early in the 4th the Aggies would block a TEXAS punt and recover the ball at the TEXAS 19. Does not get much shorter field. Aggies drove 1st and goal at the 5, 2nd and goal at the 2, 3rd and goal at the 1, 4th and goal at the 1. The D would rise up each time. On 4th down Ethan Burke made his play of the season, shot across the line of scrimmage to tackle the Ag running back 3 yards deep which would give TEXAS a bit of room to run the offense.
Sudden change D is about seeing the heart of a defense and Coach Pete Kwiatkowski has infused this defense with a stout heart to match their talent. Despite Sark’s well-deserved reputation on offense and a plethora of offensive stars, this team is winning thanks to the D and thanks to a ball control offense. Fine by us, keep racking up wins as we don’t play fantasy football. In an interesting twist, many criticize TEXAS for not beating a current-ranked team. TEXAS may have just knocked the Aggies out of the Top 25. This did give TEXAS its nationally leading 9 wins against teams heading to bowl games.
Glimpse of the future
So in the bad news department, All-American and likely 1st offensive tackle taken in the spring NFL draft Kelvin Banks goes down with an injury early in the game, how bad we don’t know. In the good news department, next year’s most likely replacement, true freshman Trevor Goolsby, stepped in and did not miss a beat. TEXAS might be replacing 3-4 offensive line starters in 2025. Early reviews say one spot will be in very good hands for the next 2 seasons.
Glass half full
Have we mentioned this D is GREAT yet? This D is really great. And a strong D will carry you a long way. This offensive line may have played their best game of the year against an Aggie front featuring at least 2 very high NFL draft picks. And Quintravion Wisner has emerged as a warrior at the running back spot. Which is important as our RB room is depleted by injuries. Gunnar Helm has gone from blocking TE to the team leader in receptions and yardage.
Glass half empty
2nd half stumbles and bumbles. TEXAS simply struggles to put teams away in the 2nd half. Turnovers in the red zone were a major factor in not ending this game early. Twice TEXAS/Quinn would give the ball away with a chance to deliver the coup de grace, once a pick 6 and the 2nd time a fumble. There is also still something missing in terms of communication between Quinn and the pass catchers and the misfires happen at the worst possible times. We should mention our special teams are anything but special.
Stats that Matter
- $1,025 Average ticket price for the game on the secondary market, the largest in the nation this year.
- 3-5 5 Trips into the Red zone yielding 2 TDs a FG and 2 turnovers.
- 19-30 30 trips into the Red Zone yielding 19 TDs in SEC play. Pre-season we had focused on this being a TEXAS weakness from 2023, much improved this year.
- 5-7 In rematches in the SEC title game, almost an even split for the initial losing team to win the title game. So you’re telling us theirs a chance?
- 4-11 TEXAS D held the Ags to 4 of 11 on 3rd downs
- 0-3 TEXAS D shut out the Ags on 4th down attempts. DOMINATE
Quintrevion Wisner- an easy pick this week on a career best 186 yard night, following up his 153 yard performance vs Kentucky last week. This brings his total on the year to 962 yards on the season so he’ll have a shot to reach 1,000 yards this year. Kid runs HARD and is a major reason TEXAS is going to the SEC title game and the playoffs.
Honorable Mention-The offensive line + Gunnar Helm. The best offensive line performance of the year on the biggest of stages. Helm with 6 catches to lead all TEXAS pass catchers and Quinn’s security blanket, half of his receptions lead to 1st downs
Defensive player of the game
Vernon Broughton- Anchored a defensive line that completely disrupted the Aggie offense. 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss to go with his game-sealing fumble recovery at the end
Honorable Mention- Anthony “I was robbed from being the Butkus Finalist” Hill who lead the team in tackles and did an outstanding job “spying” the Aggies elusive QB, Reed.
Michael “I was robbed from being a Bulsworth Finalist” Taeffe (best player who started his career as a walk-on) with a 1st quarter interception snuffing out the Ags 2nd best drive of the night.
Special teams Player of the Game
Special teams were simply not special this week. Miss FG, a blocked punt and could not pin the Ags deep on punts which rolled into the end zone.
Offensive Player of the Season
Quintrevion Wisner-Started the off-season as RB 3, injuries moved him to RB2 and his play moved him to RB1. Do not want to think of where this team would be without him.
Defensive Player of the Season
Anthony “Ant” Hill led the team in tackles by a good margin and the emotional heart and soul of perhaps the best defense in the nation. Did we mention he was robbed of being a Butkus Award finalist?
Coach of the Year
Pete Kwiatkowski. When he was hired and his 1st year, lots of eyebrows raised. Sark stuck to his guns and is now rewarded with the best, most dominating defense in the nation. And the reason TEXAS is heading to both the SEC title game and the playoffs. Yes, we think TEXAS is a playoff lock regardless of the outcome in Atlanta, largely because of PKs D.
On Deck
We will not pull punches, TEXAS was humiliated by the Dawgs when they came to Austin. Here is a great shot at redemption. When Georgia brings their A game, they might be the best team in the nation. Georgia has only brought their A game twice this season, Clemson and TEXAS. Top matchup will be the Georgia front vs the TEXAS offensive line. Quinn gets time to throw and lanes for Tre to run, this will be a dog fight (pardon the pun). If not, long night again for the Horns. We see it as pretty simple. And full disclosure, Sark was out schemed the 1st time. We suspect to see some changes in the plan. We also expect to see a great game. Regardless, TEXAS has made the playoffs and will not be punished for an SEC title game loss if that happens. We’re projecting a 31-24 TEXAS win in Atlanta.
Fighting Mack Brown’s
Mack’s coaching career has now come to an end, a cautionary tale of a coach hanging around a few seasons too long. The man will step down/be pushed out as the best coach in UNC history and the 2nd best coach in TEXAS history. Simply a fact. He restored TEXAS to National prominence after decades of wandering lost in the desert. Not unlike his mentor DKR who elevated TEXAS to the highest levels only to see TEXAS descend back to the desert that was mediocrity. The same mediocrity TEXAS would slide into until Sark was hired. We will always respect what he did for TEXAS, he re-set a standard. Oh and Saban was NEVER coming. Simple question, did he have an offer approved by the Board of Regents? Yeah, the “insiders” will never answer that question as they would be forced to say no. Respect his accomplishments, can’t wait till we build his statue. And frankly, one of the things we love about Sark is he shares so many traits of Mack, personable, loves the players, building a great culture and recruiting great talent. Thanks for the memories Coach Brown.
If we had a playoff vote:
The Top 12 are largely set.
EDIT: Based on the Coach's Poll, Boise State slots to the #10 seed and replaces Indiana which we think moves to the #8 seed vs Pedo State. The committee will have to pick between 2-loss Miami and 3-loss SEC teams Bama Ole Miss and Cocks. We think Cam Ward gets the nod upon further review opening vs #5 seed ND.
TEXAS v Texas Aggies highlights
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