Texas leans in, Rice walks away and UNT is 5-1

Here’s a recap of everything that happened in Week 7 of Texas college football to get you ready for dinner on Sunday and water cooler conversations on Monday.

1. The lesson “Recruit talent at appropriate skill positions”; “Developing talent in the trenches” rings true

Of the nine Longhorns who recorded a tackle for a loss on Saturday, only one (Trey Moore) is a transfer. Texas has made some noise in the transfer portal with wide receivers and secondary additions, but both lines of scrimmage are full of third- and fourth-year players who have developed within the program, as Mike Craven’s column on Texas’ development shows the best College football rosters.

2. Texas is now a defensive tackle factory

In 2022 it was Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo. Last year, T’Vondre Sweat was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Byron Murphy was an All-American. These four play in the NFL, and Vernon Broughton is making his own commitment to the league after waiting in the wings. The fifth-year senior is the fifth-highest graded center back, according to PFF.

3. Silas Bolden’s hustle and bustle is an example of the new culture in Texas

Bolden ran 55 yards after making a backfield block to follow running back Tre Wisner’s touchdown run, and his eagerness was rewarded when Wisner fumbled the ball into the end zone. Bolden used his running speed to elude the rest of the Oklahoma defense, falling on the ball and giving Texas a 14-3 lead rather than giving the Sooners a possession.

Bolden’s hustle had echoes of Jordan Whittington’s forced fumble after an interception last season. Texas is much more talented under Steve Sarkisian, but these plays are examples of the selfless culture he has created. That’s why Texas is the No. 1 team in the country.

4. Anthony Hill Jr. and Colin Simmons are future first round draft picks

I’m putting my money on these two guys going in the first round of the NFL Draft after dominating three seasons in Texas.

Hill deserved to win an Oscar on Saturday as he was “Everything, Everywhere, Everything at Once” for the Texas defense. The sophomore had 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble, hurting Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.’s dual-threat ability.

Simmons continues to make the case for Texas State’s biggest upset with 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks on the nation’s best team as a true freshman.

5. Texas can’t afford to start in the first quarter against Georgia

I used the first four blurbs to rave about Texas. Time for a reality check.

Oklahoma ran 14 plays in Texas territory in the first quarter as Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense gave them two short fields with an interception and a missed touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond. Georgia has shown weaknesses this season, but if the Bulldogs are given these opportunities, the deficit will be far greater than 0-3.

6. North Texas is the best passing offense in the G5

We all dream of someone looking at us the way North Texas head coach Eric Morris looks at quarterback Chandler Morris.

Morris has thrown for over 300 yards in five of his six starts. Nine different receivers have caught a touchdown pass, which is second in the FBS behind Auburn. The Mean Green’s 346.5 passing yards per game are fourth-best nationally and best among Group of Five teams.

7. Matt Sykes is Luke McCaffrey’s heir to the throne

Rice spent the first half of the season looking for a replacement for Luke McCaffrey, now with the Washington Commanders. Landon Ransom-Goelz and Rawson MacNeill were the leading candidates for the WR1 throne during the offseason, but injuries in the preseason sidelined them.

Matt Sykes had one total catch last season, but has more than twice the receiving yards (31) and receiving yards (378) as the next leading wide receiver. He cemented his status by scoring the go-ahead touchdown with four seconds left in a 29-27 victory over UTSA.

8. UTSA’s offensive line is a shell of itself

UTSA started the year with three running backs they could trust. But the Roadrunners didn’t run much in their four losses, averaging 129.5 yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry. The injury bug hit UTSA’s offensive line, which played without Makai Hart and Venly Tatfu on Saturday. UTSA expected a slight decline in performance at quarterback in the first half of the season as Owen McCown settled in, but the running game is far the bigger concern.

9. UTSA plays undisciplined football

UTSA ranks 129th nationally with 524 total penalty yards in six games. The Roadrunners committed 16 penalties for 146 yards in the 29-27 loss to Rice, including two pass interferences on the Owls’ game-winning drive. If they can’t correct the mental mistakes, UTSA is in danger of missing a bowl game for the first time in the Jeff Traylor era.

10. Ben Bell was playing in his fourth game

Dave Campbell’s Texas football And San Antonio Express-News Keff Ciardello reported two weeks ago that Texas State defensive end Ben Bell was considering a possible redshirt and transfer while he recovers from an injury. Bell played in the 41-9 victory over Arkansas State, increasing his season total to four games. If he plays another down, he will not be eligible to redshirt.