Texas football: Mississippi State is next challenge for Longhorns - Houston Chronicle

When the 11th-ranked Texas Longhorns take the field Saturday night against Mississippi State, they will do so carrying the scars of a season defined by double-digit leads squandered and a secondary tasked with hunting down some of the fastest open-field runners in college football. The 11th-ranked Longhorns enter the matchup at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Southeastern Conference play, looking to replicate last season’s late-season surge when they won seven of their last eight games.

Quarterback Uncertainty and a Fast-Paced Bulldog Offense

The visiting Bulldogs arrived in Austin earlier this season riding a 4-0 start before dropping three straight games to Alabama, LSU, and Oklahoma, according to reporting by Sports Illustrated. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor returned from an injury last week against LSU only to aggravate it, leading to surgery this week that ends his season. Jeff Lebby’s offense now turns to either athletic redshirt freshman Billy Puckett or Appalachian State transfer A.J. Swan.

Ethan Burke shoots through the line like a missile, extends his arms, and smothers the field goal attempt! Complete wreckage on special teams! The Texas Longhorns outshoot the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a high-scoring 45-38 shootout! Oct. 25, 2025 pic.twitter.com/e0Gn59uLWF

— https://x.com/LonghornClips/status/2115862477871473128

Sarkisian expects no radical departure in philosophy from Lebby, the third-year head coach who runs a rapid-fire scheme featuring wide offensive splits and a heavy ground commitment. Puckett has completed 66% of his passes with one touchdown and two interceptions, while anchoring a rushing attack led by running back Fluff Bothwell. Bothwell has rushed for 514 yards and four touchdowns this season, placing him fifth in the SEC.

“I think Coach Lebby will continue the tempo. That’s who he is. That’s his offense,” Sarkisian said, noting that the Bulldogs snap the ball with an average of 27 seconds left on the play clock.

That relentless pace presents a severe stress test for a Texas defense that has struggled with open-field tackling. The Longhorns missed 19 tackles against Florida and another 14 against Ole Miss. Stopping the bleeding becomes even more urgent because Mississippi State deploys a receiving corps built like a track team, featuring Anthony Evans, who ranks 15th nationally and leads the SEC with 53 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns.

Defensive Adjustments and the Toll on Linebackers

To compensate for the loss of elite pass rusher Colin Simmons—whose status remains questionable—defensive coordinator Will Muschamp unleashed heavy blitz packages and press coverage against Ole Miss. That aggression paid off by containing Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss under a 50% completion rate with three interceptions. Yet that success required staggering physical endurance from linebackers Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer, who played every single defensive snap.

Sarkisian praised their high football IQs and chemistry, noting that cooler October temperatures help sustain their heavy workloads given the lack of proven depth behind them.

Protecting Arch Manning After a Devastating Loss

On the offensive side, Texas faces a massive personnel hurdle following the loss of All-American left tackle Trevor Goosby, whose career ended last week when he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon requiring surgery. Senior Andre Cojoe steps into the starting role to protect quarterback Arch Manning’s blind side. Cojoe missed last season with a knee injury and appeared in just four games during the 2024 campaign.

Texas football: Mississippi State is next challenge for Longhorns - Houston Chronicle — Photo: si.com

The Longhorns cannot afford another slip-up if they hope to remain in contention for the College Football Playoff. Having already surrendered three double-digit advantages this year—including letting a 24-3 halftime lead slip before holding off Ole Miss 34-27—Texas must clean up third-quarter lulls, penalties, and special teams gaffes. Saturday’s kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m., marking a game for the Longhorns before a grueling November road slate.