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After a blowout loss to one of the top teams in the country, No. 5 Texas may have its hands full again when it takes on No. 25 Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday (3:15 p.m., TV: SEC Network). do not have.
The Longhorns (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) stumbled last weekend against visiting Georgia. Texas gained only 38 yards in the first half and fell behind 23-0, eventually losing 30-15 to the then-fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
“Effort is part of the equation when you go into a game with great talent on both teams,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Execution is another factor. We didn’t have great execution…and most notably, we didn’t have great execution in key moments. …2 of 14 on third down. He was 1 of 5 on fourth down.”
Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1) won 24-14 against visiting Ball State last weekend, but the Commodores didn’t necessarily get rave reviews from coach Clark Lee.
“I analyzed the Ball State game and I’m happy with the result, but not happy with the performance,” Lee said. “I think we were lucky to come away with a 10-point win in a game where we had room to pull away early on.”
Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia threw for 275 yards and a touchdown and added 82 rushing yards and another score. The win was enough for the Commodores to earn their first AP ranking since the final poll of the 2013 season.
While the Longhorns enter the game as favorites with at least 18 points, the Commodores are double-digit underdogs with three wins already (Virginia Tech, Alabama, Kentucky), the first two coming in Nashville. It belongs to
Vanderbilt’s winning formula is no secret. Check the stats sheet.
“They run the football,” Sarkisian said. “They eat up a lot of clock. They lead the conference in time of possession. They lead the conference in third-down conversion rate. They only have two turnovers on the year. They’re leading the SEC. They’re really efficient. They play really good complementary football.”
The key was Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico State, who completed 66.2 percent of his throws for 1,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception. He also has 470 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Fellow New Mexico State transfer Eli Stowers (33 catches, 463 yards, two touchdowns) is Pavia’s favorite target and a solid tight end who is difficult to beat.
Stowers, originally a quarterback at Texas A&M, has even thrown touchdowns as part of an unpredictable offense that featured three running backs as part of an option-based look on one snap, then the next. The snap can set up an empty backfield.
However, the Commodores haven’t seen a defense like Texas’s. The Longhorns rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (9.71 points per game) and total defense (237.3 yards per game).
Sarkisian said Monday that safety Andrew Mukuba (25 tackles, two interceptions), who injured his knee against Georgia, is doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Still, the Longhorns have linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 interception) and cornerback Jahde Barron (26 tackles, 3 interceptions, a pass breakup). 5 tackles) and edge rusher Valin Soler (15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 7 tackles).
Vanderbilt’s defense is allowing 22.1 points and 331.4 yards per game. The Commodores gave up a combined 27 points to Kentucky and Ball State, but were also without starting linebacker Langston Patterson (ankle) and mostly starting defensive end Myles Capers (neck). Both could return to play against Texas.
