FINAL: Texas Longhorns Survive Houston Cougars 31-24
The Texas Longhorns return to the field for the first time since suffering their first loss of the season to the Oklahoma Sooners.
Despite the Red River Rivalry loss, the Longhorns still control their own destiny in hopes of making the Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff. However, each game now means a little bit more for Texas, including Saturday's matchup versus the unranked Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium.
On paper, Saturday's showdown against Houston doesn't seem like a trap game, thus making it a must-see spectacle. The Longhorns owe the Cougars (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) a favor thanks to last week's last-second Hail Mary 49-yard touchdown pass that secured a 41-39 win over West Virginia.
Texas isn't falling for a wing and a prayer, either, especially when Houston quarterback Donovan Smith has beaten the Longhorns before. Last year, while starting for Texas Tech, Smith threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-34 upset win over Texas in overtime.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) passes for the touchdown in the second quarter against Oklahoma Sooners defense during an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
"He's a great quarterback," senior defensive back Jahdae Barron said. "(We) played him last year at Tech. He has a lot of talent to himself."
“This football team that we’re getting ready to play has an experienced quarterback which we know all too well,” Sarkisian echoed.
Consider the trip to TDECU Stadium a bit of homecoming for both schools. Texas and Houston were rivals in the Southwest Conference and played regularly from 1968-1996. But when the SWC decided to disband, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor were given bids to join the Big Eight.
TCU and Houston were left on the outside looking in as now Group of Five programs without a home.
Saturday marks the first time in over two decades the Cougars and Longhorns will meet as conference foes and the first time since 2002. It's also the final time since Texas and Oklahoma will depart for the SEC next fall. And while Texas considers this "just another game," those in Houston would consider this matchup "the game" to claim victory.
WHAT: No. 8 Texas Longhorns (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at Houston Cougars (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)
WHERE: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, 3 p.m. CT
HOW TO WATCH: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
HOW TO LISTEN: TexasSports.com
TICKETS: SI Tickets
BETTING via SI Sportsbook
SPREAD: Longhorns -23.5
TOTAL: 61.5
MONEYLINE: Texas (-1600), Houston (+900)
First Quarter
The Longhorns opening drive lasted 11 plays and went 75 yards before Ewers found Adonai Mitchell for a 14-yard passing touchdown. Ewers completed seven of his eight passes for 61 yards as the Longhorns struck quickly.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Texas 7, Houston 0
Change of Possession
The Cougars' first drive ended in a three-and-out as an opening deep ball from Donovan Smith was dropped before an Alfred Collins sack, and a four-yard completion on third-down was short of the sticks.
Change of Possession
Following two straight runs from Jonathon Brooks, Ewers him for a seven-yard completion before hitting Xavier Worthy for a 42-yard touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Texas 14, Houston 0
Change of Possession
The Cougars suffered another three-and-out as Smith tossed two incompletions after a four-yard run on first down.
Change of Possession
Texas suffered its first three-and-out as two straight runs on first and second down yielded just one yard before Ewers picked up six yards on third-down.
Change of Possession
The Cougars got their first first-down of the game as Smith found a receiver for 10 yards but didn't yield much more before a punt.
Change of Possession
Second Quarter
The Longhorns went run-heavy before Ewers found Ja'Tavion Sanders for a 23-yard gain to help set Texas up in the redzone. After struggling in the redzone two weeks ago, the Longhorns use Savion Red on a direct snap to score.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Texas 21, Houston 0
Change of Possession
The Cougars picked a pair of first downs. One first-down came via a Longhorns' neutral zone infraction before another punt for Houston.
Change of Possession
After two runs that each gained three yards, Ewers was sacked on third-down forcing a Longhorns punt.
Change of Possession
After the Cougars defense found their first big negative play on third-down with a sack on Ewers, Smith and co. found the endzone for Houston. A 32-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Matthew Golden cut the deficit to 14.
TOUCHDOWN COUGARS
Texas 21, Houston 7
Change of Possession
The Longhorns' drive lasted seven plays and spanned 30 yards before they decided to attempt a fake field goal as Ryan Sanborn tossed the snap to Bert Auburn, who could only pick up one yard out of the six they needed.
Change of Possession
After taking over at their own 25-yard-line after the fake field goal, the Cougars drove 75 yards in nine plays before Smith found his receiver Joseph Manjack for a 21-yard score. Smith had two prior completions that both went for over 10 yards, as the Houston passing game found some explosive plays.
TOUCHDOWN COUGARS
Texas 21, Houston 14
Change of Possession
Ewers was sacked again, this time on the final play of the first half.
Third Quarter
A facemask penalty on the kickoff gifted the Cougars great field position at midfield where they drove 49 yards in four plays as Smith found Manjack for a 35-yard completion before a three-yard touchdown pass to Golden.
TOUCHDOWN COUGARS
Texas 21, Houston 21
Change of Possession
The Longhorns turn it over on downs after a 10-play drive where they converted a fouth-down once already with a wildcat run for Red. However, on fourth-and-two Ewers couldn't find Mitchell.
Change of Possession
With a chance for momentum to further swing in the corner of the Cougars, a sack for Jaylan Ford on third-down forces a three-and-out.
Change of Possession
It was a long 11-play drive for the Longhorns as they were forced another fourth-and-short before ultimately settling for a 25-yard field goal from Bert Auburn. After a first-and-goal run from Brooks, Ewers fired two straight incompletions before the field goal.
FIELD GOAL LONGHORNS
Texas 24, Houston 21
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
The Texas defense got the big stop they needed as Smith's pass was intercepted by Michael Taaffe in the endzone and kneeled for a touchback.
Change of Possession
With Ewers in the medical tent, Maalik Murphy entered the game at quarterback. After two opening runs, Murphy's only pass was incomplete, forcing a three-and-out and another Texas punt.
Change of Possession
After a big 51-yard completion from Smith to Samuel Brown, with an additional 15 yards due to a late hit penalty on Texas, the Longhorns defense held the Cougars to a field goal.
FIELD GOAL COUGARS
Texas 24, Houston 24
Change of Possession
An Ewer-less Texas offense managed to strike quickly as they drove 53 yards on six plays. With Murphy in at quarterback, the Longhorns leaned heavily on the run before C.J. Baxter found the endzone on a 16-yard touchdown run.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Texas 31, Houston 24
Change of Possession
A 10-play drive for the Cougars came down to fourth-and-inches, where they tried to hit an in-motion receiver on a quick out route for a first-down, but it fell incomplete.
Change of Possession
Texas takes the game-ending knee.
FINAL: Texas 31, Houston 24