Notebook: Texas Longhorns Use 'No Brakes' in 57-7 Big-12 Farewell Win vs. Texas Tech
The Texas Longhorns bid farewell to the Texas Red Raiders with a 57-7 beatdown inside Darrell K. Royal Texas-Memorial Stadium. It was the Longhorns' final regular season game as a member of the Big-12 conference as they await their official entrance into the SEC next season.
But first, the Longhorns will have a trip to Arlington and AT&T Stadium, where they will play for the Big-12 championship for the first time since 2018. So, before the Longhorns turn the page on their blowout win, we'll empty our notebook.
'All Three Phases'
It is a common phrase uttered by coaches across levels these days: you have to play well in all three phases to win.
That is exactly what the Longhorns displayed in their Big 12 regular season farewell game. Not only did the Longhorns get it down on offense and defense against the Red Raiders, but they also won the special teams battle.
Reliable kicker Bert Auburn was perfect throughout the night, connecting on all five field goals, including a career-long 54-yarder. In addition, senior running back Keilan Robinson topped off the night with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Defensive Domination
Nov 24, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive backs Terrance Brooks (8) and Derek Williams Jr. (2) celebrate after Brooks made an interception during the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
The Longhorns defense has been a constant for Texas this season, and Saturday was no different. After the Red Raiders pulled the upset last year in Lubbock, scoring 37 points and totaling 479 yards of total offense, the Longhorns' defense held them to just seven and 198 yards on Saturday.
Texas Tech was forced to punt eight times, in addition to three drives ending with turnovers and one on downs.
"All Gas, No Brakes"
Last week, it was a slow start that plagued Texas in the win over the Iowa State Cyclones. In contrast, second-half let-offs hurt the Longhorns in wins over TCU, Kansas State, and Houston. Since the win over Alabama, Texas hadn't exactly been able to put together a complete four-quarter performance.
That was until Texas Tech came into Austin on a senior night and faced a Texas team that was not only motivated to play for a Big-12 championship next week but was also "embracing the hate" thrown their way by many, including conference commissioner Brett Yormark.
Texas avoided the slow start, scoring 26 points in the first-half to give them a 19-point lead at halftime before adding on in an anything but sleepy second-half. The Texas offense had one turnover, an early Quinn Ewers interception, and just two punts, one of which occurred after Arch Manning's first drive.
The Longhorns finished with 528 total yards, with 226 through the air and 302 on the ground in the 50-point beatdown.
