Five takeaways from Longhorns’ big win
After a grueling and uniquely taxing regular season, No. 20 Texas looked toward the future Tuesday night in San Antonio. And this new wave of Longhorns was more than up to the task, shaking off a mid-game malaise to romp past Colorado 55-23 in the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome.
“For those guys to go out, considering how thin we were, and still finish the game the way that we did, I just, I couldn't be prouder,” Texas coach Tom herman said Tuesday night. “And it's always a good thing to end the season with a win, to send these seniors out with a great taste in their mouth. And, you know, start the offseason with a lot of positivity and a really good sign of things to come, that we're capable of doing.”
Texas dominated Colorado on a night it started six true freshmen and one redshirt freshman. Three of those collegiate novices started on the offensive line on a night when Texas set a program bowl record in points and total yards (638) while becoming the second team to win the game in consecutive seasons.
A handful of notes and observations from the Longhorns' fourth straight bowl win:
Ehlinger knocked out
Texas senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger spent the entirety of the second half on the sideline. Knocked out by a first-half shoulder injury in what could be his final game, one of the program's most decorated quarterbacks went 10-for-16 with 160 yards and one score.
Ehlinger has not yet decided whether he will return for the 2021 season and was not available to speak with the media following the game.
“I don't have words,” Herman said. “He's a fierce competitor. He loves this university. He bleeds burnt orange. I hate that he couldn't finish the game. We wouldn't be here without him.
“I don't know what the future holds for him but I know i'm thankful for him being on my team, our team each and every day. What he means to us in indescribable.”
Ehlinger wasn't the only Longhorn knocked out of action.
Texas also lost sophomore defensive lineman T'vondre Sweat (shoulder) and graduate transfer wideout Brenden Schooler (shoulder) in the first half. Additionally, starting senior right guard Denzel Okafor (medical) and redshirt junior safety/wideout montrell Estell (medical) did not play.
Herman stays perfect
Texas is now 4-0 in bowl games under Herman. The program hasn't had a streak like that since coach Mack Brown's Longhorns reeled off five straight bowl wins from 2004 to 2008, a remarkable run that included a national title in 2005.
Herman's team hasn't sniffed a national title or even a berth in the College Football Playoff. But after slogging through four seasons (2013-16) with an 0-2 bowl record, the program has at least returned to receiving postseason invites each year, even if they're not always as coveted as UT'S appearance in the 2018 Sugar Bowl.
Through the 2020 season, Herman has compiled a 32-18 record, tied for the third-most by a Longhorn head coach through his first four seasons on the Forty Acres.
Overshown claims MVP
Junior linebacker Demarvion Overshown spent his first two years on campus playing out of position in the secondary. Well, it was the position Texas recruited himto play given he was the nation's No. 6 safety.
But this past offseason, Overshown approached coaches about making a change. He not only embraced the move to Will linebacker, he excelled.
And Overshown's Alamo Bowl defensive MVP performance was a culmination of a year's worth of grinding at an unfamiliar position and learning a brand new defense from coordinator Chris Ash. Overshown finished with six tackles, one-half for loss, two quarterback hurries and an interception.
And the good news for Texas is Overshown is coming back in 2021.
“I've learned a lot over the course of the season,” Overshown said. “And I'm not even halfway where I need to be and where I will be next year. Didn't get spring ball this year once I moved to the linebacker spot, so I know coming back is going to help mea lot in the long run.”
Thompson finds go-to target
Redshirt sophomore Casey Thompson was superb in relief of the injured Ehlinger. He went 8of-10 for 170 yards with four touchdowns in a quarter and a half of action. He finished with an astronomical 354.8 passer rating and even broke off a 22-yard run.
But it was Thompson's rapport with redshirt sophomore wideout Joshua Moore that looked most exciting.
Moore was on the receiving end of Thompson's first two touchdown passes. The first covered 13 yards, and the second was a 25yard strike that gave Texas a 31-10 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Moore led Texas in targets (nine), receptions (five) and receiving yards (86) and tied tailback Bijan Robinson with two touchdown receptions. It was his best performance since the Longhorns' fourovertime loss to Oklahoma back on Oct. 10, when he posted an 883-1 line.
A record kick for Dicker
One quarter after shanking a 45yard field goal, Texas junior Cameron Dicker pushed a 53-yard try through the uprights. It marked the longest field goal in Alamo Bowl history and gave Texas a 17-7 lead with 2:07 remaining in the first half.
Dicker also connected on a 35yard field goal in the third quarter and went 7-for-7 on PATS.
He also fared well serving double duty as punter once again. Dicker averaged 44.2 yards per punt with a long of 53 yards and one downed inside the 20.