SATURDAY’S KEY COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES
RICE AT TEXAS
A quarterback change for the Longhorns, who need a good showing against winless Owls.
7 p.m., Longhorn Network
AUSTIN — The pounding Texas took last Saturday in Razorback Stadium triggered the first real dilemma of the fledgling Steve Sarkisian era: Stick with Hudson Card, or give Casey Thompson his shot?
Sarkisian opted for the latter in the wake of the Longhorn’s 40-21 loss to Arkansas. So the junior quarterback Thompson, not the redshirt freshman Card, will start Game 3 against Rice at Royal Memorial Stadium.
And Sarkisian’s quarterback change won’t be the only aspect of the game worth monitoring when the Longhorns (1-1) and Owls (0-2) meet Saturday at 7 p.m.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
It’s Thompson time. But for how long?
1 In his fourth year on campus, Thompson finally will start a game for Texas. He earned the chance after Card struggled against Arkansas, producing just seven points and 61 passing yards on 10 drives.
But just as he did in the first two contests, Sarkisian will give both quarterbacks some run against the Owls. Card played the entirety of the first half and the majority of the third quarter against both Louisiana Lafayette and Arkansas before Thompson entered the game, so it only would seem fair for the split to be similar this time around.
Of course, Texas is a heavy favorite hosting a Rice team it has defeated 14 straight times. If Thompson sizzles from the jump — and he has led Texas to points in nine of his past 10 drives dating back to the 2020 Alamo Bowl — he could see extended action.
Either way, expect both quarterbacks to fare well against a Rice defense that allowed a combined 10 touchdowns and two field goals in its two losses.
Will the offensive line build some confidence?
2 No unit is in more need of a confidence-boosting Saturday than the Longhorns’ offensive line. Arkansas bullied that group last weekend, piling up sacks and tackles for loss, sending Card fleeing within milliseconds of the snap and stifling a run game led by Heisman Trophy hopeful tailback Bijan Robinson.
Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood haven’t signaled a coming change to the starting five, which features four players who have spent at least four years in college, plus redshirt freshman center Jake Majors. That likely would change if the Longhorns struggle to dominate Rice, but for now, Texas is focused on building chemistry with its starters.
“Being a cohesive unit, it’s not about one guy,” Sarkisian said. “It’s about understanding where my help is coming from, understanding the calls internally to deal with leverage of defensive lineman and leverage of where linebackers are and then trusting the calls and working together.”
How will the defense respond?
3 Texas’ offense did its defense no favors against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks ran 13 more plays and held the ball for nearly four more minutes than Texas in the first half with temperatures still hovering above 90 degrees. Eventually, the Razorbacks were able to run the Longhorns ragged, picking up 333 yards and four touchdowns on 47 carries (7.1 yards per carry).
Tired as Texas might have been, its defensive front needs to be better, especially at protecting against outside runs and zone reads. The good news for defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski is Rice can’t run the ball effectively — 207 yards on 75 carries this season, good for 2.76 yards per attempt.
If senior nose tackle Keondre Coburn and crew struggle against this rushing attack, it’s going to be a long, long season for Sarkisian and Co.
Will Sarkisian turn up the aggression?
4 Through two games, Sarkisian hasn’t really unleashed either quarterback in the truest sense. He allowed Card a few deep shots in the season opener, and he connected with freshman Xavier Worthy on a 34-yard completion, though redshirt sophomore Jordan Whittington couldn’t corral a perfect 30-plusyard toss.
Card also missed on a few in that game and against Arkansas, and Thompson hasn’t had much chance to chuck it downfield in his limited appearances. So against Rice, with Big 12 games looming, it would behoove Sarkisian to let his quarterbacks and receivers build some trust on those so-far-untapped deep routes.
Is Jerrin Thompson overtaking Brenden Schooler?
5 Brenden Schooler, the safety who converted to wide receiver for four years before returning to his old position, started the season opener at free safety. Sophomore Jerrin Thompson started there against Arkansas.
Texas has essentially defined the pair as co-starters heading into the Rice game. And Sarkisian said he’s liked what both have done through two weeks and expects both will play plenty this week.
“Jerrin has really stepped his game up,” Sarkisian said. “Schooler has played really consistent football. He had a couple uncharacteristic plays for him last week that we just need to get him settled back down.”