Then it seemed like business as usual for this Texas team, as if this would be a nightmarish repeat of Cal or Oklahoma State, two winnable games in 2015 that turned into bitter losses when the Longhorns couldn’t close out.
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“I feel like this win is the beginning of Texas’ U-turn as a program”, sophomore receiver John Burt said.
In the second overtime, after the Texas defense held Notre Dame to a field goal, Tyrone Swoopes scored his second touchdown of overtime and his third of the game to win it for the Longhorns. First, Texas finally found a starting pocket passing quarterback and it’s a freshmen by the name of Shane Buechele. We like his ability to go out there without much concern, you know.
“Your attitude has to be such that whoever the No. 2 is, whether he’s the No. 2 quarterback or the No. 2 running back, you’re one play away from being in there”, Kelly said.
But Swoopes won the game with powerful goal-line runs.
Senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes was named the Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week thanks to his performance against Notre Dame.
On the winning score, Swoopes broke a tackle, burst up the middle and stretched the ball across the line. When Buechele trotted onto the field for Texas’ first possession, an audible ripple rolled through the school-record crowd of 102,315. “Really too early to tell”, comments Kelly.
Notre Dame evened the score on its ensuing drive with a 30-yard pass from quarterback DeShone Kizer to receiver Equanimeous St. In going 11-14 in Strong’s first two seasons, there were few outward signs the Longhorns would get there. Notre Dame started a free safety that is really a strong safety and for various reasons was not a starter during his four years at California.
“We just don’t understand why it wasn’t reviewed by the Big 12”, Kelly said in a teleconference Monday.
Notre Dame: Coach Brian Kelly will have to consider scrapping the quarterback rotation between Kizer and Malik Zaire that sapped momentum and helped dig the Irish into a big hole. Kelly said it was a strategic decision, not injury-related.
Swoopes then delivered the crunching blows in overtime and scored the game victor on a 6-yard lunging touchdown run against an exhausted Irish defense. It’s been said time and again in recent years, but the Longhorns sure look as if they’ve got their quarterback, despite some sputters in the second half. Certainly, we are looking for the right mix back there and he got a chance to play some nickel for us, and we like his confidence.
TCU coach Gary Patterson has been on both sides of the expansion game and said he has no opinion, other than “I was very impressed by the game they played”. We have seen them get knocked down, hit with footballs, and slid into. “But it’s a great start”. The reception gave Notre Dame its first lead since the opening five minutes of the game. Let’s not forget that this is a young Longhorns team, no matter how talented they may be.
Swoopes finished with 53 yards on 13 carries and attempted only one pass.
“He’s 260 pounds and runs big”, said Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaac Rochell. His big mistake was a third quarter interception that set up a Kizer touchdown run in the Notre Dame rally.
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An NCAA rule instituted this season allows replay officials to review potential targeting plays. He warned against reading too much into the Texas game.
