When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4.
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Texas has its own issues at QB, but the Longhorns are all set at running back, and that might be all they need.
There are many reasons why football, and college football in particular, is the greatest sport in the world.
Had Texas, coached by Fred Akers and led by Earl Campbell, beat Notre Dame in this Cotton Bowl game, they would have been the national champions. Coming off two straight losing seasons, head coach Charlie Strong faces vast pressure to collect wins in his third year.
But when it comes to wide receivers, there’s only one guy there for Notre Dame, and he is primed to have a great year: Torii Hunter Jr. However, a loss – let alone another blowout – would put Strong and the Longhorns in an early hole.
Strong has already told the team who the starter is, but hasn’t told the media and won’t until the player strolls out on the field for the first offensive play of the game.
Dozens of Notre Dame football fans began their Saturday praying. The Irish also have won the last five meetings. Irish head coach Theresa Romagnolo said the Redbirds’ 3-4-3 formation is a new challenge for her team to face. The Longhorns were embarrassed at Notre Dame in last season’s opener, losing 38-3 and surrendering 31 points before the start of the fourth quarter. His choices are freshman Shane Buechele or senior Tyrone Swoopes. Both quarterbacks will play against the Longhorns and the duo could appear in tandem all season long.
The Longhorns have three non-conference opponents – the aforementioned Fighting Irish, UTEP and Cal.
According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, which is based on its Football Power Index, Texas wins the matchup between the two schools 56.8% of the time. And he has the playmakers to turn the offense around. Sophomore receiver John Burt and freshman receiver Collin Johnson bring size and speed to the outside at 6-2 and 6-6 respectively.
Texas was celebrating a shocking 24-17 victory over No. 10 Oklahoma on October 10, 2015, just a week after the team fell 50-7 to No. 4 TCU in Fort Worth. Gilbert said he expects to move the ball the length and width of the field.
While reports (and fans) all offseason speculated on the position, the Texas coaching staff and players maintain both quarterbacks performed up to a starting standard during camp. At the quarterback position, DeShone Kizer is returning after completing 63.0 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and added 520 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Coach Brian Kelly says Malik Zaire and Deshon Kizer will both play in the opener. Rob JudinThere’s been so much talk about Notre Dame’s quarterback situation.
Heard, from Texas powerhouse Denton Ryan, ran for 115 yards against the Sooners last October. Campbell, the Heisman Trophy victor that season, was kept out of the endzone and rushed 29 times for 116 yards.
It’s like the Longhorns want to reveal which quarterback it is.
But clearly Swoopes has done enough behind closed-door practices to make a case to be the senior starter.
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Texas: LB Malik Jefferson. At right, in an August 5, 2016, file photo, Texas football coach Charlie Strong talks about the upcoming season, in Austin, Texas.
