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Howdy! The stars at night were not at all big and bright for the marquee matchup between Texas and TCU. Tech handled their business while A&M was up to business as usual. Elsewhere, Clayton Tune played the hero, Rhett Lashlee needs to get some message board geniuses to play receiver, and UNT fans suffered whiplash. Let’s talk Texas.

Lackluster Longhorns Lose to Hapless Horned Frogs

The old saying goes “defense wins championships”. In the matchup between two powerhouse offenses on Saturday night, defense controlled everything.

In the first half, Quinn Ewers was 2/10 and Bijan Robinson averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.

Of course it didn’t help the Longhorns started in the shadow of their goal line on almost every drive of the first half.

TCU’s offense didn’t have the best of starts either. Duggan completed 13 passes but for only 77 yards.

Texas defense was swarming and there were some thoughts on the Horned Frogs’ offensive line performance.

Per ESPN Stats, The two teams combined for 140 yards in the first half, the fewest in any half of a Big 12 game since Colorado-Texas in 2009. And the 39 yards of combined offense in the 1st quarter was the fewest combined total yards in a 1st quarter in any FBS game this season.

This one was 3-0, if you can believe it, after two quarters.

The second half started slow as well for both teams. Finally, TCU broke free. Kendre Miller would break a 75 yard touchdown to make it a 10-0 game.

Miller might have been helped by several holding penalties that weren’t called.

TCU scoring looked like it might have been the spark Texas needed. On the ensuing drive, the Longhorns responded quickly with a 75-yard drive, relying heavily on JT Sanders. Bert Auburn would convert the field goal and this was back to a one score game, 10-3.

Though not all fans were thrilled.

Later on, TCU would finally get it going.

They did. Max Duggan would take advantage of a broken coverage and find Quentin Johnston in the endzone to make it 17-3.

Three more punts followed until finally it looked like the Texas squad had life. On 3rd and 5 late in the 4th quarter Max Duggan fumbled the snap and Texas took the scoop and score 48 yards to make it a one possession game.

With 4:25 left, TCU took over looking to run the clock out. Emari Demercado would get the job done. 4 straight runs by the senior tailback would end the Longhorns night and keep the TCU Horned Frogs playoff dreams alive.

How do the Longhorns feel about Quinn? Not great, Bob.

Will we see a rematch in Arlington?

A&M’s Aggravating Offense Annoys Aggie Addicts

The Aggies entered this contest needing three straight wins to get to bowl eligibility. They were also looking to avoid a 6th straight loss in conference.

Some took the game in stride.

The levity would be needed. Texas A&M had four possessions in the first half, all of them ending in punts.

They’d go into the half down seven, and Jimbo Fisher’s seat couldn’t be hotter.

In the third quarter they seemed to show a little more promise. A missed field goal and a fumble by Auburn had the A&M crowd feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks.

Unfortunately three more punts would follow and a breaking point was about to be reached.

Or maybe the breaking point had already been passed.

Finally, towards the end of the game, down 13-3, the Aggies put together a drive. Weigman would find Jalen Preston for a 17-yard score to make it 13-10.

A failed onside kick would give the ball to Auburn and a couple kneels ended the game. Jimbo falls to 3-7 on the year and at this point the buyout might as well be half a billion, there’s nothing the A&M fans won’t pay to see him gone.

Baylor vs Kansas State

Kansas State took seven minutes on the first drive of the game, but had nothing to show for it. Garmon Randolph came up big for the Bears on 4th down and sacked Adrian Martinez to force the turnover on downs.

Baylor would use the running game to get down field but a Shapen interception in the red zone hurt.

On the next drive, Garmon Randolph and Matt Jones would make another big stop. Unfortunately, Adrian Martinez was injured on the play and Will Howard would take over. Baylor fans weren’t thrilled about facing the pocket-passer, and maybe for good reason. Howard went 3/3 with a Touchdown in his first action since Oklahoma State.

Baylor would struggle to move the ball and questions about offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ performance got a little louder.

After another FG, Kansas State got the ball back again and Deuce Vaughn did Deuce Vaughn things. 52 all purpose yards and touchdown to make it 17-0.

After the half, Baylor’s offense again struggled against a Wildcat defense. Shapen was starting to hear the noise.

The Wildcats continued to play well and the school of the Gronkowskis found another TE gem.

Sinnott had 7 catches for 89 yards and 2 TDS. Down 24-3, and deep in their own territory Shapen and the Bears would go for it on 4th down. The last ditch effort came up just short.

Kansas State would take over and as the 4th quarter started, DJ Giddens would score one more time to make it 31-3. This one was over.

Red Raiders Rout Rival

Tyler Shough started the game for Texas Tech and went 4-for-4 on the first drive. He’d give way to Donovan Smith who capped off the drive with a 6-yard rushing TD.

Jason Bean, the Jayhawk quarterback, had his way with the Red Raiders pass defense.

Cam’ron Valdez and SaRodorick Thompson had enough answers and after one quarter the score was 17-7. Tyler Shough added another, this time finding Mason Tharp in the endzone and putting Tech up 24-14.

The Red Raider defense couldn’t stop Devin Neal though. He’d lead the Jayhawks down the field before Jason Bean found Luke Grimm for a 3-yarder to make it 24-21.

An interception by the Tech defense led to a field goal and the Raiders took a 27-21 lead going into the break.

Devin Neal started the 3rd quarter strong and after a long drive Tech was bailed out by a missed field goal. After a pair of punts, Tech finally found paydirt again at the start of the 4th quarter. Tyler Shough kept it himself to make it 33-21.

Kansas would make it 33-28, but Tyler Shough and Tahj Brooks would put the nail in the coffin.

Tech wins this one 43-28.

Tune Turns it To Ten

This one kicked off and Temple immediately marched down the field. Temple QB E.J. Warner went 6/6 with a touchdown on the first drive and Cougs fans were not pleased.

Clayton Tune would put together a drive of his own for the Houston squad, but some bad luck in the endzone resulted in an interception.

Cougars would bounce back however, relying on the ground game. Running back Stacy Sneed and Tune himself would run for touchdowns.

Defense on the other hand appears to be optional in Houston. After last week’s shootout with SMU, the Cougars couldn’t stop Temple from getting into the endzone either.

I’m guessing they do, but it’s a fair question with this Cougars squad.

Going into the second half, Houston trailed 19-14. They came out quick for a score to take the lead 21-19 and the only explanation there is a good butt-chewing.

The D would do just fine. After forcing a turnover on downs Tune would make it 28-19 with a pass to Christian Trahan. After a Temple score, things were a bit touch and go for the Cougars but Clayton Tune took control.

Late in the 4th, that Houston defense disappeared once more. After a late Temple score they’d go up 36-35 and the game fell on Tune’s shoulders. He’d make all the plays Houston needed. A 44-yard dime to Matthew Golden with 40 seconds left gives the Cougars the win in this one, 43-36.

Mustangs Mordecai Musters Magic

You never want to play a team who just fired their head coach, weird things happening. Before this one started the Mustangs were worried.

Once the game started, SMU jumped out to the early lead in this one with running back Camar Wheaton going for two scores in the first half.

South Florida found a way to climb back into this one, mostly due to several drops by the Mustang receivers on crucial downs. It would go into the half 17-17.

Hey Rhett Lashlee, this guy volunteers to help out.

SMU would bounce back in the second half with two touchdown passes Tanner Mordecai in the third quarter to go up 31-17.

One more score in the third, this one from Tyler Lavine, would put this one to bed and the Mustangs are now on to Tulane. They’ll travel to New Orleans to take on the undefeated Green Wave, but hopes aren’t high.

Owls Offensive Offense

The 5-4 Rice Owls went on the road to play the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky. WKU showed off some sweet Big Red Helmets, unfortunately no one was there to see them.

The first half was a mess for the Owls. Quarterback TJ McMahon threw two interceptions on the first two drives.

Maybe he needs to take a colorblind test? It didn’t get much better on the third drive – McMahon was sacked hard and a fumble was returned by Western Kentucky for another score.

The Rice defense was of no help either. They allowed Toppers quarterback Austin Reed to throw for 258 yards and two TDs in the first half.

A Uriah West run made it 24-7 after two quarters but enough was enough for the Rice fans.

In the second half, there was a glimmer of hope after a Rice score made it 24-10.

Unfortunately, ifs only work online. Rice could not make the stop. They’d fall 45-10.

They’ll try to get bowl eligible next week when they host UTSA.

North Texas Natives Need Narcotics

Seth Littrel took his Mean Green machine to Alabama to take on UAB. While North Texas was the better team on paper, there was a healthy level of concern.

Turns out they had a reason. On the opening drive of the game Austin Aune would be sacked deep in UNT territory and a costly fumble led to a quick score for the Blazers.