From The Shadows | The Rise Of Nash Savage (CFB25)

[redsox907]

2037 Texas Longhorns Season Preview



Austin, TX. - When you’re coming off what many call the greatest season in Texas Longhorns history — a perfect 16-0 campaign capped with a 59-17 demolition of Notre Dame for the national title — the expectations don’t just rise, they skyrocket.

But as Coach Nash Savage often says, “We wake up on a loss.”

Only seven starters return from last year’s juggernaut — three on offense, four on defense — and all three quarterbacks from the 2036 depth chart are gone. Reality hits fast in college football, and for Texas, it hits with the weight of a title to defend and a bullseye on their back.

“It’s why I love this level,” grinned Savage, rocking a backwards burnt orange snapback and aviators, embodying the same swagger that’s brought him six national titles — second only to Nick Saban all-time.

“You don’t have millionaire prima donnas asking for trade requests. You’ve got young men with dreams, pressure, and passion. And right now? We’re not defending champions. We’re one of 134 teams chasing the crown. And we plan on keeping it.”

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Quarterback Unknowns, Championship Expectations

The biggest storyline entering spring camp surrounds the quarterback battle. With Maurice Uwazurike off to the NFL after one of the greatest single seasons in school history, Savage and newly hired OC Jim McElwain are tasked with identifying the next man up.

The favorite is redshirt sophomore Emilio Delgado, a 5-star from the class of 2035. But he’s far from a lock.

“It’s close, I’ll tell you that much,” McElwain said. “Joel [Barmore] has the biggest arm and the most raw athleticism. Emilio is the technician — reads defenses like a grad assistant, throws a beautiful deep ball. Then you’ve got Eric Stubbs, ‘BBQ’ — he’s a bit of a mix of both. There’s a real competition here.”

Savage, never one to tip his hand, simply smirked when asked for insight: “You’ll know when you know.”

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A Loaded Backfield and Rising Stars Out Wide

Whoever wins the job won’t lack for weapons.

Earl Petty, the home-run threat who shined during Lee Vela’s injury spells last season, returns as the lead back. But this year, he’ll be joined by Oklahoma State transfer Barry Orlovsky — a 6’3”, 229-pound bruiser with sprinter speed — and Terry Olson, a transfer from last year who’s finally healthy after a season lost to a broken femur.

“If you’re a running backs coach, this is heaven,” joked McElwain.

Out wide, the absence of Heisman finalist Miguel Jerman looms large, but Texas still fields one of the most explosive receiver groups in the country. Prince Oluokon returns as the matchup nightmare — a 6’4” blend of size, speed, and physicality — and Rico Mama slides into the WR2 spot after averaging nearly 20 yards per catch in limited reps last year.

But don’t overlook Arie Battles. At 6’4” with 96 speed and 95 change-of-direction, the Katy, TX product was the star of practice squads last year and has instant chemistry with both Delgado and Barmore. He’s the X-factor of this offense.

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Up Front and Downhill

The offensive line will look different, but the standards haven’t changed. Center Greg Augustine returns to anchor the unit, joined by left tackle Juan Ramos and rising star Spencer Samuel, who has impressed coaches with his preparation and poise during spring.

“We lost a lot of experience,” Savage said, “but we didn’t lose our identity. These guys are dogs. They’ll hold the line.”

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Reloading the Defense

Texas must replace generational talents on defense — including Bednarik, Butkus, and Nagurski winner Miguel Giuliano and Jim Thorpe Award winner Jayden Singleton. But the cupboard, as usual, is anything but bare.

James Mosely, fresh off a 17-sack true freshman season, is poised to become the next household name.

“He reminds me a lot of Jason Veasy,” Savage admitted. “Not saying he’ll break records like Jason, but when you compare their freshman tape? It’s close.”

For those that don't remember, Jason Veasy followed up a 15 sack freshman season with three straight years of 25+ sacks, including setting the NCAA single season record of 29. If Mosely can even come close to that level of production? Watch out SEC.

Linebacker is the biggest question mark. With Giuliano, Titus Alli, and Marvin Pitts all gone, the pressure falls on returning starter Sateki Cummings and redshirt junior Timmy Cantwell to lead a young but talented group. True freshmen Shaun Miles and Brian Breckner are expected to play early.

In the secondary, Bryce Fiedorowicz returns to his natural strong safety spot — where he won the Thorpe in 2035 — giving Texas a trusted enforcer in the back end.

And at corner, the pressure will be intense. DC Quincey Lincoln’s man-heavy scheme had Texas playing press coverage on 72% of their defensive snaps last year, the highest mark in the country.

“We don’t apologize for that,” Lincoln said. “We’re going to blitz you, hit your quarterback, and dare your receivers to beat our guys one-on-one. That’s just what we do.”

Savage, grinning, added: “I’ve never met a quarterback who enjoys getting hit. So we hit ‘em. A lot.”

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A Brutal Gauntlet Ahead

The Longhorns won’t get a soft landing. Week 1 brings a national championship rematch with Notre Dame in the Vegas Kickoff Classic. Then it’s right into the fire: trips to Neyland and Sanford Stadium, home games vs. Alabama and Florida, and October matchups against Oklahoma and Ohio State. A late-season road swing includes revenge-seeking Ole Miss and a trip to Autzen Stadium. There is no bye until Week 13.

“We didn’t get any favors,” Savage admitted. “But we didn’t ask for any, either.”

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The Standard in Austin

As the Longhorns prepare to defend their crown, Savage made one thing clear: history means nothing if you stop chasing it.

“We’re proud of last year. We should be. But if we’re still talking about 2036 in November, we’ve already failed. The goal is to make excellence the standard here — not a surprise.”

With a deep roster, brutal schedule, and an unresolved quarterback situation, Texas enters 2037 as a contender with questions — and one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches driving the bus.

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Texas_Longhorns_2037_Schedule

Week	Opponent	2036 Record	Venue
1	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	12-4	Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada)
2	Tennessee Volunteers	6-7	Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)
3	Alabama Crimson Tide	5-7	Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
4	Georgia Bulldogs	9-5	Sanford Stadium (Athens, Georgia)
5	Florida Gators	8-5	Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
6	Oklahoma	5-7	Gaylord-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)
7	Ohio State Buckeyes	9-4	Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
8	Mississippi State Bulldogs	5-7	Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
9	Oregon Ducks	9-5	Autzen Stadium (Eugene, Oregon)
10	Ole Miss Rebels	10-4	Vaughtn-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Mississippi)
11	Texas A&M Aggies	2-10	Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
12	LSU Tigers	8-5	Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)

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2036 Depth Chart

QB TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
Eric Stubbs	QB	FR	83	83	Scrambler
Joel Barmore	QB	JR(RS)	74	81	Scrambler
Emilio Delgado	QB	FR(RS)	80	81	Improviser

HB TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Earl Petty	HB	SO(RS)	75	93	Elusive
Barry Orlovsky	HB	SR(RS)	88	88	Power
Terry Olson	HB	JR(RS)	83	86	Elusive
Alex McDonald	HB	SO(RS)	75	84	Elusive
Ted Amerson	HB	FR(RS)	77	84	Elusive
Max Melvin	HB	SO	79	81	Power
Dominick Draughn	HB	FR	70	70	Receiving

WR TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Rico Mama	WR	SO(RS)	75	89	Deep Threat
*Prince Oluokon	WR	SO(RS)	75	89	Physical
John Silverman	WR	JR(RS)	79	86	Physical
Arie Battles	WR	SO(RS)	74	82	Deep Threat
Titus Hicks	WR	FR	77	77	Physical
Evan Jowers	WR	FR(RS)	73	76	Physical
Isaiah Stubbs	WR	FR	76	76	Deep Threat

TE TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Heath Dalton	TE	SR	93	93	Possession
Matt Melvin	TE	SO(RS)	71	83	Vertical Threat
Cortez Daniels	TE	JR(RS)	78	82	Vertical Threat
Andres Fine	TE	FR	66	66	Vertical Threat

T TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Juan Ramos	T	SR(RS)	84	90	Agile
*Spencer Samuel	T	FR(RS)	82	94	Pass Pro
Eric Quaccia	T	SR(RS)	83	92	Power
Martin Keyes	T	SR(RS)	91	91	Agile
Ciante Sills	T	SR(RS)	81	89	Power
Josh Babcock	T	FR(RS)	79	85	Power
Dion Jolly	T	SO(RS)	76	86	Agile
Tomas Trueblood	T	SO(RS)	74	84	Agile

G TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Andres Genus	G	JR(RS)	79	91	Pass Pro
*Jeff McGlinn	G	SR(RS)	84	91	Pass Pro
Kurt Folk	G	FR(RS)	80	87	Power
Mateo Vargas	G	FR(RS)	79	85	Power
Paul Mayden	G	FR	80	80	Pass Pro

C TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Greg Augustine	C	SR(RS)	86	95	Power
Mateo Heurtelou	C	SO(RS)	74	88	Power
Ramon Tangelo	C	FR(RS)	73	79	Agile

DE TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*James Moesly	DE	SO	81	88	Speed Rusher
*Luis Nunes	DE	SR(RS)	81	88	Power Rusher
Deon Whalen	DE	SO(RS)	73	84	Power Rusher
Tevita Good	DE	SO(RS)	74	83	Power Rusher
Eric Radunz	DE	SO(RS)	74	83	Speed Rusher
Denzel DeLoach	DE	FR(RS)	78	80	Run Stopper
Deon Hobert	DE	SO(RS)	66	83	Power Rusher
Frederick Atwell	DE	FR	77	77	Power Rusher

DT TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Sione Savage	DT	SR(RS)	86	92	Run Stopper
Jon Cummings	DT	SO(RS)	79	87	Speed Rusher
Nick Crespo	DT	SO(RS)	79	87	Power Rusher
Ron Emery	DT	SR(RS)	80	85
JR Freitas	DT	FR	78	78	Speed Rusher

OLB TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Esteban Castillo	LB	JR(RS)	78	89	Pass Coverage
*Jimmy Vellano	LB	SR(RS)	83	92	Run Stopper
Sateki Cummings	LB	JR(RS)	82	88	Power Rusher
Miles Wilcox	LB	FR	80	80	Power Rusher
Ian Duggan	LB	SO(RS)	75	78	Speed Rusher
Tyree Winbush	LB	FR	79	79	Power Rusher
Robert Kouandjio	LB	FR	77	77	Pass Coverage
Denzel Bayer	LB	FR	76	76	Power Rusher

MLB TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Timmy Cantwell	MLB	JR(RS)	81	91	Run Stopper
Shaun Miles	MLB	FR(RS)	79	85	Run Stopper
Brian Breckner	MLB	FR(RS)	73	84	Pass Coverage
Raekwon Robbins	MLB	FR(RS)	77	84	Pass Coverage
D'Andre Rheem	MLB	FR	77	77	Pass Coverage
DeMarcus Maybin	MLB	JR	71	71	Pass Coverage

CB TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Prince Hooey	CB	JR	77	91	Slot
*Jarrad Frank	CB	JR	75	89	Slot
Juan Ventura	CB	SR(RS)	82	88	Slot
Joey Gay	CB	SO(RS)	75	86	Zone
Dominick Lamur	CB	FR(RS)	79	86	Man To Man
Javier Angulo	CB	FR(RS)	79	82	Man To Man
Emilio Samuel	CB	FR	80	80	Man To Man

FS TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Daymond Lemmons	FS	SO(RS)	74	85	Zone
Nick Urrutia	FS	FR(RS)	76	82	Run Support
William Montez	FS	FR	81	81	Zone
Nico Obi	FS	FR(RS)	75	80	Run Support

SS TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Bryce Fiedorowicz	SS	JR(RS)	82	90	Zone
Johnnie Eckert	SS	SO(RS)	66	82	Zone
Brian Carney	SS	FR(RS)	77	79	Hybrid

K/P TEXAS

Name	Position	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR	Tendency
*Edward Jaimes	K	SO	69	77	Power
Greg Marciano	K	JR(RS)	70	81	Power
James Cooke	P	FR	68	68	Power

*Denotes projected starter

[Captain Canada]

Quarterback the weakpoint, but that roster is still star-studded

[YaBoyRobRoy]

16 games in 7 days, let's get it! Hook Em!

[djp73]

Schedule looks like a gauntlet but the poor records from last season tell a bit of a different story. Run it back.

[The JZA]

Rematch off the bat Hook 'em once, hook 'em again. GL this season

[Soapy]

surprised you're still rocking with the game a week away

[redsox907]

Quarterback the weakpoint, but that roster is still star-studded

Ekanem declaring threw a wrench in the succession plan. But we've got the talent to support whoever ends up under center. Will just be more like an old school Bama offense worst case scenario

16 games in 7 days, let's get it! Hook Em!

Schedule looks like a gauntlet but the poor records from last season tell a bit of a different story. Run it back.

Rematch off the bat Hook 'em once, hook 'em again. GL this season

Tennesse, Bama, and Oklahoma all under performed majorly last season. Depending on how they show up will determine if its a brutal stretch or not.

surprised you're still rocking with the game a week away

Once 26 drops I'll still have to get DC and season preview cracking. Realistically I'm aiming to wrap the final season the weekend after 26 drops. We'll see if we get there. May have to string a few updates together to reach it, but we're finishing this run before Coastal takes off

[redsox907]

Three Guns, One Holster: Texas QB Showdown Begins in Austin

Austin, TX. - When Maurice Uwazurike edged out Darryl Ekanem for the Texas starting quarterback job in spring camp of 2036, most assumed Ekanem’s turn would come next. After all, he had another year of eligibility remaining and had been a steady presence in the QB room. That plan appeared sound—especially once "Mo" guided Texas to a 16-0 record, a national title, and one of the most prolific seasons in program history.

But just days after the championship celebration, Ekanem stunned the Forty Acres by declaring for the NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season.

Head coach Nash Savage, ever composed, kept his response brief: “We wish Darryl the best in his future endeavors.” But former Texas offensive coordinator Colt McCoy, now the head coach at Florida State, didn’t hold back when asked about the surprise departure.

“I haven’t talked to Coach Savage directly, but it definitely blew a hole in the plan,” McCoy admitted. “We were preparing for 2037 with Ekanem under center.”

Now the defending national champions head into the spring with a QB room full of promise—but short on experience. The three-man battle to replace Uwazurike is underway, and while each candidate brings a different skill set, one thing is clear: Texas won’t have the luxury of easing into this season.



Redshirt junior Joel Barmore is the closest thing Texas has to a veteran presence. Entering his fourth year in Austin and third in Savage’s system, Barmore has yet to take a snap in a live game. A former four-star prospect, he boasts elite athleticism and a cannon for an arm, but his accuracy has long been a sticking point. In spring drills, his escapability wowed coaches—but once the ball was airborne, results were mixed.

“Ultimate boom or bust,” said one anonymous scout. “He’s the guy who might drop 500 yards and five touchdowns on you one week, then struggle to hit the broad side of a barn the next.”



Sophomore Emilio Delgado offers a different profile: calm, methodical, and obsessively prepared. The redshirt freshman appeared in three games last season, going 19-of-24 for 360 yards and two touchdowns. However, two costly red zone fumbles dimmed what was otherwise an efficient showing.

Delgado isn’t the athlete Barmore is—or freshman Eric Stubbs, for that matter—but he might be the most cerebral of the bunch. Widely considered the smartest QB in the 2035 recruiting cycle, Delgado earned a reputation as a film junkie who often saw things even his coaches missed.

“The way he digests tape, it’s uncanny,” said Rio Rancho High head coach Juan Gonzales. “There were times he’d show us things on film before we even caught them.”

His meticulous preparation paid off in a stellar senior season, where he led Rio Rancho to its first-ever New Mexico 6A state title and earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors after throwing for 3,472 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just three interceptions at a jaw-dropping 76% completion rate.

“It’s like he knows where you’re lined up before the play even starts,” marveled one opposing coach.



Then there’s the wildcard: true freshman Eric Stubbs, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2036 class and a two-time Utah state champion at Corner Canyon High in Draper.

“He doesn’t do anything great,” said one scout, “but he does everything well—and there’s something to be said for that.”

Stubbs isn’t as explosive as Barmore or as precise as Delgado, but he might be the most balanced of the trio. He accounted for 84 touchdowns and only seven interceptions in his final two high school seasons, adding over 1,200 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground. More than anything, Stubbs just wins.

“He probably wouldn’t have been the No. 1 QB in the last few cycles,” the same scout continued. “But he’s got that 'it' factor—the kind of guy who elevates everyone around him. And from what I’ve seen, he thrives on being doubted.”

As expected, Nash Savage hasn’t tipped his hand. In typical fashion, the Texas head coach has gone as far as pulling names from a hat to determine first-team reps during early spring practices.

“Having three capable quarterbacks isn’t the worst problem in the world,” said ESPN’s Pat McAfee. “But let’s be real—Texas doesn’t have a soft landing. They’re opening the year with a Natty rematch against Notre Dame in Vegas, and it only gets tougher from there.”

Indeed, the Longhorns’ 2037 schedule is brutal from the start. Whoever wins the job will be expected to produce immediately. There’s no room for slow starts.

“If Savage hits the bullseye again, Texas is in business,” McAfee continued. “But if this turns into another Georgia 2034 situation—where Savage shuffled through three QBs—Texas might struggle to match last year’s magic.”

That 2034 campaign in Athens was a rare blemish on Savage’s résumé. He began the season with veteran Miles Toomer, transitioned to transfer Tory Atwell, and ultimately handed the reins to true freshman Dominick Salanko out of necessity—not confidence.

The hope in Austin is that this year’s winner isn’t just the next man up—it’s the next Texas legend.

[redsox907]

The Texas Eagle Plows Through Notre Dame


The "Texas Eagle" wasted no time introducing himself to the Fighting Irish as the Oklahoma State transfer plowed through three Irish defenders for a 56 yard run on Texas' opening drive.

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BOXSCORE

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Texas	14	14	7	14	49
Notre Dame	3	7	0	0	10

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ScoringSummary

Q	Team	Time	Play	Texas	Notre Dame
1st	Notre Dame	8:16	Earl Robinson, 49 Yd FG	0	3
1st	Texas	7:29	Barry Orlovsky, 19 Yd Run	7	3
1st	Texas	3:12	Barry Orlovsky, 10 Yd Run	14	3
2nd	Texas	6:33	Barry Orlovsky, 27 Yd Run	21	3
2nd	Notre Dame	1:15	Landon Wroten, 1 Yd Pass From Shonn Ebiketie	21	10
2nd	Texas	0:24	Rico Mama, 73 Yd Pass From Emilio Delgado	28	10
3rd	Texas	4:54	Earl Petty, 3 Yd Run	35	10
4th	Texas	10:13	Rico Mama, 33 Yd Pass From Emilio Delgado	42	10
4th	Texas	4:07	Barry Orlovsky, 10 Yd Run	49	10

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Texas Longhorns Statistics
Passing_Stats

Emilio Delgado	11/17, 236 Yds, 2 TD

Rushing_Stats

Barry Orlosvky	20 Att, 269 Yds, 4 TD
Earl Petty	10 Att, 36 Yds, TD
Emilio Delgado	1 Att, -6 Yds

Receiving_Stats

Rico Mama	5 Rec, 172 Yds, 2 TD
Terry Olson	2 Rec, 13 Yds
Prince Oluokon	2 Rec, 28 Yds
Arie Battles	1 Rec, 16 Yds
Earl Petty	1 Rec, 7 Yds

Defensive_Stats

MLB Timmy Cantwell	10 Tkl, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks
SS Bryce Fiedorowicz	7 Tkl, TFL, INT
FS Daymond Lemmons	7 Tkl, 2 TFL
LB Esteban Castillo	3 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack
DT Jon Cummings	3 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack
DE James Mosely	2 Tkl, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks
DT Sione Savage	2 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish Statistics
Passing_Stats

Shonn Ebiketie (79)	19/26, 173 Yds, TD, INT

Rushing_Stats

Jeffrey Crick (88)	16 Att, 73 Yds
Shonn Ebiketie (79)	9 Att, -25 Yds
Philip Saunders (81)	1 Att, 14 Yds

Receiving_Stats

Landon Wroten (73)	7 Rec, 53 Yds, TD
Fernando Castillo (86)	5 Rec, 80 Yds

Jeffrey Crick (88)}3 Rec, 2 Yds
Arnold McTavich (79)|2 Rec, 16 Yds
Ethan Stewart (76)|1 Rec, 3 Yds
Percy DeValve (73)|1 Rec, 19 Yds
Defensive_Stats

SS Garret Hurley (81)	11 Tkl
MLB Sammy Vujnovich (85)	10 Tkl
DE Randy Bettis (88)	3 Tkl, TFL, Sack
DT Clyde Temple (86)	2 Tkl, TFL

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Las Vegas, NV. - Nine months after meeting in the 2036 National Championship, Texas and Notre Dame squared off once again—this time under the lights of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the season-opening Kickoff Classic. While both teams featured new starting quarterbacks, it was Texas’ bruising new backfield addition, Barry Orlovsky, who stole the show and set the tone for a Longhorns statement win.

The former Oklahoma State transfer wasted no time making his presence felt. On his very first carry, Orlovsky bulldozed through Irish middle linebacker Sammy Vujnovich, then steamrolled two more defenders en route to a 56-yard rumble that sent a clear message. On his second touch, he showcased his wheels—bouncing outside on a pitch and outrunning the defense to the pylon for a quick Texas touchdown.

Two carries. Seventy-five yards. One thunderous touchdown.

“He’s the ‘Texas Eagle’ now,” joked head coach Nash Savage postgame, referencing the iconic locomotive that once connected Texas to Chicago. “And tonight, he looked the part.”

Orlovsky thundered to 166 first-half yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, powering Texas to a 28–10 halftime lead and leaving Irish defenders in his wake.

Notre Dame opened the game with a promising 9-play drive but was ultimately derailed by a sack—the first of seven on the day by the Texas defense, which picked up right where it left off last season despite the loss of linebacker Miguel Giuliano. Down 21–3, the Irish managed to punch in a short touchdown on a 4th-and-goal pass from Shonn Ebiketie, momentarily halting the bleeding.

Meanwhile, Emilio Delgado, the redshirt freshman chosen to start over Joel Barmore and Eric Stubbs, was shaky early. The former five-star from Rio Rancho, New Mexico began the game 2-of-6 for 26 yards—but everything changed after he connected with Rico Mama on a perfectly placed 73-yard bomb.

“That was definitely the most nervous I’ve ever been before a game,” Delgado admitted. But from that moment on, he settled in, going 8-of-10 in the second half for 137 yards and another touchdown, finishing a confident debut with 11-of-17 for 236 yards and two scores.

Texas extended its lead to 35–10 in the third quarter, and when Ebiketie tossed a costly interception to Bryce Fiedorowicz, it seemed the Longhorns were ready to slam the door. But a 4th-and-6 gamble backfired when Delgado overthrew a wide-open Prince Oluokon, and the Irish responded with a big run from Jeffrey Crick down to the Texas 8-yard line.

Still, the Texas defense held firm. On a 4th-and-goal from the one, Notre Dame opted to run—only for Crick to be swallowed up in the backfield for a five-yard loss and a turnover on downs.

Delgado wasted no time putting the game away. He found Mama twice on the next drive for 56 yards, then capped it off with a 33-yard touchdown pass to seal the win. Orlovsky added his fourth touchdown of the night late in the fourth quarter after another Irish turnover on downs, capping a 20-carry, 269-yard breakout performance in his Texas debut.

“This is exactly why Emilio was the guy,” said Coach Savage afterward. “We’ve got three backs in Barry, Terry, and Earl who can all change the game. I don’t need another Mo, or Hendrix, or Semonza back there. I need someone who can read a defense, get us into the right play, and punish a defense when the opportunity is there. Emilio did that tonight—and if he keeps it up, we’re going to win a lot of football games.”

Meanwhile, no surprise that Kadin Semonza has Ball State rolling once again. After opening their season in Los Angeles with a 38–20 win over USC, the Cardinals returned home and defended the Bronze Stalk, beating rival Northern Illinois 42–21. Wideout Karlos Farris, last year’s Heisman winner, has picked up right where he left off, exploding for 16 receptions, 491 yards, and 8 touchdowns in just two games.

Back in the SEC, Texas’ Week 2 opponent Tennessee opened with a tune-up 37–7 win over Chattanooga, while Florida State toppled Georgia 33–21, and Miami handled Florida 28–18. Oklahoma fell in a surprise 34–31 loss to West Virginia, leaving Texas and Ole Miss as the only ranked SEC teams to emerge from Week 1 unscathed.

Next stop for the ‘Texas Eagle’? A trip to Neyland Stadium.


Notre Dame had a chance to claw back into the game, but instead a 4th down stop by the Texas D halted the momentum in a scoreless 2nd half for Notre Dame.


Mama, there goes that...Mama? Rico Mama erupted for a pair of touchdowns and 172, emerging as Delgado's favorite target.


Shonn Ebiketie got the short end of the stick opening his career against the defending National Champs, but was efficient, not explosive, in the loss.

[YaBoyRobRoy]

Orlovsky!!!