Texas will put its No. 1 ranking in college football on the line when it comes to Knoxville for a Sept. 26 game against Tennessee.
But despite that ranking and this season’s marquee win − over former No. 1 Ohio State – the Longhorns still haven’t answered a question hanging over from last season.
After Texas fell short of the College Football Playoff in 2025, coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t have trouble identifying the problem. He responded the way any other coach with a wealth of NIL money at his disposal might.
He went fishing in the transfer portal and landed running backs Raleek Brown of Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers of NC State. Brown rushed for 1,141 yards last season; Smothers, 939 yards.
Sarkisian further bolstered his offense by adding
four transfer linemen, three of whom now start.
All that portal activity was triggered by last season’s meager results. Texas ranked 11th in the SEC in rushing, and none of its running backs rushed for as many as 600 yards.
How odd that a school with so much NIL clout – and with a history of running backs like Early Campbell, Ricky Williams and Bijan Robinson – could be so lacking
Another oddity: After working the portal so hard, Texas’ running game hasn’t exactly pounded opposing defenses into submission. The Longhorns are averaging just 175 yards rushing after their 30-6 victory over UTSA.
Conversely, Tennessee has averaged 298.5 yards rushing in its 3-0 start. Of course, the Vols haven’t faced a defense as stout as Ohio State’s, which held Texas to 141 yards rushing. But they have run their way to three consecutive runaway victories – 327 yards against, 299 against Georgia Tech, and 268 against Kennesaw State.
The yards won’t come as easy against the Longhorns. However, if the Vols can outrush Texas, that would widen their path to an upset.
A sustained running game would take the pressure off true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon and limit the opportunities for Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Translation: This would be a great time for DeSean Bishop to excel. That’s why his first-half hip injury in the 42-9 victory over Kennesaw State on Sept. 19 had to be so disconcerting for the Vols. And why he returned to a one-sided game in the second half was mystifying.
He ran twice, didn’t look comfortable and returned to the bench for the rest of the game.
Daune Morris proved again he’s a capable backup. He rushed for 116 yards on 14 carries. But the Vols will need Bishop running at full speed against Texas.
He’s a 215-pound running back who can break tackles and long runs. He also can make the most of whatever his blockers give him. And he runs with an attitude.
“I want to punish people when I run the ball, so I have the mindset of not getting tackled and just fighting for as much yards as I can every time I touch the ball, just utilizing every carry I get because it could be limited," he said at SEC media days in July.
Opportunities also are limited against No. 1 teams. Tennessee is 2-17 all-time against top-ranked teams. Their only wins came against LSU in 1959 and Auburn in 1985.
Tennessee quarterback Tony Robinson starred in that 38-20 victory over Auburn. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 259 yards and four touchdowns in passing his way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated. He outshone Auburn’s Heisman Trophy running back Bo Jackson, who was held to 80 yards on 17 carries. UT’s Keith Davis was the game’s leading rusher with 103 of the Vols’ 220 rushing yards.
Texas’ depth chart is loaded with stars, including Heisman candidate Manning. He was one of 10 Longhorns named to one of the first three All-SEC teams in preseason.
But perhaps, Bishop – like Robinson before him – can upstage the stars on the No. 1 team at Neyland Stadium.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football needs DeSean Bishop at top speed to outrun Texas | Adams
