The No. 20 Texas Longhorns return home for the first time since September, when they blew out an outmatched Sam Houston State squad to close out non-conference play. ‘
It was a rough road, literally and
figuratively, for Texas, with a big win over Oklahoma sandwiched between a loss to Florida and a pair of overtime wins that could have easily gone the other way. But a win is a win, and Texas is still in control of its destiny for the postseason, with one final test ahead of a much-needed bye week.
Now, entering the final month of SEC play, the Longhorns come home to take on a top-10 Vanderbilt Commodores team in a game that will have a big impact on the SEC title race. Under Clark Lea, Vanderbilt has transformed from a low-tier SEC foe to a team firmly in control of the conference title race. Quarterback Diego Pavia leads an offense that combines a unique blend of clock control and explosive plays to create havoc for defenses. His ability to make plays off-script, combined with a bevy of big, athletic targets that excel at finding grass and making contested catches, makes them a nightmare for most teams.
Vanderbilt ranks in the bottom five in the country in both time per play and plays per game, working to keep their offense in control of the clock and the ball, minimizing exposure. Texas, for its part, will have to overcome its penchant for slow starts and empty frames and maximize the few opportunities it gets against the Commodores.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the media ahead of Texas’s pivotal matchup against Vanderbilt.
