Texas got their second-straight win on Saturday, this time over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 31-3. Without Kamario Taylor, the defense bottled the Bulldog offense from start to finish.
The sole scoring drive for Mississippi State came off Arch Manning’s fumble, and the drive went 16 yards on 6 plays. The offense, while inconsistent, put together enough plays through the air to get the first comfortable win since UTSA.
Here’s how I grade out each unit for the Longhorns:
Texas Longhorns Offense: B-
It should be said, this offense is officially being graded on a curve. There isn't going to be an A+ offense based on normal expectations, much less the preseason expectations for this unit. Arch Manning completed 80% of his passes, throwing for 220 yards and 3 scores, on top
of running the ball relatively efficiently. On the other hand, Manning had multiple moments where he held onto the ball too long, including the sole turnover.
As for everyone else, it was far from good. The run game averaged under 2 yards/carry and Arch Manning got sacked 5 times. The offensive line continues to play below par no matter who’s on the field, not to mention Manning and Sarkisian not helping them out. Overall, it’s a remarkably flawed unit that isn’t going to become unflawed. The question is: Can they mask those flaws long enough to make the CFP?
Texas Longhorns Defense: A
The defense was nearly flawless yesterday. Mississippi State amassed just 187 total yards, averaging 4.8 yards/pass and 1.7 yards/rush. Five different Longhorns came up with sacks, led by Rasheem Biles, who finished with three. Justus Terry, Colton Vasek and Zina Umeozulu added a sack to their stat sheet as Texas continues to add depth to an already loaded defense.
Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr. were incredible at safety, while Warren Roberson flashed his coverage ability. Youngsters, including Samari Matthews, Zion Williams, Tyler Atkinson and Kosi Okpala all got valuable SEC snaps as well. Will Muschamp’s defense continues to prove their a top 5-10 unit in the country. If Sarkisian can play into that strength, Texas can continue their winning streak.
Texas Longhorns Special Teams: B
It was far from a bad performance for the special teams but a block in the back on what would’ve been a Ryan Niblett TD leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Gianni Spetic continues to be a pleasant surprise, nailing a 45-yard FG, upping his season mark to 12-for-13. Mac Chuimento had one mishit punt but on the whole, put together a strong performance. Jeff Bank’s unit is doing a better job of not hurting Texas but continues to stop short of being a major positive either.
Texas Longhorns Coaching: B
It’s hard to zero-in on any coaching decision in this game that was faulty. Obviously the preparation of the OL(and offense at large) continues to fall short but in terms of playcalling, there was little to be upset about. The offensive execution continues to be very poor, especially up front. On defense, Will Muschamp continues to be one of the best minds in the game, leading a dominating unit. Overall, another game where the issues existed well before Saturday, so it’s difficult to parse how much responsibility sits with the coaching staff.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns Grades vs. Mississippi State: Defense earns A, Offense B-
