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Welcome to Texas at The Voice of College Football Network, your home for In-depth discussion, debate, & analysis on all things Texas. We have you covered from offseason all the way to game day. Join us as we embark on another season!Hook 'Em!For business inquiries please contact: Markrogerstv@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1h ago

    Who is to Blame? / Texas Longhorns LIVE 123

    Texas Longhorns LIVE 123 — “Who is to Blame?” Hosts: Matthew Miller & Thomas Bresee (Tommy) Network: TexasVOCFB / Voice of College Football (sponsored by FanDuel) Opening & Betting Line (≈0:00–1:30) Texas is a 10.5-point favorite at home vs. Florida (FanDuel). Hosts note this is essentially the same number they faced against Oklahoma, with the home field adding roughly three points. Tommy: The matchup favors Texas if they avoid self-inflicted wounds. Florida’s offense is unlikely to “figure things out” against Texas; Vegas appears concerned the SEC has sorted out Florida. Miller: 10.5 is fair. This may be Texas’s hardest offensive test so far, but also the weakest Power Four defense they’ve faced. Florida’s front four is solid; the back seven is not. Core Debate: Arch or Sark? (≈1:30–21:00) Both hosts land primarily on Steve Sarkisian, with a smaller share on Arch Manning. Miller’s split (≈70–80% Sark / 20–30% Arch): Sark’s Texas offense has generally regressed statistically across most categories over his tenure. Sark chose both Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers. The best offense of the Sark era was under Casey Thompson; the best running game featured Tom Herman recruits (Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Brooks). Both QBs may have been somewhat overhyped. Quinn was more limited physically/by injuries and appeared to grasp the playbook better. Arch has the physical tools but struggles with processing (“in between the ears”). A coach should adapt the scheme to the personnel rather than forcing the preferred system. Sark has not done this enough. Under-center snaps have been particularly problematic for Arch (harder to dissect the defense; limited space when the center is beaten). Suggests limiting under-center to a small handful of trusted plays and living in shotgun/pistol. Last six games of 2025, Arch posted the highest QBR in the country while primarily in 10/11 personnel spread. Out-of-pocket throws have generally been a strength (until the recent interception). Tommy’s view (≈65% Sark / 35% Arch): Sark is an elite offensive coach who has not put it together consistently enough. He built this roster. The offensive line, wide receivers, and portal running backs fit a spread offense better than the 12-personnel pro-style system Sark prefers. The current tight ends are not strong receiving threats (Nick Townsend lacks explosiveness; others have limited production). Arch’s issues: poor pocket management (stepping into pressure, leaving clean pockets), staring down receivers and failing to throw (missed open Amari Winston on the final interception; missed Cam Coleman on a sack), and not fully trusting his eyes, the line, or the system. Positive moments exist (e.g., the Cam Coleman touchdown on the move, the Ryan Wingo touchdown read). There are dialed-up winners that Arch is not converting. Sark has a responsibility both to develop Arch within the preferred system and to adapt when necessary to win now. Evidence shows what Arch does well (pre-snap recognition, athleticism, out-of-pocket play); the offense should lean into 10/11 personnel spread more heavily to build confidence over the next few games before potentially blending concepts later. Arch is the clear team leader; benching him would risk locker-room issues and is not justified on pure talent/availability grounds relative to the alternatives. Shared points: There is a fundamental disconnect between what Sark wants to call and what Arch (and much of the current personnel) executes well. Talent is not the primary problem. Multiple receivers, most of the offensive line, and other pieces project as NFL talent. The answers exist; execution and scheme fit are lagging. Manning’s last name creates both advantages (NIL, expectations) and disadvantages (outsize scrutiny, e.g., national articles). What Can Be Fixed This Season (≈21:50–34:00) Scheme/personnel usage is the biggest in-season lever. The running game has been average-to-bad since Bijan and Brooks left (line, scheme, backs, or combination). More spread looks should improve the passing game and create space for playmakers. Statistical contrast cited (via CJ Vogel / Inside Texas breakdowns): 10 personnel has been far more efficient recently than 12 personnel. Current snap share is heavy on 11 (~56%) and 12 (~31–32%), with limited 10 and 20 personnel. Recommendation: shift 10–12% of the 12-personnel snaps toward 10 personnel and modest increases in 20 personnel (two-back looks with Cooper, Brown, Niblett, Smothers, etc.). Best current playmakers to lean on: Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo, Emmitt Mosley, Jermaine Bishop, Derek Cooper, Hollywood Smothers, Malik Brown. Get them on the field more; the tight ends are not currently among the top 11 playmakers. Offensive line: Connor Robertson is a liability in pass protection against elite fronts (eyes/feet too slow; vulnerable to stunts). Dylan Sikorski at center and Lawrence Seymour at guard is worth exploring for better pass pro in a spread look. Kyle Flood is not the primary issue. Special teams (Jeff Banks): Disastrous so far (punt return/block issues, kickoff out-of-bounds, poor return production, penalties, missed tackles). Not fixable with a mid-season coordinator change. Play simple and boring the rest of the way (no tricks, kick down the middle, tackle well, limit big plays and penalties). Goal is net-neutral. Penalties: Offensive line is relatively clean (only five total on the line, some in garbage time). Problems are elsewhere (PIs, roughing the passer, unsportsmanlike, special teams). Clean those up and the team improves significantly in penalty rankings. Coaching changes (Banks, potential OC help next year) are more likely offseason items. Sark has a lot on his plate; a dedicated play-caller could free him for sideline management and adjustments (DeBoer-style). Next year’s QB (if Arch leaves) may fit Sark’s preferred system better. Florida Preview & Keys (≈34:00–end) Must-win for both. Florida coming off blowout losses to Missouri and South Carolina; Texas off the Oklahoma loss. Key for Texas defense: Stop Jaden Baugh (#13). Florida’s offense is heavily dependent on him. In their four early wins he averaged ~7.2 YPC on high volume; in the two losses he was held to 72 yards at 2.9 YPC. Texas’s run defense has been excellent. Aaron Filo is not yet a consistent threat to carry the offense. Key for Texas offense: Protect up front and attack the secondary/linebackers. Florida’s back seven is a clear weakness (high passing yards allowed on the road). Arch should be able to find rhythm and volume (hosts project 250–350+ yards possible). Scheme adjustments (more 10/11/20 personnel) would open even bigger windows. Historical note: Texas is 6-0 after non-season-ending losses since 2023, winning by an average of roughly 15 points and scoring 20+ in the first half in most of those games. Bounce-back opportunities have produced strong starts. Florida’s secondary has been exploited by other quarterbacks; Texas has the receiving talent to do the same. Score predictions: Miller: Texas 34–23 (covers). Tommy: Texas 31–20. Expects some scheme adaptation but not a full overhaul; range of outcomes is wide (could be a comfortable win or a tight one depending on execution and self-inflicted issues). Closing Notes Hosts emphasize the next three games offer favorable defensive matchups and a chance to install more spread concepts, build Arch’s confidence, and get the offense consistent before tougher tests (e.g., LSU at home). Call-in show and postgame coverage planned for later in the week. Standard CTA: like, subscribe, comment with score predictions. Overall takeaway from the episode: The offense’s struggles are real but fixable in the short term primarily through scheme and personnel adjustments that better match Arch Manning and the current skill-position talent. Sark bears the larger share of responsibility as the play-caller and roster builder. Florida presents a realistic bounce-back opportunity if Texas stops the run and attacks the secondary. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. 1d ago

    TEXAS-Oklahoma Postgame Reaction | Texas VOCFB

    Texas Longhorns Live | Texas-Oklahoma Postgame Reaction (Red River Rivalry) Hosts: Matthew Miller & Thomas (Tommy) Bresee | Voice of College Football (TexasVOCFB) Result: Texas 24, Oklahoma 27 Core theme: Texas lost a game it largely controlled by beating itself with mental mistakes, special teams failures, and late turnovers rather than being outplayed on offense or defense. Chapter 1: Initial Reaction (0:01–1:12) 0:15–0:47 — Hosts call it a mental blow-up: blocked punt for a TD, pick-six, and a single Oklahoma TD drive littered with Texas penalties (roughing the passer that wiped out an INT, plus end-zone pass interference). Oklahoma’s only offensive points came on that drive. Clip-worthy: “If Oklahoma’s going to win this, they’re going to do it because Texas just blows up mentally. Well, guess what? Texas just blew up mentally.” Final score 27-24 described as a game Texas “can’t lose and you do lose.” Chapter 2: Analyzing the Team’s Failures (1:12–2:42) 1:04–1:16 — Tommy: Oklahoma scored 13 offensive points at best; Texas handed them 14. Two ill-timed Arch Manning INTs + penalties killed Texas. Texas led by 10 at half despite not playing great football, then self-destructed late. 1:42–1:57 — Arch was fine for stretches but “arched” late with two terrible decisions (especially the second throw). He still had two strong TD drives in between. Offense can look explosive and on-time, then completely fall apart. Special teams + penalties made it impossible to overcome against a solid Oklahoma defense. Clip-worthy: “You handed them 14… You just had to keep your head on straight.” Chapter 3: Coaching & Culture Critique (2:51–6:10) 2:51–3:39 — Matthew: Same script as previous Sarkisian-era losses. Texas is often the better team but shoots itself in the foot. Oklahoma did not beat Texas on offense or defense; special teams and self-inflicted wounds did. John Mateer (155 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) did not “find himself”; he simply avoided disaster. 3:47–4:09 — Matthew’s first public statement on the channel that he does not believe Sarkisian wins a national title at Texas. Ceiling exists; sustained composure against top teams has never been shown (needs ~12 straight clean quarters vs. elite competition). Tommy: Fair questions. Jeff Banks was the worst coach on the sideline today and recently. Team should have been able to play “C-minus” football and win; instead played “D-minus.” Clip-worthy: “I don’t think he’s going to win a national championship here at Texas. That’s the first time I’ve said that on this channel.” Chapter 4: Special Teams & Coaching (6:10–8:37) 6:55–7:42 — Strongest criticism aimed at Jeff Banks. Special teams have been abysmal outside of Ryan Niblett’s return ability. Blocked punt for a TD, onside kicks 0-for-2 recently, kickoff out of bounds early. “The only reason Jeff Banks is here is because he’s friends with Sark.” Arch made plays that kept Texas in the game; the loss was driven by the blocked punt + one major Raheem Biles penalty (and other miscues). Removing those turns it into a comfortable win. Tommy pushes back: the pattern keeps repeating (Tennessee onside kick/punt return example). Can’t keep saying “if you take away the two big plays…” Clip-worthy: “If that [blocked punt] doesn’t happen, we win the football game.” / “Jeff Banks has to go.” Chapter 5: Arch Manning & the Offense (8:48–11:53) Arch should be further along given his talent and background. Two picks were bad; receivers lacked separation; play-calling didn’t fully fit him (“square peg in a round hole”). Sark’s system works when the QB and scheme match; right now it’s out of sync. Need to lean into Arch’s strengths (including his legs more). 10:33–10:58 — Frustrating that the conversation is already about mapping out which losses Texas can afford to still make the CFP. That shouldn’t be the discussion at this point. Pieces exist (explosives showed up, some excellent drives). Ceiling remains high, but confidence is limited that they will put it together consistently. Clip-worthy: “It feels like you’re trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.” Chapter 6: Playoff Hopes & Outlook (11:53–13:44) Still believe Texas makes the playoff. Florida has been exposed; Texas defense should hold most remaining opponents to ~17–20 points. Problem is self-inflicted points that put a good defense in bad situations. Path exists: win the next month, enter November with one loss, potentially get hot. Noise is high; program needs to quiet it with clean football. Clip-worthy: “You just plainly have to keep your head on straight and make sure you don’t make the mistake… they keep making the mistake.” Chapter 7: Quarterback Play & Systems (13:44–18:45) Arch must own the two massive late mistakes, but the entire offense (OL, WRs, scheme) is not where it should be. KJ Lacey would have taken 7–8 sacks in the same environment. Pass game had its best day of the season despite the result. Penalties under Sarkisian remain a chronic issue (high ranking in penalty yards; they turn into opponent TDs instead of FGs or nothing). Same pattern seen with Quinn Ewers: penalties + two big late mistakes. Disconnect between play-caller and personnel. Running game was strong late in the first half, then stalled. Arch is being asked to be someone he isn’t fully yet. Clip-worthy: “Go look at where Texas is ranked under Steve Sarkesian in penalties… You’re not winning football games when you rank in the 90s and hundreds.” Chapter 8: Consistency & Discipline (18:45–21:45) Bye-week adjustments showed some positive offensive pieces. Must build on them immediately. Theme for the rest of the schedule: don’t beat yourself and you can beat everyone left. Most opponents probably max out around 20 points. Texas should be able to score 21+. Oklahoma’s only TD drive had multiple Texas penalties + a missed tackle. Could have held them to 9–13 points. Recurring issues from previous years under Sarkisian make this harder to dismiss as a one-off. Clip-worthy: “As long as you don’t beat yourself, you can beat everyone else on the schedule.” Chapter 9: The Road to the Playoffs (21:45–24:15) 15–17 NFL-caliber players on the roster. Must reach the playoff. Possible “come-to-Jesus” moment that produces a run, or continued inconsistency. Ceiling still national-title level on paper; floor is first-round exit. Red River is weird and often produces unexpected results. Texas let a wounded Oklahoma team stay in the game. Next 5–10 games will determine whether Sarkisian is the long-term coach. Clip-worthy: “This can be a blip… or you become one of the toughest teams to play in the country.” Chapter 10: Accountability & Next Steps (24:15–28:07) Likely 9-3 or 10-2 and a playoff berth if they clean it up; that still puts Sarkisian in the 8–12 range of coaches (rarely title winners). Arch made throws (including one to Cam Coleman) that few QBs can make. He will wear the late picks, but he was put in bad situations by earlier mistakes. Special teams must improve: directional punting, blocking the wedge, no out-of-bounds kickoffs. Gianni Spedicci missed a kick by a hair; decision-making more questionable than the miss. Response to this loss defines the season. Chapter 11: Comparative Performance (28:07–33:48) Jeff Banks must go. Special teams have been a consistent liability outside of Niblett and a couple of past gunners. Mateer simply got the ball out quickly and avoided disaster (similar to Owen McCown vs. Texas previously). Respect for the approach, but Oklahoma still isn’t a great team. Elite defense + mistake-free offense is a viable CFP formula (Oklahoma last year). Texas has the defensive piece. Stats highlight: Texas 382 total yards to Oklahoma’s 238; 260 pass / 122 rush vs. 155 / 83. Eight penalties to seven, two turnovers (effectively three with the blocked punt). Oklahoma needed three Texas turnovers to win by a field goal. Clip-worthy: “They just can’t beat themselves. That’s all I’m asking for.” Chapter 12: Rivalry & Future Outlook (33:56–41:51) Remaining schedule is winnable if Texas stops self-destructing. Florida, Missouri, LSU, etc., are beatable; Arkansas and Texas A&M look closest to “guaranteed.” Red River is the best/most unpredictable rivalry in the sport. Number-one teams have played in it more than any other game. Karma/wash framing: Texas got lucky vs. Ohio State earlier; this loss balances it. Not angry because they weren’t physically dominated—just shot themselves. Clip-worthy: “This is the best rivalry in the sport… two historic teams… something different about that game every single year.” Chapter 13: Closing Thoughts (41:51–end) Process and cleanliness matter more than any single result. Willing to live with some three-and-outs or slow starts; not willing to live with blocked punts, drive-killing penalties, or late picks. If Texas simply stops putting points on the board for opponents and taking them off for itself, it should win every remaining game. Oklahoma executed the required script (special teams + defense + late mistake-free football from Mateer). Texas enabled it. Tomorrow: deeper breakdown video. Monday 7 p.m. ET: Florida preview with Florida guests. Final ask: like, subscribe, “poke them.” Overall Takeaways for Clips / Articles Mental toughness and discipline remain the clearest Sarkisian-era weaknesses. Special teams (Jeff Banks) drew the harshest criticism. Arch Manning is not the sole problem, but he must clean up late-game decisions while the staff better fits the scheme to his strengths. Defense is elite enough to carry the team into the CFP if the offense and special tea

  3. 3d ago

    Texas-Oklahoma Best Bets/ Call-In Show LIVE 5

    Texas–Oklahoma Best Bets / Call-In Show LIVE (TexasVOCFB), hosts Matthew Miller and Thomas Bresee, FanDuel-sponsored. Roughly 31 minutes. Core focus is Red River Showdown props and sides, then caller segments on Cam Coleman, Arch Manning, and Michigan, then quick takes on Alabama–Georgia and Oregon–UCLA. Best bets (Tommy on screen; Matt mostly aligned) Texas -7.5, parlayed with the first-half line. Tommy’s case: outside a defensive or special-teams score (the Tennessee issue he expects cleaned up), Oklahoma does not score more than 13. Last year’s offensive output vs. OU was Texas’s worst under Sark; he sees a better line, receivers, and back, plus more explosives. Texas scores at least 21 and wins by at least 8. OU cannot sustain drives unless Texas gifts short fields. First half: they find rhythm quicker than the Tennessee script (two brilliant opening drives, then the Arch pick and a collapse). Bye week, Sark’s best game plan of the season, and Arch trusting the line earlier. Expect up 5–10 at the half. Matt agrees. He does not have the full-game spread on his card but his score prediction matches it. He allows OU could punch first and Texas might miss a 4.5 first-half number, then still cover the game. Hollywood Smothers over 47.5 rushing yards (both). The team that runs it best usually wins this rivalry. Smothers dressed as an emergency back vs. Tennessee, so he was already ~80–90% and should be full after extra weeks. Tommy: if he does not clear 47.5, Texas can lose. Matt: Sark-era Texas RB1 low in this game is 94 yards (Tre Wisner, 2025). Wisner went over 100 in 2024; Jonathan Brooks had a big day earlier. OU has never fully solved Sark’s wide zone the way Georgia has. Expect two explosives (15–20+ yards) and a path to 50, maybe 100. Smothers was not needed late vs. Tennessee once Texas was up 10 and CJ Baxter / the relief back was rolling. Emmett Mosley over 31.5 receiving yards (both). Matt: he has cleared this easily in the big games (Ohio State; only one catch vs. Tennessee and still relevant). Forgotten behind Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman. Matt is done betting Coleman yards the rest of the year; yards go to Mosley and Wingo, touchdowns can still be Coleman. Tommy: under Sark, the slot or tight end has led Texas in receiving in every Red River game (DeAndre Moore, Gunnar Helm, Jordan Whittington). Sark opens the unexpected guy over the middle while safeties chase the outside threats. Mosley’s coming-out party was this game a year ago; the Ohio State over-the-middle shot is the template. Cam Coleman anytime touchdown (Tommy only). They have hunted the same shot every week: Wingo on a mesh or deep over, Coleman on the post, trying to pull the safety. Ohio State: Arch overthrew it, possible trip, pick. Tennessee: overthrow, Coleman did not play the ball, Keon Lee pick. UTSA: Coleman free over the middle, Arch did not pull the trigger. Tommy expects them to hunt it early (screen or run to a 2nd-and-short, then the post) to take half the Cotton Bowl out of it. Matt does not have it on his card but sees the logic. He wants the Wingo screen to open the game (effective late last year, scarce this year) and the outside zone back specifically for OU and A&M, who slant late and lose gap integrity. Shared lean: Texas is the far superior team. It would take a lot of self-inflicted damage for OU to steal it. Both want 10–12 play drives and some Arch run-game involvement (including the Ohio State opening-play concept from last year). Caller: Burks Opens as a Michigan fan calling his program a dumpster fire; hosts note Texas lived that stretch. Longhorn Network: SEC Network absorbed it after the conference move. Residual content runs through On Texas Football / YouTube; the app is still where Matt watches Sark pressers because Texas does not post them on YouTube. Brand argument: Burks says Texas is the biggest brand (own network, ~$2.5B valuation gap, population, merch peak in the mid-2010s). Hosts put Texas top three worldwide, with Notre Dame and USC in the conversation, and note Texas stays in the news year-round across football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and Olympic diving (long conference streak). Cam Coleman: Burks is disappointed; mocks have him out of round one. Tommy: traits still get him drafted (George Pickens comp); he may simply be better in the NFL and should find a late-season rhythm. Matt: most impactful play so far is a fumble recovery through five or six weeks; he has not won the 50/50s (Tennessee ball was catchable). Still a first-round traits pick, now more like 18–26 than top 10, and he still leaves for the money. Arch Manning return rumors: both expect Dia Bell as the 2027 starter if Arch leaves (KJ Lacey the fallback). Tommy thinks Arch plays well enough over the next ~8 games to land in the top 10 or so; a return would signal he did not light it up or win a title, but money is not the issue and Mannings have used their college time. Matt always thought a three-year start was more likely than a one-and-done, expected this to be the leave year, and would not be shocked by a return. Dia Bell (Elite 11, NBA dad, “trust the process”) told Cover 3 he was fine sitting year one and another if needed. Matt: no other QB in the class pairs Arch’s measurables with strong play; Dante Moore is hurt and was not playing well; Trinidad Chambliss is the eye-test No. 1 but short; Todd McShay still has Arch No. 1 overall. Destination risk: Eli/Chargers history; hosts downplay a Jets/Browns block (Haslam relationship, possible Jets coaching change) but doubt the Mannings take a Chargers call if that pick is No. 1. Burks on 2027 Michigan–Texas: easy Texas win if Kyle Whittingham is still coach. He says Whittingham is trying to make Michigan into Utah, Underwood could leave at 5–7 or 6–6 or after a benching, Jason Beck likely gone, Devin Hamp is not portaling, and Michigan will not fire Whittingham after one year. Michigan has never beaten Texas; Burks will not convert if they lose again. He also calls OU as bad as or worse than Michigan, so Red River should be an easy Texas win at the Cotton Bowl despite rivalry noise. Dia Bell vs. KJ Lacey (after a dropped Caden caller) Hosts land on Dia Bell. Tommy: a little more horsepower, CJ Stroud / Dante Moore type, more of the NFL arm traits. Matt: Lacey is more athletic, but Sark will not let him run if he will not let Arch run, and Lacey is smaller. If Arch leaves, Sark still keeps Lacey as the 2027 backup because the play-calling transfers. Long term, Dia Bell can be a top-10 pick; Lacey probably cannot. Other games Alabama–Georgia (if it is played). Tommy leans Alabama. Kirby still has not beaten them in the regular season. Tuscaloosa mystique matters. Winner of Keelon Russell vs. Gunner Stockton becomes the No. 2 Heisman name Monday behind Jeremiah Smith. Weather/ground-and-pound would help Georgia. He does not buy the “DeBoer quits up 14” read; this offense looks more like the Dylan Johnson Washington version. He is picking against his alma mater. Matt takes Georgia: Russell makes too many mistakes; rain could turn it into a footing game. Oregon–UCLA. Comp to last year’s playoff JMU win is only partial. Oregon’s defense looks undisciplined (eyes, linebackers), similar to early Raheem Biles worries at Texas, and UCLA’s run game can mess with that and shorten it to four quarters. Oregon still wins after the Oklahoma State wake-up and the USC win for Dylan Raiola’s confidence. Matt: competitive, UCLA loses by about 13–17, maybe a late Oregon score stretches it. A couple of UCLA names become known after this one. Close / schedule Like and subscribe. Postgame Saturday ~7 p.m. ET, grades video Sunday, Monday 7 p.m. ET with the Florida VOCFB crew. Sign-off: “hook ’em.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Oct 6

    Red River Smack Down? / Texas Longhorns LIVE 122

    Texas Longhorns LIVE 122 (TexasVOCFB) — Red River preview with Matthew Miller and Thomas Bresee. Sponsored by FanDuel. About 44 minutes. Show frame: No. 1 Texas is a 7.5-point favorite over unranked, 2-2 Oklahoma (opened 9.5, down two; up three from the offseason). Over/under 39.5, down sharply since open. Both hosts land Texas in the mid-20s, Oklahoma with one touchdown. Red River keys (0:00–15:50) Line and setup (0:17–1:30) Tommy has the spread in the 7.5–9.5 range and finds the total more interesting than the side. Market is pricing a Tennessee-style defensive game, with Texas having a little more offense but neither side expected to pull away. Matthew thinks Texas has the capability to blow Oklahoma out — they did last year without playing especially well — and can cover. How the game plays (1:37–3:30) Tommy frames it like Tennessee: Texas has the paper advantages on offense, defense, and overall profile. The job is focus and not self-inflicting extra chances. Biggest key is jumping in front early. Oklahoma’s fan base is 2-2 and licking wounds; a 10–14 point lead can quiet the Cotton Bowl fast, the way Texas fans have felt when roles were reversed. Bad teams have won this game before. Oklahoma would not be the worst team to do it. John Mateer plan (3:33–7:23) Matthew does not want edge rushers flying upfield. Goal is to make Mateer a pocket passer: he struggles reading defenses, gets sporadic, pats the ball with time, and double-clutched into a fumble at Georgia with a man open. Sacks are secondary. If Mateer throws 30 times from the pocket, Texas wins easily. Paths for Oklahoma are few. The worry is Texas shooting itself in the foot. One turnover is survivable; a 3–0 turnover loss probably is not, and it would still be close because the Oklahoma offense is anemic. Tommy agrees: keep him in the pocket and make him beat you as an NFL passer. Expect overthrows and safety picks. Two things that can kill Texas are Mateer’s legs and Isaiah Sategna after the catch. Collapse the pocket everywhere except Michael Fasusi, similar to Tennessee’s line outside David Sanders. Rush lanes matter — no over-pursuit, no missed tackles. Early sacks or a pick and Oklahoma fans start chanting for the backup, which adds another layer. Do not hand them answers. Poke holes early at quarterback, line, and the offense as a whole. Oklahoma weapons (7:24–9:01) Only real threats: Sategna and tight end Rocky Beers. Beers is the best tight end Texas has faced (Tennessee’s tight end is hurt; Ohio State, UTSA, and Texas State did not test that matchup). Linebacker/safety coverage is a real question. Oklahoma’s run game has been poor since Lincoln Riley left. Lloyd Avant and Xavier Robinson are Trey Weiner-type backs — fine, not scary. Clean game (turnover-free, penalty-light) and Texas wins by 10-plus. Better team in every sense unless Oklahoma’s line plays at a peak and Beers/Sategna hit one or two explosives. That path shows up maybe once in 100 simulations. Rivalry history and Sark vs. this defense (9:02–11:45) When Texas is the underdog it usually overperforms; Oklahoma as a legitimate underdog has beaten Texas once in Matthew’s lifetime (the Dillon Gabriel year, about a 4.5-point dog). Tommy cites a stat that this is one of three times the No. 1 team has been less than a 10-point favorite over an unranked team; the other two favorites covered comfortably. Sark has scored on this defense: last year was the worst offensive day and Texas was still efficient enough (Arch accurate, ran it enough); 30 in a loss, 49 in a blowout, 34–3. Offensive line is veteran and should hold up better against David Stone than against a twitchier Xavier Gilliam type. Do not give anything in special teams — that is what put last year’s game away, and Sategna can flip it. Tennessee special teams were the worst unit in that game. Oklahoma’s run defense is around 40th, lower than usual, with more openings. What Matthew wants schematically (11:46–13:08) More outside zone. A&M and Oklahoma struggle with it because they slant the line late. Texas has lived in duo and inside runs this year. He wants Sark more versatile week to week, not locked into an offseason run menu. Up-tempo early to help Arch. Ryan Wingo screens two or three times — used late last year, barely this year, one nice gain on the final Tennessee drive. Oklahoma is still a legitimate top-12 defense. Expectation is a Texas win in a weird game. Predictions (13:09–15:50) Tommy: 27–10. Oklahoma finds the end zone once. Arch needs a swagger moment — deep ball (Mississippi State to Wingo last year) or a sideline run like the one he slid and waved on a year ago. Ohio State comeback had the Wingo touchdown but no massive throw or run. Curious whether Sark alters the plan because Arch may not be the pure pocket executor every down. Comfortable win, more confidence in the offense leaving than arriving. Matthew: 24–13. Hopes the Oklahoma touchdown comes late so the “quarters without a TD” streak can stretch. When Texas is the better team, they usually win. Clip window: early lead kills the Cotton Bowl (2:27–3:29); contain Mateer, don’t hunt sacks (4:00–4:38); Sategna and Beers are the only real threats (7:26–7:57). October and future opponents (16:08–24:15) Tommy’s month theme: stop the run (16:15–17:17) Oklahoma should be stoppable. Then Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri. Put the game on the quarterbacks. Trinidad Chambliss can handle it. Kamario Taylor and Austin Simmons will make plays. If the run isn’t slowed: Jaden Baugh eats, Kewan Lacy has a day, Mississippi State’s wide offense hits explosives, Missouri’s run game is a nightmare. Stop the run for five or six weeks and Texas can be on a six-game streak toward 12–0. Matthew: score on bad defenses (17:19–19:38) None of the next defenses are top-25 units in his view. Florida’s front four is good, secondary is not. Ole Miss has one real difference-maker (Will Echols); take him out and there is little else. Missouri has not had defensive talent since the Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. LSU is the best of the group and only fine, maybe top 20. After Oklahoma, one top-20 defense in the next six or seven games. This roster should be a top-10 offense. Thirty points a game plus this defense wins all of them. Kamario is scary only if he is perfect — Alabama showed the defense is horrid. Texas can hit 40 on Mississippi State (did last year, in OT; defense is the same level, offense better but not worlds better). No remaining team is flat-out better except a possible LSU debate later. Missouri shutting down Baugh and boat-racing Florida proved the point: take Baugh out and Buster Faulkner’s offense loses the gimmicks. How those defenses will play Arch (19:39–21:14) Florida and Ole Miss will not be good on the back end. Front-seven athletes (Echols, Suntarine Perkins; Jaden Woods and Florida’s front) will heat Arch for four quarters and force quick, accurate throws and yards after catch. Six-man pressures leave five on the back end. It comes down to Arch getting the ball out faster and taking what is there. All of these defenses are attackable. Road form (21:15–22:03) Trips to A&M, LSU, and Missouri. Two of three should be top-20 when Texas arrives. Road results have not been good (Tennessee this year, Ohio State and other SEC trips last year). Hardest games other than LSU are at home, which helps. He would not want the Swamp or Ole Miss on the road this year. Austin Simmons (22:04–24:15) Missouri’s loss this weekend changed the framing. A path existed for No. 5 vs. an unranked, wounded Missouri. Now it can be a program game that sends Missouri toward the CFP. Jamal Roberts and the run game are real, and Simmons can beat you if he stands in and works through reads — unlike Boo Carter a year ago. Chambliss can beat you alone. Kamario can do incredible things with time. Simmons is the one getting too little credit. Matthew ranks him as the third-best quarterback left on the schedule behind the two Mississippi quarterbacks, and the one he worries about most because Missouri’s line is much better. Pure athlete scare ranking: Chambliss, then Kamario (40 on you any Saturday if you give him time). Kamario may have been nursing turf toe; Mississippi State gets a bye. Confidence check-in, rest of schedule (24:26–37:45) Scale is confidence Texas wins. Matthew corrects his Ole Miss number on air (he had said 7, meant 5.5). Game Matthew Tommy Why Oklahoma 7.5 7 Better everywhere except maybe Tate Sandell at kicker. D-line debatable; Colin Simmons tips it. Energy of the game caps it. Avoid mistakes, stay ahead of the chains. Florida (home) 6 6.5 Dominated by Missouri; Swamp would be lower. Win path is taking Baugh out of the game the way Missouri did (12 carries). Not just stopping the run — forcing them to stop handing it to him by getting up 14–21. Ole Miss 5.5 6.5 Harder than Florida. Average SEC QB and this drops to 3–4. Chambliss plus a healthy Lacy is the scariest QB-RB tandem in the country. Guy-for-guy Florida may be better outside those two. Tommy: you will not hold Chambliss for four quarters; need 28–34. He got them going down 10 at Florida without Lacy. Mississippi State 8.5 7.5 Defense is abysmal. Kamario has to be perfect and healthy, and that still may not be enough. Bothwell hurt for this game. Tommy puts the offense next to Tennessee’s. Keep Kamario uncomfortable; score 28–30. Missouri (road) 6 6 Road, likely night, first trip since old Big 12 days. Simmons can get hot; their defense can bother Arch. Hardy’s status unknown; Roberts is enough. They just shut down Florida’s run game, and Texas does not run it better than Florida. If Florida had won there, confidence would be higher. LSU (road) 5 ~5, preseason loss still stands Lowest mark. Hardest place to play, packed if LSU is i

  5. Sep 30

    Grades Heading Into The Bye Week/ Texas Longhorns LIVE 121

    Texas Longhorns LIVE 121 — Grades Heading Into the Bye Week Hosts: Matthew Miller & Tommy (Thomas Bresee) | TexasVOCFB Sponsor: FanDuel 0:00–1:22 — Intro & Texas–Oklahoma line Texas –9.5 vs Oklahoma (opened ~4.5 in the offseason; jumped five points). Tommy: Fair. OU defense is good enough that you can’t hang a huge number on them. Georgia needed John Mateer mistakes to cover; take those away and it’s closer to a 14-point game, which matches the old line. Rivalry tax applies. Miller: Georgia was ~13-point favorite on a neutral. Neutral-field Texas ≈ that Georgia number. Line checks out. 1:22–5:13 — Tennessee recap (Texas 20, Tennessee 17 at Neyland) Messy, both D-lines ate the O-lines. Should have been controlled by half; penalties and miscues kept it close. OL worst game of the year. Left too much on Arch; he started 9-of-10, 127 yards, then the INT and it unraveled (indecision/hesitation that disappeared late last year is back). Bottom line they repeat: winning in Neyland is hard. Tennessee fans called the atmosphere one of the weaker ones they’ve seen and Texas still found a way. Toughest September slate in CFB; two massive wins (Ohio State + Neyland). Not pretty, but the W is the W. This bye is the last real jump. If they don’t look better coming out of it, fan concerns are validated — the product vs OU will look a lot like the rest of the year. 5:13–10:00 — Sark has to play to Arch, not the other way around Miller wants more designed QB runs (they’ve basically had one true designed run all year; the rest are Arch calling his own number). Arch likes it and is good at it. Team is not built for 20 dropbacks and 10–12 long-developing routes. Need more short game + Arch in the run game. Ego has to go; Sark’s “Mac Jones / exact scheme” QB is the third-stringer (D’Abel ≈ Bryce Young face-value). Sark’s job is win games at Texas, not maximize Arch’s NFL starter window. Let him color outside the lines like late last season (Michigan, A&M). Add Cam Coleman, Relique Brown, Hollywood Smothers, a slightly better OL and you have last year’s late-season offense. Bye week is the window to flip it, then blend schemes once Arch gets confidence. Upcoming Florida / Ole Miss / Mississippi State stretch will force them to outscore people; Florida’s offense is “impossible to fully defend.” September was about setting up the season (4-0 = great shape). October is about taking a stranglehold (4-0 in the next four and November looks manageable except LSU). 10:00–14:47 — Defense is elite; SEC pecking order Defense is “downright awesome.” Not tiptoeing: this can be a top-5 unit. Best defenses in the country right now live in Austin and Athens. From Ohio State halftime onward they’ve been nearly flawless except one late Tennessee drive. Muschamp’s calls have worked. Chat (Artistically Incredible): Texas top-3 SEC? Florida, Georgia, Alabama look better. Hosts: Alabama/Florida haven’t played real defenses. Texas would likely beat Alabama; Keelan Russell is more capable than Faison Brandon of carrying it. Florida offense is top-10 but can they score 30 on this Texas D? Georgia is the only team they haven’t seen play bad football. Perception vs reality: early-season narratives overrate the teams that “look good” and underrate the 4-0 team that doesn’t look like a No. 1. Worst case Texas is 4th in the SEC and still in the CFP; best case they’re the best team in the league. Most impressive two-win résumé in the country right now: 1-point win over Ohio State + road win at Neyland. 14:47–22:23 — Execution vs scheme; WR usage Struggles have largely been player execution, not Sark being a bad play-caller (he’s still top 5–6 in the country). If you want a new OC you’d better hire one of the four best. Counter: maybe they can’t execute this offense. Sark adapted late last year; he has to again. Simplify: Ryan Wingo short/intermediate, Cam Coleman deep. Cam has 20 targets, 208 yards, 4 TDs — all vs bad teams; zero TDs vs Ohio State/Tennessee. He’s roughly where AD Mitchell was at this point of that year but hasn’t had the statement game yet. Arch has to throw the post when the safety sits in the box; the INT was a great play by the DB, not a “throwing into double coverage every time” problem. Emmanuel Acho point they endorse: a lot of guys have to play up to reputation — Arch, Cam, both tackles. Suggestion from chat/hosts: 5–7 rollouts a game (Bo Nix-style, get him moving right). Easy to install. 22:23–26:36 — GRADES heading into the bye They grade units only (not individual positions). Offense: C- Arch: 7 TD, 3 INT, 63.5% (completion % close to what they want; on-target % is fine once you add drops). Zero rushing TDs in the official line because they won’t design runs. Cam Coleman underused vs good teams. Ryan Wingo leading the team in receiving — expected, most consistent WR. Emmitt Mosley 1 catch for 43. Tight end room has no receiving threat until Nick Townsend is back. Need more Relique Brown / Hollywood Smothers in the passing game out of the backfield. Defense: A-range / “awesome” (they don’t put a letter on it the same way because they’re not nitpicking as hard). Top-5 potential. Secondary can still tighten. Coaching: Mixed. Sark still a top play-caller, but has to adapt to personnel this week. Muschamp side is rolling. 26:36–end of grades section / into concerns — OL & center Center job should be up for discussion now that Cole Hudson is eligible. If he’s even 10% better, play him. Dylan Sikorski has been the surprise second-best OL and has center experience; could slide him and play Hudson or Warren Seymour at guard. Seymour has been the biggest bright spot among offensive transfers. 41:34–54:14 — Biggest concerns the rest of the way Penalties — Miller’s No. 1. 124th in offensive penalty yards (bottom 15). Theme of the entire Sark era; hasn’t improved. You can out-talent three of four CFP opponents and then a back-breaking penalty costs the title. OL penalties are actually way down (3 this year, 1 on a starter vs 43 last year) — that’s a win. The dumb ones are PIs, special teams, and one of the dumber penalties they’ve ever seen. Sark already talked to Colin Simmons and Relique Brown. Rushing: 3.6 YPC, 89th. Backs are getting extra yards after contact vs what Baxter/Wiseman would have gotten, but no explosives because the OL isn’t creating holes. Too much duo/inside zone; maybe go back to more outside zone. Need designed Arch runs to freeze LBs and open lanes. Explosive-play margin matters more than turnover margin for winning games. 5.1 yards per play, 83rd. Live in the 30–60 range, not 80+. Explosives + Arch playing free fixes this. Third-down defense (39th) — Tommy nitpicking. They give up some long third downs (Ohio State started 5-of-first-8 with 8.5 to go). 10% better and it’s a top-10 D. Looked better vs Tennessee. OL “good but misses too much.” Will be a good unit, not a “they whiffed again” unit — but you may have to face Miami/Georgia/Notre Dame in a row in a title run. Have to be elite down the stretch. Is the pass rush bailing out the secondary? If Colin Simmons doesn’t get home vs a sturdy OL (Florida is the one they name), are there more holes in coverage than we think? Coverage should improve; may not be an issue by the time it matters. Special-teams mistakes / penalties putting them behind the chains in a one-score CFP game. Overarching theme they keep returning to: Sark is trying to make Arch the 12-year NFL pocket passer. Right now Arch is “a golden retriever in a 750-square-foot apartment.” Play to the player you have for this season. 54:14–1:06:05 — Arch, historical comps, closing message Arch played through a foot that later needed surgery last year (which foot is still secret; they guess right foot from mechanics). Fully healthy now. They never thought Arch was Sark’s perfect scheme QB; D’Abel is. Manning name made people assume Mac Jones processing would appear immediately. He’s still going to be a long-time NFL starter; he’s just not that guy for this exact offense yet. Fun comps: Quinn Ewers 20 yards and in + Arch’s deep ball = the QB they want. Shane Buechele would have ripped this offense. Vince Young would have transferred. Sam Ehlinger understood it but couldn’t make the throws. Message they want people to leave with: You’re 4-0. Almost nobody else who played Ohio State and Tennessee is. This was probably the worst month of offense you’ll see. Sark is too smart not to go back to what worked late last year. You shouldn’t have to score a ton this year because of the defense. Guaranteed points exercise: Miller 31, Tommy 28. Florida is the one offense that might push 30. Playoff: Win OU and they’re a lock in their minds (don’t see 4-3 in the last seven). SEC could put 6–8 in. Georgia looks like No. 1 on the eye test until they play somebody good. Florida under the new staff is a “Nick Saban / Kirby Smart-level psychopath” situation — terrifying and a playoff team with a friendly remaining schedule. Proof Billy Napier was the problem. Sark tightrope: 90% of what he’s done since he got the job has been excellent. Calling plays and being HC is a lot (last guy to walk that rope had Jameis Winston). If there’s no title, the “just hire an OC” call will come. Sign-off: Like/subscribe. Possible Thursday 6:30 p.m. ET show (no game, so no best bets); otherwise next Tuesday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. Sep 28

    Grading Texas' Win Over Tennessee

    TexasVOCFB — Grading Texas’ Win Over Tennessee Hosts: Matthew Miller & Thomas Bresee Special edition / postgame grades Texas 4-0 after a road win at Neyland Stadium Intro (0:00–0:10) Welcome to a special grading show on Texas’ win over Tennessee. Like/subscribe plug, then they jump straight into unit grades. Quarterback — Arch Manning Grades: C+ / C+ Same grade as last week; that’s the season-long grade for Manning so far. Good enough to beat Tennessee and similar remaining teams; not good enough to win elite games consistently. Pocket presence still needs work — that was the one off day. Accuracy was solid; almost no complete misses. Two plays where he crossed the line of scrimmage and still threw (indecision). Cleaned it up later. First drive is the template they want most of the time, especially once the OL has more cohesion in November. A lot of the night was out of his hands. Not terrible, but he has to be better going forward. Running Backs Grades: B- / B- Hardest unit to grade — they didn’t get many lanes. Relique Brown was the main guy. Ran hard. One highlight: hopped, spun, dodged a tackle for 7–8 yards (would have been 1–2 last year) and helped set up a first down later. Ugly 3–4 yard runs when needed. Hollywood Smothers would have helped find extra yards; he’s out. Derek Cooper still a bit banged up as a freshman. Poor blocking around them. Performed pretty well down the stretch given the circumstances. Wide Receivers Grades: C+ / B- No dropped passes. Cam Coleman one really good catch. Ryan Wingo a couple of late plays. Emmitt Mosley one early catch, then nothing. Host 1: same C+ as Manning — solid, doing their jobs, nothing special. Explosive plays have to start showing up if Texas is going to jump. Host 2: bumps to B- because Wingo was exceptional — YAC, screen where he made guys miss and fought for a first down, plus a great block on Relique Brown’s first TD. Coleman’s one big play; wanted more on the deep ball (looked like he got tripped). Need more volume from Coleman on that type of play. Tight Ends Grades: C / C Almost an incomplete — one catch, barely involved. Blocking wasn’t as good as usual, but hard to isolate when the OL struggled. Nothing they did prevented good things; they were part of the same non-rhythm as the rest of the offense. Worst blocking performance of the season. Nick Townsend’s absence is felt — most complete player in the room. Amari Winston is talented but not the same blocker or as comfortable in the offense yet. Group is still talented; Townsend makes it whole. Offensive Line Grades: D- / C- (worst of the year) Host 1’s worst grade of the night. Connor Robertson and Brandon Baker had many bad plays. Robertson is a liability vs. athletic interior guys (same issue vs. Ohio State’s Kerry Wilder / Gilliam types). Baker: assignment/communication issues — one play he stood between two defenders and blocked neither, nearly got Manning killed. If grading individuals: Robertson and Baker F, rest maybe C+. Unit as a whole D-. Host 2: C- (initially said C+). Worst performance of the year by a comfortable margin. Fourth-quarter drive when they had to just run it was decent. Putting Jackson Christian in doesn’t fix the athleticism problem. Baker getting more confident and communicating better at guard is the more realistic fix. Still working out how they play together, especially on the road. Not overly worried long-term, but this can’t happen vs. Ole Miss or LSU. Tennessee’s DL is better than average on the remaining schedule (Oklahoma better if David Stone is healthy; Florida another tough one). Bye week to get communication and plan right. 4-0 now; can figure it out. Defensive Line Grades: A+ / A+ (better than A+) 10 sacks and they stopped the run. Nothing else to discuss. Every player was incredible. Murad Watson awesome. Zeno Mozilo didn’t show up much on the stat sheet but was great. Lance Jackson no sack but felt like three. Alex January and Hiro Kanu both in on sacks. No Justice Terry and they still did this. Terry is the highest-ceiling DT; this is what the unit can be — take over games even when offense and other units have issues. Colin Simmons: already 8 (or 9) sacks on the season. Preseason over/under was 4.5. Quick start this year vs. last year’s late surge. UTSA and Texas State already changed game plans because of him. Teams will keep doing that. Penalty (fake Johnson celebration) — if you get five sacks you should be allowed to do whatever as long as you don’t touch anyone. He understood it was wrong, put it behind him, and kept playing. No one has to police him. Linebackers Grades: A / A Justin Krier a little quiet. Raheem Biles not quiet — insane closing speed when spying Faison Brandon, sack, a couple TFLs. Fun player. Richie Miles: 13 tackles + late sack (huge). Krier second with 9 tackles + late PBU that was almost a pick. Unit they were worried about coming into the year. Depth still a question, but Kosiak-Paula made special-teams plays. Brad Spence is B+ or better whenever he’s on the field. Younger guys should get more run later. Secondary Grades: B- / B+ Tricky. Good at times, picked on at others. A couple PIs. Weird TD where Bo Masco didn’t realize what was happening. Front was so disruptive that Brandon didn’t see a lot of open guys. Host 2: B+ because of how much that offense spreads the secondary and puts guys on islands. Masco didn’t look like the veteran. Grayson Littleton one of the best players on the team. Cade Phillips still improving. Jelani McDonald all over the field and made the play that sealed it. Kobe Black played (3 tackles) but Derek Williams Jr. was more visible (5 tackles) and is playing better football. Black may still be limited. Coaching Grades: B / B- Sark a little robotic on first down (too many handoffs). Play-calling overall good when the OL held up. Defense excellent. Special teams good. Execution lagged behind some of the calls. Penalties fall on coaches (Simmons one they let him wear). Have to clean them up a bit even if SEC play won’t be perfect. First drive worked; then OL collapsed and they had to adjust on the fly — not easy. Give Sark some leeway. Will Muschamp is a top-5 defensive mind right now; the change from Pete Kwiatkowski to Muschamp is paying off. One complaint: don’t go prevent when you’re dominating and up multiple scores. Let the guys pin their ears back and make the freshman QB more uncomfortable. This team is better when it attacks (same lesson as first half vs. Ohio State last year). Conservative isn’t their personality. Big-picture / looking ahead Walked into what they consider the second-toughest place to play in the country. Neyland was packed from the jump. Found a way to win, now 4-0 heading into the bye, then a 2-2 Oklahoma team that’s reeling. Feels like the reverse of last year (Texas undefeated, Oklahoma 2-2 then). Don’t do what they did today (shoot themselves in the foot with OL/penalties) and Oklahoma probably can’t beat them. Same game plan next week: make John Mateer beat you. Don’t think he’s capable. Oklahoma OL is also attackable. Manning feels closer to being in a groove; pieces are starting to come together. Needs the OL to get there so he can play full-time clean football. Tuesday 7 p.m. ET: one-third-of-the-season recap, look-ahead, Oklahoma talk, any breaking news. Quick grade card (both hosts) Unit Host 1 Host 2 QB C+ C+ RBs B- B- WRs C+ B- TEs C C OL D- C- DL A+ A+ LBs A A Secondary B- B+ Coaching B B- Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Sep 27

    TEXAS-Tennessee Postgame LIVE

    TexasVOCFB Postgame LIVE — Texas 20, Tennessee 17 Hosts: Matthew Miller & Thomas Bresee Presented by FanDuel Open / Vibe of the game (0:00–2:07) Weird, frustrating win. Texas “survives” a game that felt like it should have been 21-3 at half. Tennessee had ~130 yards of offense and one field goal until the late flurry. Final: 20-17. Texas never trailed after taking the lead back. Tommy: Mental toughness is real (same trait as Ohio State). They answered the punt-return TD, got the Cam Coleman chunk, kicked the FG, and didn’t give the lead back. Matthew: Never apologize for a road SEC win. Defense has been fine since the Washington game. Offense is the problem. Arch Manning (2:32–6:29) 14-of-19, 201 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, sacked 6 times. Matthew: 4–5 sacks on the OL, 1–2 on Arch holding it. First half and late fourth were solid; second/third quarters muddy. INT to Cam Coleman: not a great throw or decision; Coleman also mistimed the jump. Tommy: Started 7-of-8 and was ripping it. Throw to Jermaine Bishop may be his best of the year. Aggressive deep shot that Keon Lee picked — Tommy not furious at the decision (similar missed post last week). Line-of-scrimmage awareness is a recurring issue (three times in two weeks). Both: Hard to blame Arch when Arian Carter is in his face in two seconds. Protection and first-down play-calling were the bigger issues. Accuracy (~70%) was a positive. Run game & Relique Brown / Hollywood Smothers (3:43–4:28, 22:56–24:15) Relique Brown: 17 carries, 67 yards (3.9 YPC), 2 TDs. Turned it on in the second half. Hollywood Smothers fully padded, moving pregame, “good to go,” then never played. Tyler Horka tweeted he looked gimpy at the end of warm-ups. Hosts puzzled why he stayed in jersey if he wasn’t going to play. First-down runs were a disaster — constantly minus-2/minus-3 against Tennessee blitzes, creating 3rd-and-11+ (first seven third downs averaged 11.8 yards to go). Same pattern as Ohio State. Late-game push was better. Both expect a “lean-on-it-late” run game, not an elite one. Need more explosives through the air. Offensive line (8:11–11:05, 16:54–18:43) Dominated by Jim Knowles packages. Communication breakdowns (Brandon Baker twist/blitz — didn’t touch anyone). Connor Robertson is who he is vs. athletic DTs/DEs. Tommy: Line is still new. Ohio State game wasn’t a fluke of OSU playing poorly; they can be a good pass-protection unit with time. Bye week to clean communication before Oklahoma, then Ole Miss/Florida/LSU. Matthew: Upcoming schedule (OU, Ole Miss/Will Echols, Florida, LSU) will punish this if it doesn’t improve. Still found enough late to win — unlike last year on the road. Receivers (3:03–3:42, 20:54–22:12) Cam Coleman underwhelming relative to NIL/preseason ranking (3rd-best WR on the team some weeks). Jermaine Bishop: 2-33, nice 29-yard sideline catch. One play drawn up for him. Hosts excited about the talent; don’t expect a huge year (maybe 250 yards?). Ryan Wingo / others mentioned in passing. Defense — the bright spot (2:19–2:30, 11:35–17:16) No real concerns. Linebackers played well. Coverage unit (Grayson Littleton especially) held up vs. Tennessee’s 50-50 balls. Colin Simmons: all-time performance. 5 sacks (possibly 5.5 after regrade — would be a Texas record). Used as overhang/Jalen Walker-style rusher by Will Muschamp. One dumb personal foul (the “machine-gun” moment everyone on the sideline knew was a flag). He knew immediately and responded. Lance Jackson: best game of his career. If he plays at 80% of this going forward, Texas may have the best edge duo in the country. 10 sacks, 12 TFLs as a defense. Bo Masco PI flags: Tommy not overly concerned given Tennessee’s scheme and receivers (Mike Matthews, Darius Jackson). SEC refs liberal. Penalties (11:35–15:00) 115 penalty yards. Hosts expect this team to live in the 60–80 range under Sarkisian — that’s who they are (ranked ~50th the last two years). Can’t have back-breakers like the Simmons flag (gave Tennessee a first down with a chance to put the game away). Holding/false starts are livable. Some flags (especially DPI) are Tennessee putting you in bad spots + SEC officiating. Special teams (18:46–20:09, 25:10–25:55) Onside kick / drop-kick: Wingo isolated. Hosts would rather have Emmett Mosley, Dalen McCutcheon, Bishop, or even Relique Brown back there. Alignment issues. Not expected to be a recurring problem. Quay Moss punt return: four guys aligned to the return side. Fake-fair-catch / gunner-to-returner trick with Niblett/Bishop — creative from Jeff Banks, but the flag on the other punt return is more on the player (Niblett) than coaching. Big-picture takeaways (6:29–8:11, 24:16–25:10) Team is talented and mentally tough but frustrating. Should have won this (and Ohio State) by more. Question hanging: can they play this sloppy and still win a title? That would still feel like unfulfilled potential. Offense has to find explosives. Arch will hunt them. Defense and toughness can carry them through September undefeated on the road in the SEC — something they didn’t do last year. Bye week, then Oklahoma. Line and first-down identity are the next boxes to check. Close / upcoming content (25:56–end) Grades video dropping Sunday before noon. Tuesday 7 p.m. ET show: season-so-far recap + this game + look-ahead. Hook Em Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Sep 23

    Battle OF The UT's / Texas Longhorns LIVE 120

    Texas Longhorns LIVE 120 — Battle of the UTs Hosts: Matthew Miller & Tommy Bresee | Guest: Tucker Harlin (TennesseeVOCFB / Vols Wire / CFB HQ on SI / VOCFB 365) Texas vs. Tennessee preview + UTSA recap | Neyland Stadium, noon kickoff Intro & setup (0:00–1:54) Tommy opens Texas Longhorns Live #120. Matt joining shortly. Special guest Tucker Harlin from the Tennessee channel for the first Texas-Tennessee meeting in 57 years and first at either home venue. Noon game at Neyland (not a typical night environment). Tucker will be there in person. Discussion of scheduling quirks (LSU-A&M night slot, potential Alabama-Mississippi State noon + College GameDay the following week). Tucker interview: What we know about Tennessee after 3 weeks (1:54–6:00) Tennessee has faced two relative layups plus Georgia Tech. Defense looks better than last year and more like a competent SEC unit. Offense remains a mystery — they have not had to open the playbook much and have leaned heavily on the run when they have a clear line advantage. Preseason expectation: 8–9 wins and building toward 2027 with true freshman QB Faison Brandon. Still attainable. Circled games: Texas, Texas A&M (now looking more winnable), Alabama, LSU, and South Carolina on the road (bad history). Eight or nine wins plus a sneak-in CFP path remains possible. Ethan Davis injury & tight end room (6:00–8:10) Ethan Davis (converted WR) went down in the Georgia Tech game (limped off in the fourth). Big loss in the receiving game. DeSean Brame is now the primary receiving threat at TE. Blocking-oriented options remain (Trent Thomas, Drake Martinez). Room has talent but is unproven. Miles Kitzelman was more of a locker-room guy last year; Davis was supposed to be the upgrade. Tennessee defense & confidence vs Texas (8:10–10:20) Tucker feels better about the defense than the offense. DL more aggressive than expected. Linebackers (Arion Carter, Jeremiah T. Lander) rotating to edge. Secondary has not given up many big plays (Dajon Lane pick-six vs Georgia Tech). Has not faced a high-upside QB like Arch Manning yet. Secondary was poor vs UAB last year. Baptism-by-fire SEC opener for Brandon. Tennessee offensive line (10:20–13:00) Right side is the concern (right guard rotation between Donovan Haslam and Shane Mumarov). Jesse Perry (moved to RT) has graded well and was a bright spot last year. Left side more settled: Wendell Moy (when healthy) and David Sanders Jr. Tucker calls Sanders Tennessee’s best OL since Trey Smith — strong tape even against lesser DLs. Colin Simmons’ health is a major Texas concern; if limited, pass rush drops off (Zina Umeozulu next man up). Faison Brandon’s legs & RB room (13:00–16:40) Tennessee is less RPO-heavy than Texas and closer to its veer-and-shoot roots, but they have schemed more designed QB runs. Brandon is a natural runner (“runs like a deer”) and the best since Josh Dobbs. Expect some improv scrambles if the OL is challenged. Designed runs may be limited. RB room: DeShaun Bishop is the known name; DeJuan Morris has emerged. Javon Gordon another piece (held out last week). Tennessee ran 45 times for 299 yards vs Georgia Tech and did not want to throw. Confidence if Texas takes the run away and puts it on Brandon is an unknown — Saturday will reveal it. Fill-in-the-blank: Tennessee wins/loses if… (16:40–19:20) Loses if they let Arch Manning get in rhythm (run or pass). Tennessee has historically struggled with dual-threat QBs (Diego Pavia last year). Need to throw him off balance. Wins if they win the interior DL battle (Xavier Gilliam athletic, David Hobbs mobile) vs Texas center Connor Robertson and confuse Manning. Heupel’s offense is built to make life easy for the QB (screens, quick game, downhill run). Defense could make or break the game. Names Texas fans may not know (19:20–21:00) Defense: Xavier Gilliam (interior DL). Offense: Radarius Jackson (emerging WR3 with a few nice deep catches). Other weapons (Bishop, Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley) are already known. Predictions (21:00–22:20) Tucker: Competitive but Texas wins 27-21 (does not cover). Do not let the loss spiral like after Georgia last year. Tommy: 27-20 Texas. Four-quarter battle decided by a couple of late plays; leans Arch over Brandon. Matthew: 24-20 Texas. Tucker plugs & history notes (22:20–25:00) @TuckerHarlan on X (posted Texas-Tennessee history). General Neyland was a Texan (Aggie). Rick Barnes departure helped Tennessee basketball. YouTube: Mondays 8 ET with Jordan Binkley on Tennessee VOCFB; Tuesdays with Tyler Natuno; SEC show with Jackson Johnson & Andrew Miller. Vols Wire recruiting coverage; CFPHQ on SI. Hosting visitors this weekend. UTSA recap & Arch Manning discussion (25:00–32:40) Focus on Arch: Is he okay? Panic is understandable after pressure and some old habits returned when the OL got beat. Tommy’s view: last year’s poor OL forced bad habits; he reverted when he saw pressure Saturday. Trust the process — better OL and WRs around him. He made big progress last year; expect more this year. Not expecting lights-out vs Tennessee but a relatively clean, confidence-building road SEC game. Matthew: Close to the 8–23 game “who he is” line for young QBs (Burrow/Luck/Young comps). Next 1–3 games (Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida) will tell a lot. Still thinks a national title is possible even without a massive leap if pieces around him help. Drops (Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman, Emmett Mosley) must be cleaned up. Colin Simmons health critical for pass rush. Derek Williams filled in well at CB. Positive for Arch vs Tennessee: Jim Knowles likes three-high safety looks that give cushion. Decisive QBs who get the ball out beat that defense. If Arch hits the back of his drop and delivers, it could be a turning-point game. Keys to beating Tennessee on the road (32:40–end) Tommy Take the crowd out early. Neyland is one of the best environments; noon helps but explosives and turnovers will wake it up. Start fast (team superpower). No huge sacks or momentum plays. Run the ball: 30 carries, 3.5 YPC (~105–115 yards). Stick with 3–4 yard gains; set up play-action and keep Tennessee’s offense on the sideline. Exploit athletic but not massive DT group with gap schemes. Force Faison Brandon to beat you. Load the box, stop the run, keep him in the pocket. Make him complete 7–10 passes on multiple drives. Elite man coverage on wide-split WRs (Bo Masco, Grayson Littleton, Kate Phillips). Tackle well in space. DT dominance vs Tennessee’s interior (especially RG). Justice Terry or Nick Townsend if available. Slide Colin Simmons inside on obvious passing downs. Move numbers around pre-snap to confuse the freshman. Matthew Capitalize on likely Tennessee turnovers (young QB + questionable OL). Score TDs, not FGs. Same run-game and “make Brandon beat you with his arm” emphasis. Not at the point in his career where you respect the passing game first. Trust the process for Arch: OL (Dylan Sikorski leap), Sarkisian getting WRs open, get the ball out. Personal comfort (Holly Rowe covering the game) mentioned as a possible off-field help. Overall lean: Texas defense (Pete Kwiatkowski) should play championship-level football against a true freshman in a loud but noon environment. Championship-caliber unit, not just a big-game winner. Show close: Live Tuesdays 7 ET (this one earlier for Tucker). Best bets Thursday. Postgame after Tennessee ~3:15–3:30 ET. Hook ’em. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    The Voice of College Football Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Explicit
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