⚡ CFB Dashboard

- OL: Chip, that is how a tempo rushing attack goes: wear them down and gash them late.

- Texas tackles Trevor Goosby and Melvin Siani have allowed three pressures through two games, versus eight for the Goosby-Brandon Baker pairing at the same stage last season. Sarkisian praised the line after Ohio State. The report supports improved early pass protection, not a guarantee that it will remain dominant. - Texas has allowed efficient underneath passing: Brad Jackson went 13-for-14 on throws targeted fewer than 10 yards downfield, and Julian Sayin went 11-for-16 in that area; each averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. Those two games identify a short-passing vulnerability relevant to UTSA's approach, not an expectation of identical results. - Texas opponents have converted three of six third downs requiring nine or more yards, part of an overall 50% third-down conversion rate allowed. That quantifies Sarkisian's already-stated get-off-the-field concern: even favorable distance has not consistently produced stops in this small two-game sample.

- Steve Sarkisian called Texas' ball security a major problem beyond the turnovers actually lost. He cited Emmett Mosley's fumble, Ryan Niblett's muffed punt and Arch Manning getting loose with the ball on a red-zone play ruled incomplete, with teammates' recoveries limiting the damage. Those recoveries do not erase the handling concern. - Sarkisian said Texas was last in the SEC in third-down defense through two games despite the pass-rush and coverage talent available. Getting off the field is an explicit improvement priority after Ohio State; the win and No. 1 ranking should not be read as proof that the defense is consistently finishing drives.

- Texas expects Derrek Cooper back for UTSA after he was hurt early against Texas State and missed Ohio State. Steve Sarkisian does not expect Nick Townsend to play Saturday. Other players have unspecified bumps and bruises, making depth more important; these are the coach's Thursday expectations, not a final availability report. - Sarkisian wants Texas to rotate more players earlier against UTSA on both sides of the ball. The Ohio State deficit limited substitutions, and backups must earn trust through practice, assignment knowledge and effort. This is an intended expansion of the rotation, without named new starters or promised snap counts. - Texas has restored a heavier goal-line package after reviewing its recent short-yardage approach. Sarkisian said the change goes beyond using six offensive linemen; Jordan Coleman's movement and ability to displace defenders in tight spaces earned him a role. No permanent base-offense change or fixed package frequency was announced. - Texas is emphasizing ball security, third-down defense and faster starts this week. Sarkisian attributed Raleek Brown's fumble and Ryan Wingo's drop to correctable technique and wants trusted players involved again quickly after mistakes, rather than letting confidence erode. He did not announce reduced roles for either player. - Texas coach Johnny Nansen missed Thursday's practice, and Sarkisian had not decided whether he would coach against UTSA while gathering information about the off-field incident. His game-day availability and any replacement responsibilities remained unresolved at this interview.

- An anonymous former Power Four coach attributes Texas' second-half turnaround to a heavier three-DT front, more press man and five-man pressures. Ohio State's Julian Sayin went from 12-of-16 to 5-of-16 passing and OSU from 5-of-8 to 1-of-6 on third down. The account links the change to denying Jeremiah Smith free releases, not to an announced permanent Texas scheme. - As of Wednesday, Texas RB Derrek Cooper was at practice but out of team/contact work; a source reported a high ankle sprain and the article viewed UTSA participation as unlikely. TE Nick Townsend remained limited by a knee issue and also was not expected to play. DT Justus Terry had not practiced that week after the foot injury that kept him out against Ohio State. - Safety Jonah Williams missed defensive snaps against Ohio State because of a soft-tissue issue but had practiced during the week. Laurence Seymore missed that game with a strained Achilles; Sarkisian said Monday he was fine, while the report still treated clearance and the division of guard reps as unresolved. - Arch Manning's first two pass attempts became turnovers that led to 10 Ohio State points. The analyst says Manning then held the ball and overthought reads before recovering. Sarkisian used helmet communication to suggest receivers on some plays, an in-game simplification that helped the comeback rather than evidence that decision-making concerns are fully resolved. - Texas averaged 4.6 yards on 21 rushes during its final three touchdown drives, and Dylan Sikorski played all 80 snaps at left guard. The analyst praises the line's physicality and the complementary burst of Smothers and power of Brown. Seymore's possible return creates a rotation decision, not a confirmed change to the successful five-man group.

- Offense: I’ve been skewered for pointing out that PK defense finished higher than Sarks offense every year for the past 5 years.