Texas Longhorns
· 2026-06-26
The Texas Longhorns will play the Texas State Bobcats on September 5, 2026.
The Texas Longhorns had a tough stretch in October 2025, going 2-1 with a score differential of 82-80 against three teams.
They emerged from this rut with an overtime victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Mississippi State sets up play-action better than Texas, which could lead to victory over the Longhorns.
The Bulldogs ran the ball 55.28% of the time last season, while Texas ran the ball just 49.02% of the time.
The Longhorns will need to improve their play-action to compete with the Bulldogs.
Kamario Taylor, the ultra-athletic quarterback, will join dynamic runner Fluff Bothwell in the backfield for Mississippi State.
Taylor and former Bulldogs starter Blake Shapen combined to average 10.1 yards per attempted play-action pass.
Arch Manning averaged 7.7 yards per attempted play-action pass.
The Longhorns' backup pass-catchers could be as good as Mississippi State's starters.
But the Bulldogs' ability to set up play-action will give them an advantage.
The Texas Longhorns will need to be ready for the challenge.
They cannot sleep-walk for the first 50 minutes of their next game against the Bulldogs.
The Longhorns' performance against Mississippi State will be a key indicator of their success.
Carter Long, a sophomore Journalism and Sports Media student, reports on the Longhorns.
The Longhorns' next game is against the Texas State Bobcats on September 5, 2026.