By any standard, top-ranked Texas’ defense has been very strong.
The Longhorns are ranked No. 1 in both total defense and scoring defense. They also rank in the top 10 for first downs allowed, tackles for loss, and passing yards. Much of this success has come against teams with former walk-on quarterbacks, like Michigan, and freshmen, such as Mississippi State and Oklahoma.
However, the quality of quarterback play Texas will face is about to improve significantly in the second half of the season.
Texas will host No. 5 Georgia on Saturday night, marking the first matchup of top five teams in Austin since 2006, before traveling to Vanderbilt the following week.
Bulldogs senior Carson Beck was named a preseason first team Associated Press All-America pick, and standout transfer Diego Pavia has helped Vanderbilt achieve a surprising 4-2 start, including a historic win over then-No. 1 Alabama.
Simply put, Texas hasn’t defended against this level of quarterback all season. Beck is a player on the brink of the NFL, according to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.
“There’s nothing in the throw game (Beck) can’t do,” Sarkisian said. “He’s played enough football now, too. It’s kind of hard to confuse guys when they’ve played that much football.”
Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) has only allowed one team to pass for over 200 yards this season. Last week, Beck threw for 459 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 41-31 win over Mississippi State. His 36 completions set a Georgia record.
Even when Beck faced challenges early in Georgia’s loss to Alabama, he led the Bulldogs to a late fourth-quarter lead, finishing with 439 yards in that game, which ended with an Alabama interception in the end zone in the final minute.
Sarkisian recruited Beck when he was an assistant coach at Alabama. Beck initially committed to the Crimson Tide before choosing Georgia instead.
Beck has a career record of 18-2 as a starter and is 6-2 against top 20 opponents.
The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1) will need another great performance from him on Saturday. A second SEC loss could jeopardize their chances for the SEC championship and raise concerns about the College Football Playoff as well.
Texas has nearly dominated opposing quarterbacks this season.
In last week’s 34-3 win against rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns sacked freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. five times and held him to just 27 yards on 20 carries. Texas allowed only 225 total yards in the game.
Hawkins was the first freshman to start at quarterback for the Sooners against the Longhorns in the rivalry’s 120-year history, and he quickly faced a strong pass rush.
By the numbers, the Longhorns are on track for a record-setting season. Coach Sarkisian has mentioned that his favorite stat is points allowed, and that number is quite low.
Texas has given up only three touchdowns all season. Opponents have turned the ball over four times in Texas territory, but none of those turnovers have resulted in points.
This ability to stop opponents from gaining momentum can wear them down, according to Sarkisian.
“We’re so composed as a defense,” said Texas safety Michael Taaffe. “We’re so confident that no matter what happens, everything is going to be alright.”
The only time Texas has been behind this season was when they trailed 3-0 early against Oklahoma. Several Longhorns starters were still on the field when the Sooners’ final drive ended at the Texas 6-yard line as the game concluded.
Key players for the Longhorns have been second-year linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons.
Hill leads the team with 42 total tackles, 4 1/2 sacks, and 8 1/2 tackles for loss. His speed and move this season from the edge to the middle of the Texas defense have drawn comparisons to former Longhorns All-American Derrick Johnson from 20 years ago.
Simmons has four sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for loss, ranking second on the team in both areas. “Size, speed,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart when describing the Texas defense.
“They’re the complete package on defense,” Smart added. “The consistency you see when they play reminds me of some of our best teams here.”
