After a 45-28 loss to Florida last weekend to open Southeastern Conference play, Mississippi State’s schedule gets a lot tougher Saturday with a trip to No. 1 Texas at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
The Longhorns, in their fourth year under head coach Steve Sarkisian, have outscored their first four opponents by a combined 190-22, and Saturday will be their first conference game as an SEC member. Texas steamrolled defending national champion Michigan 31-12 on the road in Week 2 and has blowout home wins over Colorado State, UTSA and Louisiana-Monroe.
What: Mississippi State at Texas
When: 3:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
TV: SEC Network
Betting line: Texas by 39.5
Weather: Sunny with a high of 93 degrees and winds out of the north-northwest at 5 miles per hour, per AccuWeather
Records/rankings: The Bulldogs are 1-3 and 0-1 in SEC play. The Longhorns are 4-0 and have not yet played a conference game. Texas is No. 1 in the AP Top 25 and No. 2 in the NFCA Coaches Poll, while MSU is not ranked or receiving votes in either poll.
Series history: Tied 2-2. The Bulldogs defeated the Longhorns in 1991 and 1992, with Texas winning the most recent meeting 38-11 in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day, 1999.
Mississippi State update: The Bulldogs lost starting quarterback Blake Shapen to a season-ending shoulder injury against the Gators, and true freshman Michael Van Buren will make his first start Saturday. Redshirt freshman Chris Parson, who appeared in two games with one start last year, may also get a chance to play.
MSU will also be without running back Keyvone Lee for an extended period of time, so Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels will split the carries at running back. A defense that has had a hard time stopping anyone lost its leading tackler, safety Isaac Smith, to an injury in the Florida game, and his status going forward is uncertain.
Texas update: Quarterback Quinn Ewers led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff last season, but he has been nursing an injury lately and is questionable to play Saturday. In his place stepped Arch Manning, nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, and he was outstanding in relief against UTSA before making his first start against ULM.
Before the season started, Texas lost its top two running backs to season-ending injuries, but Jerrick Gibson and Jaydon Blue have filled in more than admirably. The Longhorns’ offensive line is among the nation’s best, as is their defensive front, and against an inexperienced freshman quarterback, they are almost certain to dial up heavy pressure packages.
Texas players to watch: QBs Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, RB Jaydon Blue, WR Isaiah Bond, LB Anthony Hill Jr., DB Andrew Mukuba.
Prediction: It’s hard to see this one not getting ugly in a hurry and staying that way. That spread of nearly 40 points seems too low at this point. Texas 59, Mississippi State 10.
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