Can Texas score enough to beat Tennessee? How will A&M fare at LSU? | A Texas take on college football
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It's the battle of the UT's on Saturday as the Longhorns travel to Knoxiville to take on the Volunteers.
Texas A&M may already be in a must-win game as the Aggies head to LSU to face Lane Kiffin and both teams coming off a loss last week.
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The Houston Chronicle's Kirk Bohls and Austin American-Statesman's Cedric Golden tackle the top 10 topics in college football this week:
How many points does Texas need to escape Knoxville with a win?
BOHLS: Because I believe in Will Muschamp as the one person who will impact Saturday's game the most, not all that many. I'm thinking he makes 18-year-old quarterback Faizon Brandon's day miserable, his defense sacks the Tennessee freshman three times and holds the Volunteers ground game under 150 yards and the Longhorns take a 27-21 win.
GOLDEN:For a defense that has the look of an elite unit - the Horns have allowed only nine points over the last six quarters - the working number should be 25. Texas has allowed two touchdowns in three games, and while there has been a tad bit of leakage at times, they aren't giving up chunk plays in abundance. Tennessee is a good offense but not one that's hitting on too many long-yardage plays where an SEC worst 22 plays have gone for 10-plus yards. Texas should be able to keep freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon and running back Desean Bishop under wraps just enough to get out of Neyland Stadium with a 31-28 win.
2. Among the quarterbacks eligible for next year's NFL Draft, where in the order of selection would you put Arch Manning?
BOHLS: That's tricky because NFL owners will probably rank Arch Manning higher than their scouts and coaches and love the commercial bonanza he could bring a franchise. But as of today, I'd put America's favorite son sixth behind, in order, Julian Sayin, Trinidad Chambliss, Dante Moore, Darian Mensah and C.J. Carr. He just hasn't become an accurate enough thrower yet to move him any higher than that.
GOLDEN: At the top, in front of Oregon's Dante Moore, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker and Notre Dame's C.J. Carr, but he will have to play better to keep that spot. Manning has a good arm, prototypical NFL size at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and that iconic name on the back of his jersey, but he sometimes struggles in the accuracy area. That said, there is just too much upside and physical ability to pass him up.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) is pressured by Kentucky defensive lineman Tavion Gadson (94) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip/Associated Press)3. What is the key factor that decides the Texas A&M-LSU game?
BOHLS:The Tigers' anger level, which I'm betting is extremely high. Both teams' College Football Playoff hopes will be on the Do Not Resuscitate list with a second loss in September and hang in the balance. Lane Kiffin knows he can't afford to lose a home game and drop two in a row or the Tigers might hit Return to Sender. Plus the Tigers remember only too well how the Aggies smoked LSU in Baton Rouge last year. A&M's thin receiving corps really limits its options. Call it LSU, 41-31.
GOLDEN: This may sound simple, but it will come down to quarterbacks Marcel Reed and Sam Leavitt. Reed has had a disappointing start to the season - the Aggies gave up a 28-0 run at home to Kentucky - and injuries to wideouts Terry Bussey and Ashton Bethel-Roman have slowed down this offense. I don't see him as a confident signal caller. Leavitt hasn't exactly been lighting it up either. He has LSU fans fearing he won't last the season because he's running too much. I'll take the Bayou Bengals at home to win 24-20.
4. Who wins the Oregon-USC game?
BOHLS:I've got the Ducks by a field goal. Rutgers - yes, that Rutgers - put a scare into the Trojans a week ago. Oregon has more firepower than USC, and Dan Lanning knows he's got to leave LA with a win if he expects to be a contender in the Big Ten. Ducks win a thriller, 42-39.
GOLDEN:Oregon has to be the biggest disappointment so far. The 84-0 win over Portland State moved zero needles. USC hasn't played anybody, and Lincoln's Riley's defense has brought that old Pac-12 shootout mentality to the Big Ten, and that's not a good thing. That Oklahoma State disaster means the Ducks are looking at the freaking Holiday Bowl with another loss. They will come in desperate and take a 38-31 win.
Mississippi running back Kewan Lacy (5) leaps between LSU safety Ty Benefield (2) and cornerback PJ Woodland (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The play was called back. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)5. Who's the best running back in college football?
BOHLS: For my money, I'll take Jadan Baugh with his eight touchdowns and almost 500 yards rushing with at least one run of 50 yards in all three of his games. I've loved the Florida tailback since we saw him in person in Gainesville last year. He's a bit slower than Kewan Lacy but more powerful.
GOLDEN: He ranks a distant No. 51 in rushing nationally, but I'm a big fan of Ole Miss star Kewan Lacy who left last week's win over LSU with a shoulder injury. The Lancaster High School product has all the attributes needed to be a star on the next level. Elite speed - he has been clocked at 21 miles per hour - elusiveness, and the ability to run between the tackles. I like what Florida's Jaden Baugh is doing in a bounce-back year in Gainesville, but Lacy is my guy.
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6. What's your lock of the week against the spread?
BOHLS: Since I'm very down on Oklahoma and its feeble offense, I think powerful Georgia will crush the Sooners and more than cover the 14-point spread to win 27-10.
GOLDEN: Why do I feel like I'm getting ready to do one of those 3 a.m. infomercials where I brag on being on the hottest streak of my life with a shady 1-800 number deftly placed under my polyester sports jacket and clip-on tie? "Sign up for the Golden Lock! I can't miss! Get in on this heater!"
Since you asked, I'll take Ole Miss plus the 1½ points to win at Florida. The Rebels broke through with a massive win over LSU and they're about to take off.
7. What team is ranked too high and too low in the AP Top 25?
BOHLS: I believe Michigan is too high at 18 and probably shouldn't even be ranked since the Wolverines' two wins - OK, three technically - have been over a punchless Oklahoma, a luckless Western Michigan and a lesser UTEP, which is ranked 130th out of 138 FBS teams by ESPN. I've got Ole Miss No. 2 on my top 25 ballot with the best tandem wins of the year over Louisville and LSU, so the Rebels are ranked too low at fourth, but so is Ohio State at No. 7. I have the Buckeyes at fourth.
GOLDEN: I'm still not over that Michigan robbery of Western Michigan. The Wolverines did take out Oklahoma and its comatose offense a couple of weeks ago, but I'm not convinced they're the 18th best team in America. I could see No. 17 Iowa moving up a few notches. Kirk Ferentz has found some offense in Year No. 75 at the helm. We'll find out soon enough. They're playing the overrated Wolverines this week.
8. Is Kentucky or Mississippi State more for real?
BOHLS: I think the Bulldogs are a bit more legit than the Wildcats because they have the better quarterback in Kamario Taylor. I'm not saying Kentucky isn't good because Will Stein's team crushed the Aggies and are vastly improved. But the Wildcats rank 14th in offense and 15th in defense in the SEC while Mississippi State's 47-point offensive average ranks it fifth and improved defense ranks ninth.
GOLDEN: Will Stein has the Wildcats going places, but I'll give the Bulldogs the edge because quarterback Kamario Taylor is a must see these days. He has singlehandedly lifted this offense into relevance with good old-fashioned playmaking. He isn't a finished product by any stretch but has people in StarkVegas talking dark horse when it comes to the SEC title game. I'm not going there, but any time Taylor is playing, I'm watching.
9. Is there one team outside the state of Texas that you quietly root for?
BOHLS: We're supposed to be objective, but I can't help but pull for North Dakota State, which dominated FCS play with 10 national titles since 2011. The Bisons are in their first year in the FBS and don't appear to be over their heads in the Mountain West Conference. Quarterback Nathan Hayes has seven touchdown passes, and the defense has been solid. It'd be awesome if they became the Group of 6 team in the CFP. They even got six votes in the AP Top 25 poll, making them the 40th ranked team.
GOLDEN: I keep my eyes peeled for the U. Miami is a fun watch with Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, arguably the most explosive quarterback-wide receiver duo in the game. Mensah has been downright surgical with an insane .899 completion percentage with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. Toney is a touchdown waiting to happen with five scores in three games. He's also averaging 9.3 catches per game.
10. Would you rather see President Trump on the GameDay set or attempt a field goal to win Pat McAfee's big check?
BOHLS: I guess not at all is not an option. In that case, I'd love to see him try to boot a field goal and try to collect a cool million bucks. We do know he loves money.
GOLDEN: Is there a None of the Above option? I'd rather him tend to the business of fixing the economy but since he has so much free time on his hands, I'd rather see him split the uprights, make it and donate that $1 million check to a worthy cause that has nothing to do with him. That would be nice.
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