The 10th-ranked Longhorns will be visiting the No. 19 Tigers for the first time since 2011, when both were members of the Big 12, in what could be described as a de facto playoff elimination game.
uncertain
what → rank → game
Both already have a pair of losses, leaving them a game back of the SEC lead, and bunched up with four other conference schools that also have designs on a late-season playoff push.
asserted
that → have → push
Texas (6-2, 3-2) was seventh in the initial CFP rankings released this week.
asserted
Texas → release → rankings
The Tigers (6-2, 3-2) came in at No. 18.
asserted
Tigers → come → .
“We’re built for this type of stuff.
asserted
We → build → stuff
We know how to do it,” said Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian, who was doing a little politicking amid election season by pointing out his team is the only one in the country with three wins over current Top 25 teams.
asserted
team → know → teams
They’re making only their second trip out of state this season, and after a three-game homestand, have three of their last four on the road — two of those against ranked opponents.
asserted
They → make → opponents
Everything else could be moot if they can’t win in Columbia for the first time since Oct. 24, 2009.
uncertain
they → win → Oct.
“We’re not always the prettiest team right now, but we know how to be at our best when our best is needed,” Sarkisian said.
asserted
Sarkisian → ’re → best
The Tigers have similarly ping-ponged between pretty and pretty ugly.
asserted
Tigers → ponge → pretty
In just their last five games, they’ve soundly beaten Florida and Texas A&M, blew a late lead at Mississippi State, were routed 31-3 by Ole Miss and hammered Arkansas 34-10.
asserted
they → beat → Arkansas
“I’ll say I’m most proud of how we’re staying together,” Missouri safety Santana Banner said.
asserted
Banner → say → ?
“There’s been points in the season where there’s been situations where we haven’t played our best, and we still haven’t gave up.
asserted
we → play → best
We responded.
asserted
We → respond → ?
Everyone’s bought in, everybody is fighting for each other.”
asserted
everybody → buy → other
Longhorns limping along
Texas could be missing a number of injured players on Saturday: pass rusher Colin Simmons hasn’t played the past two games with an ankle sprain yet still leads the SEC with 10 1/2 sacks; wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo left the Mississippi State game with injuries; primary running back Hollywood Smothers has been dealing with shoulder and knee injuries; and defensive backs Kade Phillips (groin) and Graceson Littleton (knee) could be out.
uncertain
Phillips → limp → injuries
Hardy back in the backfield
Missouri All-American running back Ahmad Hardy played last week for the first time since getting shot as an innocent bystander outside of a Mississippi concert over the summer.
asserted
Hardy → play → summer
He played five snaps in the game, carrying the ball twice for five yards.
asserted
He → play → yards
Jamal Roberts continues to be the lead back.
asserted
Roberts → continue → ?
He ran for 138 yards against the Razorbacks, putting him over 1,000 for the season.
asserted
He → run → season
Olugbode on the rise
Missouri wide receiver Cayden Lee, like quarterback Austin Simmons a transfer from Ole Miss, leads the SEC with 756 yards receiving.
asserted
Lee → lead → yards
He caught five passes for 50 yards and his league-leading seventh score of the season in last week’s win at Arkansas.
asserted
He → catch → Arkansas
Olugbode has caught at least five passes in every game but one.
asserted
Olugbode → catch → one
“He’s put in a lot of work to develop a relationship and a rapport with Austin,” Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said, “and he knows that there’s things he’s got to continue to work on.
asserted
he → put → Austin
It’ll be a tough matchup this week, you know, depending on how they move around the corner position and who’s available.”
asserted
who → know → position
Biles leading the Longhorns defense
Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles has been the SEC co-defensive player of the week each of the last two weeks.
asserted
Biles → lead → weeks
He had eight tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles against Mississippi State, and has become the Longhorns’ top playmaker with Simmons still dealing with his ankle injury.
asserted
Simmons → have → injury
Manning on the run
Texas has allowed 24 sacks this season, already surpassing the 23 it allowed all of last season.
asserted
it → allow → season
But the Longhorns are keeping drives alive thanks to quarterback Arch Manning’s running on scripted plays and scrambles.
asserted
Longhorns → keep → plays
He’s run for crucial first downs that kept scoring drives going in each of the last two games, though Manning also has taken some big hits.
asserted
Manning → run → hits
“You can’t just play drop coverage because he does a great job of scrambling,” Drinkwitz said.
asserted
Drinkwitz → play → scrambling
“The challenge is, you know, figure out what we do, get a plan, play with great fundamentals, play with great execution and effort, let the chips fall where they may.”
uncertain
they → know → execution
The Aporia
