Texas football beats Colorado State: Game-by-game recap

August 31, 2024 Vaseline blog 0

Texas football beats Colorado State: Game-by-game recap

AUSTIN — One of the most anticipated seasons in Texas football history kicked off with a nonconference contest against Colorado State that could start to answer a few questions about the 2024 Longhorns.

Some answers may have to wait another week, when the defending champion Michigan Wolverines meet the Longhorns, but on Saturday, Texas was downright dominant.

The blowout got so bad, heralded back-up quarterback Arch Manning made his Texas debut and promptly threw a touchdown. Not bad for the third-generation passer.

Starting Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers made an early statement to the Heisman Trophy committee and the Longhorns’ pass defense seemed to have shaken off last season’s woes as the Longhorns rolled to a 52-0 win over Colorado State in the season opener Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Ewers threw for 248 of his 260 yards in the first half and had all three of his touchdown passes by the break as Texas cruised to a 31-0 halftime lead. Colorado State’s touted passing game, which averaged more than 300 yards passing a game last season, managed just ??? yards against the Texas defense. The Rams had just 25 yards passing by halftime.

See the replay below:

More: Texas football vs. Colorado State: Full scouting report, prediction

Texas vs Colorado State score updates

. 1 2 3 4 F
COLORADO STATE 0 0 0 0 0
TEXAS 7 24 14 7 52

Watch Texas vs Colorado State live on ESPN+

Backup quarterback Arch Manning continues his, uh, assault on the school record books? The sophomore gets his first rushing touchdown, this one from a yard out as he uses his big 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame to push across the goal line.

Backup quarterback Arch Manning jogs onto the field to a massive roar from the crowd and prompt fires a 40-yard pass to Johntay Cook II. Moments later, he gets his first career touchdown pass to Silas Bolden. All is well in Longhorn Land today.

Freshman running back Jerrick Gibson, a five-star recruit from Florida, showed off his power on a 5-yard touchdown run on Texas’ first drive of the second half. He ran into a pile of tacklers at the 2 but pushed it into the end zone, with some help from his pals on the offensive line. The fans are now starting to clamor for backup quarterback Arch Manning.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers may be making an early case to be the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, and the Longhorns’ pass defense looks vastly improved over the one who had his struggles last season. Ewers has thrown for 248 yards on 18-of-25 passing with three touchdowns and an early interception while the Longhorns’ defense has held a powerful Rams passing attack that averaged more than 300 yards a game in 2023 to just 25 yards. Colorado State star receiver Tory Horton, a highly regarded NFL prospect, has just 16 yards on three catches.

After the interception by Jahdae Barron, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers throws his second touchdown of the game to give Texas a big lead just before the halftime break. This time, Ewers connects for a score with Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond for the first time this season. The Longhorns have outgained Colorado State 276-66.

More: Texas 2024 football schedule: Game-by-game predictions

Jahdae Barron, now playing cornerback, gets the first takeway of the season for the Texas defense. Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, under pressure from Barryn Sorrell, lofts a deep ball that Barron tracks down and returns almost 30 yards. The Pflugerville Connally graduate has Texas set up in Colorado State territory

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is heating up. He fires a brilliant ball to Matthew Golden for a 1-yard touchdown pass, and the Longhorns have some breathing room. Ewers is up to 187 yards on 12-of-18 passing.

Texas extends its lead to 10-0 with a 45-yard field goal from Bert Auburn, but the Longhorns wanted more. Colton Vasek tackled Colorado State punter Paddy Turner after Turner bobbled a snap on a punt attempt and tried to run for a first down. But the Longhorns couldn’t take full advantage, and a snap violation on center Jake Majors didn’t help on fourth-and-one.

More: Longhorn Confidential: Football’s offseason is over, let’s get ready for Colorado State

It’s lopsided on the stat sheet, with Texas holding a 154-34 edge in total yards. But Colorado State is hanging tough, thanks to an interception by linebacker Chase Wilson. On offense, six different Longhorns have caught a pass from Quinn Ewers. Defensively, Anthony Hill Jr. is all over the field for Texas with three tackles, including one for a loss.

Texas had a promising drive stopped at the Colorado State 17-yard line when quarterback Quinn Ewers tried to step up into the pocket and took a hit while throwing the ball. The ball popped into the air before being pulled down by Rams’ linebacker Chase Wilson, the first career interception for the fifth-year senior. Ewers is 8-of-12 for 127 yards, but that hurts.

Texas strikes on its second possession of the game. Quintrevion Wisner, who came in at running back while Jaydon Blue got a breather, barrels in from three yards out to cap a four-play, 64-yard drive. Tight end Gunnar Helm had the big play on the possession, hauling in a pass from Quinn Ewers on a crossing pattern and breaking a couple of tackles for a 37-yard game to bring the ball to the 3 yard line.

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff don’t name team captains for the season. Instead, they select the captains on a game-by-game basis. The captains for the opener against Colorado State include four players who are almost certainly enjoying their final opener in a Longhorn uniform: cornerback Jahdae Barron, quarterback Quinn Ewers, offensive tackle Kelvin Banks and defensive end Barryn Sorrell.

What are some questions for Texas in the opener?

Will the Longhorns contend for a conference title in their first foray into the SEC under coach Steve Sarkisian? Do they have what it takes to reach the expanded CFP playoffs behind quarterback Quinn Ewers and a loaded offense? Will newcomers such as edge rusher Trey Moore, receiver Isaiah Bond and new starting running back Jaydon Blue help them play for a national title?

More: Five big questions about Texas football, this week’s college games | Golden

Lee Corso thinks this is Texas football’s year.

The venerable former coach and ESPN commentator made an early prediction during his opening appearance on “College GameDay” Saturday to kick start Week 1 of the 2024 college football season.

Corso, beginning his 38th year on the show, picked Texas to beat Georgia in the national championship game and even flashed a “Horns Up” with his hands to emphasize the prediction in front of a big crowd on hand for this week’s episode at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian doesn’t release his depth chart until the morning of game day, and the Longhorns’ lineup against Colorado State Saturday certainly has some surprises.

Sophomore receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., who didn’t catch a ball last season but still burned his redshirt, will start along with fellow wideouts Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden. Moore drew praise from Sarkisian and the coaching staff all summer and had spent the past couple of weeks working with the first team in practice, according to multiple reports. Silas Bolden, Ryan Wingo and Johntay Cook are listed as the second-team receivers but all are expected to play significant snaps.

At right guard, junior Cole Hutson is listed as a co-starter alongside DJ Campbell.

Fifth-year senior defensive back Jahdae Barron, who has started at the star position the past two seasons, will move outside from the slot and start at a corner position opposite sophomore Malik Muhammad. Junior Jaylon Guilbeau will start at the star spot.

Michael Taaffe, Derek Williams, Andrew Mukuba and Jelani McDonald are listed as co-starters at the two safety spots, and Trey Moore gets the start opposite Barryn Sorrell at the edge instead of last year’s starter, Ethan Burke.

Texas vs. Colorado State time today

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
  • Time: 2:30 pm
  • Location: Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin.

What channel is Texas vs. Colorado State game on today?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: Watch ESPN; Fubo (free trial)
  • Radio: 1300 AM, 98.1 FM, 105.3 FM (Spanish)

Texas vs Colorado State will broadcast nationally on ESPN in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Texas vs. Colorado State history

  • Series record: Texas, 1-0
  • Texas last win: Sept. 13, 1975 (46-0)
  • Colorado State last win: N/A

Texas vs. Colorado State predictions

Thomas Jones, Texas beat writer

Texas 48, Colorado State 16

TOUGHER THAN RAMS ON GROUND

The Longhorns’ offensive line should be able to shove the Rams around. For one game at least, all is well with a running game missing two key players.

Cedric Golden, Columnist

Texas 45, Colorado State 10

ROLLING INTO MICHIGAN

Get ready for a large second-half dose of Arch Manning as Texas lands the early knockout. The Rams will be game but overmatched. Bring on the Michigan Wolverines after a 45-10 blowout.

Danny Davis, Texas beat writer

DEPTH CHARGE

Since Texas hopes that this season lasts 16 or 17 games, it must build depth and get the second- and third-string players some playing time in an actual game. This weekend is an excellent opportunity to do that, so expect the participation report for this blowout to read like a CVS receipt.

Texas vs. Colorado State injury updates

Starting running back CJ Baxter is out for the season for Texas, along with one of his backups in freshman Christian Clark. Other than those two, Sarkisian said his team is healthy and “everyone is ready to go.”

Texas vs. Colorado State weather update

According to the National Weather Service, Austin is in for a muggy and warm day with a slight chance of showers and scattered thunderstorms. Temperature is expected to be around 92 at kickoff.

More: Why Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian isn’t worried about his banged-up RBs

Texas football 2024 schedule

  • Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State | 2:30 pm | ESPN (Fubo)
  • Sept. 7: Texas at No. 9 Michigan | 11am | FOX (Fubo)
  • Sept. 14: Texas vs. UTSA | 6pm | ESPN (Fubo)
  • Sept. 21: Texas vs. Louisiana Monroe | 7pm | ESPN+, SEC Network+
  • Sept. 28: Texas vs. Mississippi State*
  • Oct. 5: BYE
  • Oct. 12: Texas vs. No. 16 Oklahoma | 2:30 pm | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
  • Oct. 19: Texas vs. No. 1 Georgia*
  • Oct. 26: Texas at Vanderbilt*
  • Nov. 2: BYE
  • Nov. 9: Texas vs. Florida | 11am | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
  • Nov. 16: Texas at Arkansas | 11am | ABC or ESPN (Fubo)*
  • Nov. 23: Texas vs. Kentucky*
  • Nov. 30: Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M*

Colorado State football 2024 schedule

  • Aug. 31: at Texas, 1:30 pm, ESPN
  • Sept. 7: vs. Northern Colorado, 5 p.m., Mountain West Network
  • Sept. 14: vs. Colorado, 5:30 p.m., CBS
  • Sept. 21: vs. UTEP, 3 p.m., truTV
  • Oct. 5: at Oregon State, 4:30 p.m., The CW
  • Oct. 12: vs. San Jose State, 1:30 p.m., truTV
  • Oct. 19: at Air Force, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
  • Oct. 26: vs. New Mexico, 3 p.m., Mountain West Network
  • Nov. 2: at Nevada, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
  • Nov. 15: vs. Wyoming, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
  • Nov. 23: at Fresno State, 8:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
  • Nov. 29: vs. Utah State, TBA, FS1

Texas football news

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