3 takeaways from Texas's close road win over Vanderbilt
Texas defeated Vanderbilt 27-24 on Saturday afternoon in Nashville.
It was far from a dominant performance, although the Longhorns performed better than the final score may indicate. A couple of turnovers from quarterback Quinn Ewers helped keep Vandy in the game, but the Commodores were not able to find the breakthrough moment in the second half.
Here are 3 takeaways from this win:
Texas was dominant defensively
UT’s defense couldn’t have been much better on Saturday. Vanderbilt scored 17 points, but 14 of them were scored directly off of turnovers by the Texas offense. The Commodores managed just 3.9 yards per play until their final drive of the game, which took place with the outcome no longer in doubt.
The Texas secondary was especially productive. The Longhorns registered 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups on the night. They also had a late pick-6 that was wiped off the board due to a questionable roughing-the-passer call.
Diego Pavia finished the night 14-of-24 for 114 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown in the first half.
Turnover trends
While the defense was largely up to the task on Saturday, the Longhorns offense was not. Ewers had a couple of painful interceptions in this one, continuing a worrisome trend for him. He now has 6 interceptions on the season despite missing multiple games due to injury.
Ewers has thrown at least 1 interception in 4 consecutive games.
Penalties were also a big issue for Texas in this game. The Longhorns amassed 10 penalties for a total of 108 yards — an uncharacteristic total for Steve Sarkisian’s team. Texas entered the game averaging under 50 yards of penalties per game, which ranked 3rd in the SEC.
Charting UT’s path forward
This was an important win for Texas as it continues to march toward a potential SEC Championship Game appearance and a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns are now 7-1 overall this season and 3-1 in SEC play.
The SEC standings situation remains complicated with numerous teams still hanging around with 1 or fewer loss, but the Longhorns seem poised to be in the mix deep into November.
Texas is off in Week 10 but will be in action again at home against Florida in Week 11.
That roughing call was not questionable. They went back and added targeting because it was so bad.
This is not your daddy’s Vanderbilt team. UT better be on when they go to Nashville.
Dear lord this is some lazy writing. Vanderbilt scored 24 points not 17. For the love of god, it was in the first sentence. The roughing-the-passer call was a targeting call that ended up in an ejection. Questionable? Good grief. Texas’s secondary got two picks, one on a tipped ball and one on a ball Pavia had to attempt to throw on fourth down in the fourth quarter. Texas’s secondary was very good, but using the interceptions as a defining features is a bit much.
I agree… but typical for SDS these days.
Kind of like them referring to Texas as “UT.”
We all know who the UT is in the SEC.
And great game Vandy… you guys have some very good days ahead and I’m happy to see you guys winning–and competing at a high level—every Saturday.
Agreed. Texas is the one UT
Maybe Vanderbilt is better than everybody thinks. There is no reason for them not to have a competitive team. Stanford and Northwestern have all had better football teams over the years than Vandy.
Gary, Gary, Gary. Stanford and Northwestern have not been in the SEC. Please hold off on such apples-oranges comparisons.
^^THIS^^
Texas as well as Oklahoma are learning this is not big 12 football. Anyone in the sec can beat anyone else any given week. Clark Lea has got to the the sec coach of the year .
If he’s not, then mandatory drug testing for SEC coaches needs to be instituted immediately. Of course it didn’t hurt that essentially the heart and soul of the NMSU team that went 10-3 last year “transferred” (players and coaches) to Vandy, but kudos on Lea for going out and getting the talent and coaches he needed to elevate that program.
Looks like the Texas fans have yet to find SDS.
Great game by Vandy and a good bounce-back by Texas.
Nor has Oklahoma, me thinks.
Which is good on both accounts.
What kind of BS writing is this?
Whatever the final score of this game, I’m really looking forward to the tu QB memes after the game on November 30. Aggies have spent the past 12 years building to a crescendo.
Gonna be a fun one, my friends.
Gig ’em!