Coming off an emotional fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State, No. 1 Texas faced a different challenge against UTSA: avoiding a letdown before opening SEC play. The Longhorns accomplished that part of the assignment, defeating the Roadrunners 30-6 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to improve to 3-0.
Texas needed only one defensive play to take control.
UTSA quarterback Owen McCown's first pass was tipped into the air and intercepted by Raheem Biles, immediately giving the Longhorns possession. Arch Manning quickly converted the turnover into points, finding Cam Coleman for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
UTSA responded by leaning on its running game. Will Henderson repeatedly found room on the outside and helped move the Roadrunners into scoring position before Texas tightened defensively. Colin Simmons eventually sacked McCown, forcing UTSA to settle for a 34-yard Michael Petro field goal.
Texas extended the lead with a long field goal before Manning and Coleman connected again.
This time, Manning gave the Auburn transfer an opportunity to make a play in the end zone. Coleman elevated over the coverage and brought down the pass for his second touchdown of the night, providing another example of the size and catch radius that made him one of Texas' most prominent additions through the transfer portal.
The Longhorns weren't always as efficient offensively as the score might suggest.
UTSA's defense produced stops, and Texas struggled at times to finish drives. Manning used his mobility to escape pressure and extend plays but also missed several opportunities through the air. The Longhorns relied on their defense and kicking game to maintain control while the offense worked through those uneven stretches.
UTSA added another Petro field goal but never found the end zone.
Texas' defense consistently limited the Roadrunners when drives reached critical situations. McCown faced steady pressure, while the Longhorn secondary prevented UTSA from generating enough explosive passing plays to seriously threaten the lead.
Texas eventually put the game away on the ground.
Hollywood Smothers broke loose for an 18-yard run as the Longhorns moved deep into UTSA territory. Freshman Derrick Cooper followed with a strong run that ended just short of the goal line before finishing the drive himself from close range.
The touchdown was the first of Cooper's college career and extended the Texas advantage to 30-6.
That proved to be the final score.
The Longhorns weren't as explosive or consistent as they had been during their dramatic comeback against Ohio State, but they didn't need to be. The defense created an immediate turnover, allowed only six points and kept UTSA from turning the game into a serious fourth-quarter challenge.
For Texas, the victory completed the nonconference portion of the schedule at 3-0.
The stakes rise considerably from here. The Longhorns now head to Knoxville for their SEC opener against Tennessee, carrying the nation's No. 1 ranking and an unbeaten record into their first major conference test of the season.
