AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon, Colorado State’s offense aimed to disrupt the atmosphere of Texas’ season-opening game. However, the Longhorns’ defense had other plans, limiting the Rams to a mere 192 total yards in a decisive 52-0 victory for Texas.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian remarked, “I think we accomplished a lot of the things I hoped we would today. We played 51 different players in the first half, so it was good to have a lot of guys get into the game. I felt we executed well in complementary football.”
Sarkisian noted that, despite a slower start in the first quarter, the team found its rhythm in the second quarter and maintained that momentum after halftime.
Amidst the heat at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns kicked off with a strong defensive performance, allowing just a single yard to Colorado State after three plays, forcing the Rams into a tough position following a 39-yard punt.
Texas quickly transitioned to offense, with redshirt-junior quarterback Quinn Ewers leading a rapid four-play, 64-yard drive, culminating in a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Quintrevion Wisner, marking the sophomore’s second score in four games.
After a brief offensive effort from Colorado State that brought them to the Texas 44-yard line, the Rams wouldn’t cross midfield again until less than two minutes remained in the game.
Sarkisian praised his secondary for their performance, stating, “I was proud of our secondary to minimize their offensive plays. Those guys have been hearing about themselves all offseason, and to come out and shut down that passing game was impressive.”
Throughout the match, Texas maintained consistency on offense. After finishing the first quarter with a 7-0 lead, Ewers connected with first-year players Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond for three touchdowns in the second half. A 45-yard field goal from Bert Auburn extended the lead to 31-0 by halftime, marking Texas’ largest intermission lead since November 2022.
Ewers achieved a strong second-quarter performance, completing 10 of 13 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense confined Colorado State to just 44 yards on 16 plays.
Backup quarterback Arch Manning made an impact late in the third quarter, entering the game with a 38-0 lead. He began his play with a 40-yard connection to Johntay Cook II, leading to a 5-yard touchdown pass to Silas Bolden, both of their first career touchdowns at Texas.
Manning capped off the game with a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, completing Texas’ first shutout in a season opener since 2004.
UP NEXT
With their season opener behind them, Texas (1-0) is set to travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for their next game against Michigan at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 7, which will be broadcast on FOX.
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