Texas clinches trip to Big 12 title game, Arch Manning debuts in win over Texas Tech

No. 7 Texas took control with an opening drive touchdown and coasted to a 57-7 victory over Texas Tech in its regular-season finale Friday in Austin, clinching the Longhorns’ first Big 12 championship game berth since 2018.

The Longhorns will look to sew up their first conference title since 2009, and potentially a subsequent College Football Playoff appearance, Dec. 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

In the meantime, here are five takeaways from Friday’s win.

Arch Manning makes his debut When Arch Manning took the field late in the third quarter Friday for his college debut, an air of excitement overtook Darrell K Royal-Memorial Stadium.

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When the former No. 1 nationally ranked recruit soon thereafter scrambled five yards for a third-down conversion, the crowd went wild, even with the Longhorns leading by 43 at the time.

There’s plenty of excitement around Manning’s future on the 40 acres, and the energy is palpable.

The main takeaway from the true freshman’s Black Friday debut was his ability to keep the chains moving with his legs.

Manning totaled 25 rushing touchdowns while rushing for more than 1,100 during his high school career. But to see such production under the bright lights at DKR provides optimism for what a future with Manning could bring.

The 91-yard touchdown drive he led in the fourth quarter was the cherry on top for Longhorns faithful.

Grin and Behren it Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton had a rough night against this Longhorns defense, although he certainly wasn’t the first to experience that this season.

With an avalanche of interceptions Friday, Texas’ defense closed the regular season’s second half with a total of nine interceptions, and at least one in every game since since Oct. 21.

While Tahj Brooks had a strong statistical outing on the ground against the Longhorns’ usually stout rush defense, Morton and Co. were utterly anemic through the air, managing a mere 58 yards passing through the first three quarters.

The first two INTs were less than ideal. But when the third ricocheted off Brooks’ foot and went back 43 yards for a Jett Bush pick-six, it became clear it would not be Morton’s night.

Hilarious pick-six off for Texas’ Jett Bush on a pass that bounced off a shoe. pic.twitter.com/ZzmQkSRQaT

— Max Olson November 25, 2023 Auburn is automatic Bert Auburn established a new program record by converting his 17th consecutive field goal attempt at the 10:07 mark of the second quarter Friday night, surpassing Anthony Fera (2013) and Phil Dawson (1996-97) for the recognition.

Auburn wasn’t finished, providing an additional pair of successful field goal tries on Texas’ final two drives of the first half to extend his streak to 19. Then, he drilled another from distance on the Longhorns’ second offensive drive of the second half.

In total, it was a 5-for-5 Black Friday showing for Auburn, with makes from 26, 34, 37, 44 and 54 yards.

The junior from Flower Mound has been automatic on extra points throughout his career, going a perfect 103-for-103 over three seasons.

He’s producing similarly stellar results on field goals of late, an ability that will prove more pivotal as competition stiffens up in the Big 12 championship game, and potentially beyond in the CFP.

The Texas kicking program has produced Dawson, a 20-year NFL vet, as well as the NFL’s most accurate kicker in Justin Tucker (90.1%), among others.

With the consistency he’s shown, Auburn could be the next program representative headed for an NFL career.

Keilan may be the key Keilan Robinson tallied his first career receiving score last September in Lubbock. Friday night, the Crimson Tide transfer also secured his first 2023 touchdown against the Red Raiders, a 10-yard catch-and-run to provide the Longhorns with a quick 6-0 advantage.

Robinson’s explosiveness was once again on full display when he took the second half’s opening kickoff 95 yards for his second career special teams TD.

Robinson had a productive 2022 in the passing game, totaling 20 catches and three receiving touchdowns, both bests among Longhorns running backs.

Perhaps a late-season offensive surge is in the works for the redshirt senior, who entered Friday’s game with just seven targets, six catches and 36 receiving yards for the year.

CJ Baxter posted a career-high five catches against the Cyclones last weekend , but he’s yet to score as a receiver and came into Week 13 with only 76 yards on 17 catches for his freshman campaign (4.5 yards per catch).

With more passing game opportunities, Robinson may be able to bring another dimension to the Longhorns backfield, which is but two weeks removed from Jonathon Brooks’ season-ending ACL injury .

Jaydon Blue’s breakout On a single snap – the second quarter’s opening play from scrimmage – sophomore back Jaydon Blue established a new single-game career best with 69 rushing yards.

There wasn’t much Texas Tech’s defense could do once Blue broke through the right side of the Longhorns offensive line. Blue easily blew past Red Raiders defensive back C.J. Baskerville en route to the pylon, notching his second collegiate touchdown in the process.

Blue coasted past the century mark, reaching 106 yards rushing with just his sixth carry of the game. The fill-ins are evidently doing just fine, given that his big night came on the heels of Baxter’s 117-yard rushing performance last Saturday in Ames.

Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian said Blue was champing at the bit for his opportunity once the depth chart opened up in the wake of Brooks’ Nov. 11 injury.

Blue took the opportunity and ran with it, and as a result, he might be in line for additional carries alongside Baxter.