OTF Premium Will the running game get off the ground for Texas or Florida on Saturday?

[Jeff Howe]

With Emmett Mosley V hopefully making his Texas debut on Saturday, when the ninth-ranked Longhorns travel to the Swamp to face Florida (2:30 p.m., ESPN), and the Gators expected to have true freshman Dallas Wilson available for the first time this season, Arch Manning and DJ Lagway could get some much-needed perimeter weaponry for their respective offenses.

If Mosley and Wilson are on the field, the wide receivers might do more than beef up the Texas (3-1) and Florida (1-3, 0-1 SEC) passing games. Stressing the opposing defense enough to give the running game a boost could be the difference between winning and losing, especially if the weather gets sloppy and the ground attacks become more of a factor.

Neither running game has set the world on fire through four games. Based on the raw yardage output, the Longhorns have been good, ranking 37th nationally and seventh in the SEC in rushing yards per game (202.8).

Still, the team’s average yards per rushing attempt (4.89) is behind last season’s pace (5.01) with one quarter of the regular season in the books.

Getting Quintrevion Wisner and potentially C.J. Baxter Jr. back will give Texas two proven commodities in the backfield. The return of either runner will take some of the running game burden away from Arch Manning, although his legs will likely continue to be a major part of Steve Sarkisian's game plan.

Where Wisner and Baxter need to make an impact is their ability to maximize runs. That’s one way to bring some juice to a running game lacking explosiveness.

Texas has 24 rushing attempts that have gone for 10 or more yards this season, which ranks ninth in the SEC. Alabama and Oklahoma are the only SEC clubs with fewer rushing attempts that have gained 20 or more yards than the Longhorns (three), none of which have come from running backs.

Manning’s 20-yard touchdown run on a scramble against San Jose State and two big gains in the Sam Houston game by Ryan Wingo (32 yards on an end-around) and Matthew Caldwell (an option keeper for 50 yards) account for the offense’s three longest rushing attempts from scrimmage. Baxter had an 18-yard run against San Jose State, which is the longest by a Texas running back this season.

With running backs Jaden Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson back from last season, along with four starting offensive linemen (preseason All-American Jake Slaughter and preseason All-SEC pick Austin Barber among them), Florida’s running game has the pieces to be arguably the best in the SEC.

Instead, the Gators are averaging 123 yards per game, which is the third-worst in the conference and No. 106 in FBS.

Florida averages less than four yards per rushing attempt (3.94) and, like Texas, hasn’t been able to lean on big plays on the ground. Alabama’s offense is the only SEC attack with fewer rushing attempts that have gained 10 or more yards than the Gators (13), who’ve matched the Longhorns’ three gains from scrimmage of 20 or more yards (a 27-yard run by Jackson in a road loss to Miami is the longest gain on the ground for Florida through four games).

Whether either running game gets untracked on Saturday will be easier said than done.

Texas is No. 3 nationally against the run (59.8 yards per game allowed), leads the SEC in yards per rushing attempt allowed (2.13), has held five consecutive opponents to under 100 yards rushing and has allowed only five rushing attempts to go for 10 or more yards. The Gators are a top-40 defense nationally against the run (111.3 yards per game and 3.37 yards per attempt allowed) with a Pro Football Focus team tackling grade of 85.7, which is the second-best in the SEC and ranks No. 6 in the country.

While the Longhorns cruised to a win in last year’s meeting with Florida, with a 49-17 drubbing in Austin, Anthony Hill Jr. remembers the Gators rushing for 197 yards. Florida’s output was second to Arizona State’s 214-yard effort in the Peach Bowl for the most rushing yards allowed by the Texas defense in 2024.

With Billy Napier’s offense returning a lot of the pieces the Longhorns saw last season, they're preparing for a fierce trench battle on Saturday.

“We know the type of athletes they have,” Hill said on Monday. “We know who they recruit — we've probably lost some recruits to them — so we know they have the athletes. We're just going to go out there and play the best football we can.”

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[Hookem1012]

Run hard and most importantly hold onto the ball

[alrightalrightalright]

Agree with what you said on the podcast, Jeff. If we rush for 175, we win the game. Win in the trenches and control the ball and clock. 

[Texas fan in Georgia]

James Simon needs 7-10 carries in this game.

[Jeff Howe]

Ja'Kobi Jackson is listed as OUT on Florida's injury report, so that won't help their cause.

[Jeff Howe]

 

[PaulieD]

I really believe that we will need to control the front lines and the tempo of the game.  No mistakes, probe and attack, then strike when possible.   Nothing forced.  Our D will take care of us..........

[selfdm]

Jakobi being out is either big or just means Baugh becomes a workhorse — lot of UF crowd have been complaining all year to give Baugh more carries. 

[Jeff Howe]

1 hour ago, selfdm said:

Jakobi being out is either big or just means Baugh becomes a workhorse — lot of UF crowd have been complaining all year to give Baugh more carries. 

From the outside looking in, they're both quality runners. I thought Florida had the best backfield in the SEC coming into the season.