Jeff Howe

I’m already ready!

When No. 11 Texas faces fifth-ranked Georgia in Athens next Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC), it will do so on the heels of the Bulldogs’ most complete performance of the season. In Saturday’s 41-21 dispatching of Mississippi State in Starkville, Kirby Smart’s team rolled up a season-high 567 yards of total offense. Georgia (8-1, 6-1 SEC) ran for 303 yards and averaged 7.7 yards per play on an afternoon in which Gunnar Stockton (18-for-29 passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns) led five consecutive touchdown drives after a first-quarter fumble in the red zone. A defense entered Saturday’s game with a Power Four-low eight sacks recorded three. After allowing a 14-play, 75-yard drive to open the game, the Bulldogs forced two three-and-outs, four total punts, a fumble and a turnover on downs to help Georgia build a 38-7 lead by the 9:58 mark of the third quarter. The Longhorns won four consecutive SEC games after losing to Florida. Texas (7-2, 4-1) has earned the opportunity to position itself as a threat to get back to the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff if it can top the Bulldogs. With Georgia’s trip to Starkville out of the way, the countdown to the third meeting between the Longhorns and the Bulldogs in 392 days is officially underway. — Along with a healthy running back room (Nate Frazier’s 59-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter highlighted a 12-carry, 181-yard performance against Mississippi State), Georgia’s offensive line looks just as good, if not better than the group Stacy Searles put on the field last season. Texas will come into the game with arguably the best defense in the country against the run, making for a hellacious trench battle next Saturday. — The tight end position is a significant piece in Mike Bobo’s offense, which is why Lawson Luckie’s departure after he was leveled on a hit that led to Jahron Manning’s ejection for targeting is a significant development. Smart said after the game that Luckie wanted to return to the field. Regardless, Luckie’s availability is one of the early storylines to monitor heading into the week. — Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas both hauled in touchdowns from Stockton on Saturday. The Bulldogs have upgraded at wide receiver since the last time Texas saw Georgia, with the transfer wideouts responsible for two of Stockton’s completions against Mississippi State that were explosive in nature (gained 15 or more yards), including Thomas’ 64-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. — The toughest task the Longhorns have in front of them is figuring out how to run the football with some level of consistency against a defense that came into the weekend as a top-15 unit against the run (94.1 yards per game and 3.01 yards per attempt allowed). Even though Texas is last in the SEC in rushing yards per game in conference play (84.1), Quintrevion Wisner has proven he can get the job done in big games. Wisner’s most productive games this season have come against Ohio State (80 yards on 16 carries), Oklahoma (22 carries for 94 yards and five receptions for 35 yards) and Vanderbilt (75 yards on 18 carries and 28 yards on two catches). Those three defenses came into the weekend ranked seventh, eighth and 17th against the run nationally. The Longhorns have a puncher’s chance to move the ball on the ground. — Georgia is elite in the kicking game. While turnovers doomed Texas in the first meeting with Georgia last season, Brett Thorson’s ability to flip the field and help the Bulldogs dominate field position was a significant factor in the Longhorns’ struggles. Texas is much improved on special teams from last season and it needs to match a Georgia kicking game that might be the best in the country. View full news story

Epic drive by Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana offense to avoid an upset.

If only he didn't get Schiano'd!

This is the kind of guy Auburn needs to hire, but they'll never figure it out. A&M got it right with Elko from that standpoint. Elko isn't the most charismatic guy, and he probably won't wow people on first impression, but he can coach ball.

Is this the coachspeak equivalent of the dreaded vote of confidence?

No BS, no frills. Just a ball coach.

Postgame notes from UT on the win: — Texas improved to 2-0 on the season. — The Longhorns won their 26th straight game at Moody Center and now hold a 51-5 all-time record at Moody Center. — The Longhorns held Richmond to 56 points and 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from 3-point range. — Texas has held both of their opponents this season under 60 points. — Following today's six-assist performance, Harmon needs just 35 more to break Texas' all-time assists record. — Madison Booker, Jordan Lee and Aaliyah Crump all recorded double-digit points. — Crump scored in double-digits for the second straight game as she scored 16 in her collegiate debut. — Booker recorded her 29th career game scoring at least 20 points and her 11th career double-double. Booker tied her career-high with six steals. — Booker is shooting 57.1 percent from the field over her first two games with 40 total points. — Teya Sidberry is three points away from 1,000 career points. — Texas forced 24 turnovers and scored 26 points off those turnovers. — Texas grabbed 37 rebounds and scored 38 points in the paint. — The Texas bench scored 21 points in the win. — The Longhorns totaled 15 steals on the Spiders. — Texas held a 21-2 advantage in second chance points. — The Longhorns limited their turnovers to 10 and forced Richmond into 24 turnovers.

The recap from UT: AUSTIN, Texas – No. 4 Texas had three players who recorded double-digit points to secure an 85-56 win over Richmond Friday at Moody Center. Madison Booker led the Longhorns (2-0) in scoring with a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Freshmen Jordan Lee and Aaliyah Crump with 16 and 14. Rori Harmon dished out six assists along with five points. Harmon is now 35 assists away from breaking the program’s all-time assist record. The Longhorns forced 24 turnovers on the Spiders, scoring 26 points off them. Texas ended the first quarter trailing by two points. Richmond was up early in the first quarter, but Texas went on a 6-0 run, with Madison Booker scoring all six points for the Longhorns to take a 9-8 lead. The Longhorns ended the first half leading the Spiders 35-24. Texas went on an 11-0 run in the second quarter and held Richmond scoreless for 4:24 minutes. The Texas bench scored 12 points in the second quarter, with Justice Carlton leading the team in scoring seven points. The Longhorns defense forced seven turnovers and six steals to close out the half. The Horns closed out the third quarter with 31 points, 24 of which came from inside the paint. Crump scored 10 of her 14 points to start the second half. To start the fourth quarter, Texas went on a 14-0 run for over 4:40 of game time. Richmond had three turnovers and a scoring drought of 4:31. Bryanna Preston recorded six points to lead the team scoring and the Longhorns converted seven offensive rebounds into nine of their 19 points in the final quarter. Up next Texas will host Louisiana Lafayette on Monday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

I haven't had a problem with Pat McAfee so far, but I'm pretty close to my limit.

With a burrito in hand!