Will Texas Fall Into These Trap Games?

0:00Welcome back to on Texas football and the Saturday conversation. I'm Jeff Howe joined by the cast of characters that is the on Texas football staff. Jerry Hamilton, Bobby Burton, Rod Babers, Hank South and CJ Vogel all year. We're taking our OTF sideline debate this week guys and doing a video on it. We are talking about trap games. Where is the trap game on the Texas schedule? We'll talk about that here in just a minute. This edition of on Texas football is brought to you by PRICE Big. Tell you more about PRICE Bigs here a little later in the show. Jerry, I'll start with you. You look at this schedule, it's hard to expect the team. Almost impossible to expect the team to be up and ready to play for 12 games in a regular season. Where's the trap game for you on this Texas schedule? I almost went with A&M, but I backed off of that. I, you know, I'm going to go a totally different direction here than I think what people would think I'm going to do. I'm actually going to go with Ole Miss if Trinidad Chambers is ineligible. So I have a caveat with that because, look, Trinidad Chambers is all the talk of Ole Miss and Ole Miss is coming off that national semi-final appearance.

1:06A lot of those guys are gone. Yeah, Kiwan Lacey's back, but they could become more of a lead balloon if Trinidad Chambers is not eligible. And if you look at Texas, the two weeks before that, they have Oklahoma and Florida at home. And Florida at home is going to serve as a revenge game after last year's beatdown and gamesville. Physical beatdown and gamesville. So it's hard to get up three games in a row. And I'm going to say if Trinidad Chambers is not eligible because of that human emotion and what goes into it, I think that Ole Miss game, despite it being the manning weekend, in Austin, for the team is going to be a bit of a letdown game. I hear Jerry on that, but Duce Knight is the backup quarterback for those unaware, a very talented guy that transferred over from Auburn. My question there on this Ole Miss contest is, how are they going to be on defense this year? Because last year they were so good on offense and obviously with Kiffin and Charlie Weiss Jr. going back at going to LSU,

2:15you still have Chambers and Lacey that I think is maybe the best quarterback running back duo in the country. But how are they going to be on defense? Because a lot of those defensive players transferred out to LSU. It would be interesting. I can see that as a trap game. I can see that. I look at it. Sarks worked with Pete Golding, too. He knows his tendency. So I'm, you know, kind of going against the trap game argument. But, you know, he's familiar with them that they've worked together. And so that could be a, you know, advantage to Texas there. All right. So Jerry is going with Ole Miss C.J. If Chambers is an eligible. If Trinidad Chambers is an eligible. C.J., you're up next. Now, I'm sticking in the state of Mississippi just with the different university and talking about Mississippi state and look, it's a scrappy team. Obviously, Texas needed basically a miracle to come out of Startfield with the win a year ago. This was a team that was very close. Record was bad, but they were very close to being a pretty good team a year ago. They beat Arizona State coming off of the college football playoff parents early in the year.

3:16They took Tennessee to overtime again. They probably should have won. I think the quarterback's electric. And again, you look at where it is on the schedule. Start talks about his scheduling in quadrants or quarters or, you know, he splits them up into different sections. Well, where they fall right now, you can kind of point to each month being a new quadrant of the season. And of course, you're going to get up, in my opinion, for all of the road games are going on the road. Your Texas, you have the big bulls eye on your back. You look ahead to Missouri going on the road. You look ahead to the LSU going on the road back to back weeks. And you're coming off of two really, three really emotional weekends back to back to back with the college football playoff parents. The team that beat your ass a year ago in Oklahoma. Well, there's a little Mississippi state waiting for you right there on Halloween. Peekaboo. They're the team for me that I'm going on most terrified about. Yeah, for for what it's worth, this is my pick as well as Mississippi state. I'm going with caveat that Chandler is eligible and Jerry, we talked about, we talked about it last year when we're doing the watch with us for the Mississippi state game.

4:22Man, in Jeff Lebby's offense, Camario Taylor is going to be a problem for defensive coordinators in the SEC. Yeah, yeah, he is. Now, I'm going to push back a little on this one. And here's why because Texas is dang near late late an egg against them. Not an egg bowl, but an egg. And then the two years ago, they were bad against them, too, with just archers second start. Texas just played poorly enough. That one's almost one where it's like, hey, time to wake up against the bulldogs. Because the last two sharks will look at his guys and say, we didn't play well against these guys. I think it's interesting you guys both three of you now have picked home games as trap games. Yeah, I mean, Texas hasn't really performed poorly at home. The games that they that were trap games last year were Kentucky and Mississippi state on the road. I find it interesting. You all are going with home games. I just find it difficult to find a road game where you know you need to travel with that emotion as a trap game.

5:23Though, I mean, look, this year, Kentucky was certainly one that you looked at and said, ah, you know, you should walk in the Lexington and come away with the easy victory in that. Now, obviously, it was not the case. I think it's human emotion because you can't get up emotionally every week. And if you have, if you have Oklahoma and Florida, then either if it's all missive, Chambers sitting there and they're not the same team everybody thought or Mississippi state, one of those you're going to come out without that emotion. You can't carry it every week. That's the thing guys that makes this schedule. It makes it tougher to me to find the actual trap game because you've got the buy between Tennessee and Oklahoma. And this year with the with the nine game SEC schedule, you don't get the double buy this year. Everybody gets one buy so starting with the OU game at eight straight weeks to end the regular season. And then obviously the A&M game is going to be on a Friday. So it's tough to figure out exactly where the trap game is going to be on the schedule. Rod, I'll go to you next where when you look at this 12 game schedule for Texas, where is the trap game?

6:23That's interesting. I think you made a good point there about that, you know, let's stretch at the end of the season, where Texas is going to be pretty worn out. I mean, you're talking about a eight game stretch there at the end of the season. So I'm going to stick in the I'm going to stick to what the end of the season. I'm going to go with Missouri because I like what Bobby said about going on the road. Somebody going on the road. You got that game right before the LSU game. That's a big game, whether you're talking about from the archmanning perspective storyline wise, you're talking about a big game for, for, for Sark as well. And that's one of his BFFs Lane Kiffin Texas fans. He gets a big game because it's the return trip you're supposed to take for the COVID year. They canceled from that 2019 home game against LSU. So I think it's zero. They got arguably the best running back in the country. He's in that conversation. I'm not hardy. So they'll be able to, they're going to try to control the ball. They're going to try to keep, keep away, basically play, keep away from Texas and try to be able to control the game in that way. Their offense of line actually should be a strength for them as well. So that's what worries me is that they can control the clock with the running game and limit the possessions for Texas.

7:25And in Missouri, Missouri always has a couple of dogs on defense, whether they be on their front, seven, or they're building the defense of line on the ass. He always got some good players. That's a Missouri game. Nobody's talking about it, but you're maybe the best running back you're going to play. And Eli Dricker, which is one of the better coaches in the SEC. That's the one that worries me because Texas will be, will be worn down from that stretch that Jeff just talked about. And they can't help but look ahead to that LSU game because that may be one of the top three biggest games on the schedule this year. I like we're on with, that was my second choice because here's the reality. Nobody gets excited to go to Missouri unless they're a journalism major or highly paid NIL basketball player. That game is also November 7. That could be a bad weather game. And football teams are never going to get excited to go play at Missouri ever. I almost went the different direction there, Jerry, saying I feel like that game could be scary or more of a trap for Texas that fits out 11 a.m. rather than under the lights in the sense that no one wants to go to Missouri in the sense it could be a little chilly, but also, you know, how, how up are you to play Missouri.

8:31I think nighttime games just brings out that energy and juice a little bit more. And I can beat a lot of people because of that at Missouri. Kind of somewhat of an unknown too is Texas kind of digs deeper into the SEC slate and playing the new teams they haven't seen in a while. They haven't played Missouri yet in SEC play. Obviously they played in the big 12. They played in the Texas Bowl a few years ago. But not really sure how they're going to, you know, come out against a team they haven't seen yet in conference play. It's interesting because it's a non-descript team. It's not a major. It's not Tennessee. It's not LSU. It's not this marquee program that people would use. They have a good coach, I think. And then they have a, to Rod's point, they have a great player at running back and great players have a way of making things hard on somebody somewhere. You know, and we'll see. I think the question I have is whether or not this is a good team for Eli drink with stuff. I'm going to a new quarterback. He's graduated pretty heavily. He didn't necessarily kill it in the portal like you did a couple of years ago.

9:32I mean, so I'm in that. I hear what Rod saying. I wonder if they have the arsenal all around. Actually make it a trap game. But then again, Kentucky didn't have it last year and, you know, in Missouri is a game. Missouri is a game because of what's behind it. If you have a couple of nagging injuries, you may held guys out because you're thinking it's Missouri to get ready for LSU. You may roll the dice a little bit on that game. It was like Vanderbilt two years ago. You go to Nashville and McCuba stays at home. You sitting here and say, wait a minute. It's a little bit closer than we thought. Yeah. Yeah. Rod, I believe you were in Columbia last time Texas went there in 2011 during your sideline reporting days. Thank goodness. Missouri has changed the turf since then. It ended. It ended Henry Joseph's career and set in Fosley, Whitaker back at God awful serving. Thank you for reminding me that we're almost nine years removed from Tom Herman secure in the bag in that. Thank you for that. Bobby, I've actually got a question for you, which we will get to here in just a second.

10:34But before we do that, I want to let everybody know that this edition of on Texas football and the Saturday conversations brought to you by our friends over at prize picks. And I'm telling you, it's made the weather's perfect. Everything's rolling. If you just casually watching games right now with nothing on them, you're doing it wrong. You're leaving way too much fun on the table because this this right here is where it changes everything. I'm talking about prize picks every possession, every at bat, every shot, every pitch, every catch. It all matters. You're locked in from start to finish and you're not just watching anymore. You got a little juice on it. Yeah, there's a chance to cash into and the best part. It's easy. If I configure price picks out anybody can figure out there's no deep dives. No complicated nonsense. You're just picking more or less on player stats, points, rebounds, hits, strikeouts. Whatever you're already watching, you build your lineup, you submit it and you're good. It takes about a minute to submit a lineup. And what I love most about this time of years is that you've got options that you've got basketball, baseball, golf, hockey, whatever you're watching. You can stick to one sport or mix and match across multiple sports.

11:37Whatever's on, it fits whatever your heart desires. You can get it as price picks. Trust your gut. Lock it in and now every single moment actually means something. Price picks is available in all 50 states, including right here in the great state of Texas. So if you haven't jumped in yet and now is the time. Download the app. Use the code hma. Play five bucks and they'll give you $50 in line-ups instantly. Again, the code is hma when you download the price picks app. Five gets you 50. It's that simple. And as always, play smart. Play responsibly. Play price picks. Bobby, I've got a question for you because you mentioned, you know, up until last year. Sark's teams had played really well on the road. We talked about the lack of laster game against Kentucky and you needed a furious rally in the fourth quarter just to get this to be state the overtime. The fact that this is an older team. And you've got a trip to Knoxville, a trip to Baton Rouge. Do you feel more confident about this team being better on the road than last year's team? Yeah, and I also think that the quarterbacks better earlier.

12:40I mean, they were particularly. And the offense line should be better earlier in combination with that. So you talk about the road games. Offensive line and the offense is a whole bad against Ohio State. They look bad against Kentucky. They look bad for three quarters against Mississippi state. Early on as the year went on, I thought the offense started looking good and actually became. Maybe the better part of the team in the second half of the year, particularly in the bowl game. I just feel like they're going to be better on the road in general because they're a better team in 2026. Not necessarily because of senior leadership, although certainly archmaning has has a big role in that. All right. Hey, you're up next with your pick for the trap game on the schedule. I'm going to return home and pick Florida for a few different reasons. I think you look at Florida and say, yeah, you lost to him last year.

13:40They're not going to overlook that game. But I think if you don't look at the fact that I, you know, on paper, this Florida team is really good. I think you can look at him and say, oh, they got a new head coach. They're going to have a down year. It's going to be, you know, first year struggles as a new head coach. This Florida team could be a sneaky good team in 2026 and you just look down the roster. Why do I receive her in particular? Probably the best wide receiving court. Texas is going to face outside of Ohio State and Texas A&M, whether Eric Singleton, who's now transferred to Florida from Auburn. Everyone in Austin knows about Dallas Wilson. And then obviously we're in L Brown. He's a former top recruit as well. They have a quarterback battle there in filo and Tremel Jones, both two very capable quarterbacks. And then they brought back some low, like a lot of talent on defense, whether it be Jaden Woods, a guy Texas wanted in the portal. Cormani McLean and defensive secondary. So I look at that and on the placement of the schedule, whether you win or lose against OU. If you win, maybe you're getting a little confident, maybe you're looking ahead to that manning weekend with Ole Miss coming to town. If you lose, maybe the crowd's a little tired, a little down and DKR the next weekend.

14:45I just think it's kind of a tricky place, but I don't think Texas is going to look ahead. I just think maybe they're not, you know, it's a team you have to take seriously despite having a first year head coach. Because they are loaded with talent. And John Sumrell has a lot of buy-in with that group. You know, I like that hit because the one thing about Sumrell, he fits the SEC. He is going to out physical you most Saturdays. He will walk in to Austin and his defense will be more physical than the Texas offense at the beginning of the game. No question about it. The Texas Exes respond to that. And I would say this Florida's receivers studs, they got to keep Dallas Wilson healthy. They are better than A&M's. Those they are the second best group that Texas will play Ohio State. I think John Sumrell is going to be a little bit of an issue moving forward for people in SEC because he fits the SEC. I'm not real worried about John Sumrell. I want to say that to counteract him. And the reason why I'm not, the reason why I'm not, is I'm actually more concerned about his offense coordinator, Buster Falkner. Coming up from Georgia Tech.

15:45He has a way of moving the ball against Georgia like defense. They have not had a problem scoring against Georgia the last several years that he's been the offense coordinator. So I'm not, I'm not so worried about John Sumrell, Jerry. I'm not saying he's not going to be a good coach. Right. I'm more concerned about the offense coordinator and I would add this for you guys. Texas faces a mod hearty. He won Lacey and Jaden ball. Those are the three. Those are the three best running backs in the league, right? Yep. And so. Jaden ball last year. You can talk about the receivers that made some plays on the outside for DJ lagway. But I thought it was the Florida offensive line. And Jaden ball's ability to break tackles and convert on third and two, third and three. That kind of kept that game out of reach for Texas even rallying and being able to.

16:45So I hear you. I think that Falkner is the X factor there along with ball. Yeah. I think Sumrell is going to have floor playing much more physical football. The expectation that we'll get that when we'll get him back. You know, he's trying to think like that. And then I started thinking about BYU when you lose him pro by the year before. And Florida's not bringing in Tason Hill. Let's be clear. But you know, you don't want to sleep on the team. Maybe just because you lost him last year, you'll get him back at home. Doesn't always work that way. Well, it doesn't always work with start beating teams that beat him a year ago. Or even earlier in the season, right? And I know that the instances that we've seen of that have been Georgia multiple times and now Ohio State. But it's not always, you know, it's tough to beat a team twice in a row with Texas. They've struggled against teams that have their number. And I know it's a new regime in Gainesville. But you know, some of those personnel. I mean, there's reason to think that it might overlap again. This is a Jabbar Jaluit game to me. If Texas doesn't come out fired up ready to go because of a pre game speech from Jabbar Jaluit.

17:49I'd be very disappointed because the world on the street was that they knew they were going to be Texas. Yeah. And they knew they were going to be Texas because they watched the film. And they saw Texas was not a physical football team. Yep. And essentially that's why you got called out. And if Texas doesn't come in ready to match the physical and the intensity. Not only from Jabbar Jaluit kind of, you know, giving them that that story and obviously giving them his own Scott and report about those players. And considering that's the reason you missed the playoffs last year. And missed out on your overall goals. The teams because you came in there. The first game in SEC play on the road at night and we were essentially a disappointment. And that was probably the most disappointing performance for Texas all season long. If they don't come out fired up ready for that game. I as a former player and a fan will be disappointed. I will say the timing of it though is a perfect trap game. Thanks right about that sandwiched in between Oklahoma and Ole Miss. I can easily see that was sneaking up on Texas because they're going to be playing it for Oklahoma. Of course, and Ole Miss. Those are bigger games right now in the schedule than in Florida game.

18:51That's a great point. That's one thing Texas has going for him this year is it will must champion Jaluit. We'll both give the team the same speech multiple times. Yeah, I was at Georgia. We knew you weren't physical enough to beat us. We knew it. And Jaluit is going to say the same thing. Well, I don't know if I'm giving Hank two gold stars or two strikes for reminding me that Tom Herman secure the back. And to take some Hill reference in the same show. We got like a... Saber to the gut man. That's like a... I really wish I still had the text Rod was sending me from the sideline in Provo that night. But I digress. That's for another show. Bobby, you're going to finish this off. You agree with anybody? Are you taking a different trafficking? I think there are multiple in this season. But that's indicative of a schedule that's pretty strong. I mean, look, Ole Miss without turning that chance is still dangerous. They may not be great, but they're still dangerous because they've got guys.

19:53I mean, you talk about Florida even though it's a first year coach. They got dudes, right? Missouri's got to do it. Running back. And you're playing there. I mean, I hear it. We don't know what Camario Taylor is really going to look like with Mississippi State. But that Jeff Levy style of offense can give people anybody problems. It's time to begin. Can't handle the run early. I went with something that's going to make Rod blush. Because I don't... I can't remember this ever being a trap game in my life. But it was one time for Texas back in 2023. And that's OU. He. Texas is beaten OU pretty easily three of the last four years, correct? Yeah. I mean, they don't score. Everybody thinks Texas got their number on defense. And then, Dylan Gabriel, two years ago, three years ago now, I guess, comes in and kind of lays what, 38 on him. 34. I can't remember the final score. But as much as I think that OU is the ultimate rivalry game for Texas,

20:58there could be some false sense of confidence going into the OU game. Is there schedule before it? In all of it, I think that OU, in that game, it's hard for me to even contemplate this. But it's almost like Texas. Oh, we beat them two years in a row and they haven't really been that competitive. Uh-huh. Um, you know, one or two changes in that in that game last year. Ryan Nibblet doesn't return that punt. And it's a one score game in the fourth quarter. Yeah. So I'm a little bit. I'm a little bit worried about OU from that standpoint of. Texas overlooking them almost and saying, oh, we're better. We beat them two years in row and they can't. Yeah. The OU. OU proved that there are. They could be a nag. I guess late in the season on defense in particular. But we'll see. It's hard for me to say that's a trap game because of what it means in a rivalry.

21:58But I think I believe in mentally. Yeah, they are. I will, I will tell you why it could be to you while I agree with it. It depends on how the season plays up. And they're rolling going into that game and they win it. And I see. Say Oklahoma loses it Michigan in Georgia. Is they have a hard schedule to start the season? They have two road games against confident universities. Chances are you're not they're not going to be undefeated. But will they lose two is the question. If they're two and two going into the red river at that Texas will. And Texas beat so high state and rolling. There's an element that will come in the play there for sure. for sure. Park will try to get the guys up in that scenario. Hey, man, they're wounded dog. It's just like Florida last year, but doesn't mean it's going to work. Michigan and competency, Jerry. I don't know about that. I was getting him. If it was true, they are now. Yeah, yeah, yes, they are now. I will say I think it won't take much more, especially

22:58for the 45 new players on roster to just for the bus ride into the state grounds to get the first middle finger from the Oklahoma fans to step out and understand that they're not welcomed by 50% of the folks on the grounds to understand that this is a game that they need to be up for. I don't know, but I could see it in that instance, but I think that's a game that just both teams will come in at their best. That preparation has to happen sooner than when you're coming in on the bus. Yeah, otherwise, you know, it's different. Yeah, I will say this, John Matier. And I know C.J. Vole was a big fan of John Matier, but maybe Andrew Lassier, right? He's dealing with some of the injury last year. So Texas got a little bit lucky there because they did not get a 100% John Matier. And he missed some open throws last year. Guys, that was some guys open. There are two pounds early on. If he hits those couple of those guys, in stride, very different game. He's going to be in that system. What is fourth year in that system? Something like that would have been our welcome.

23:59Better and quarterback in that system for a long time. I definitely could see what Bobby's talking about there because Texas, I think, will be a little bit overconfident but C.J. made a great point because you have so much, so many new players, just that environment of Texas OU. It's so unique that the first time you're in it, I mean, you're going to be at a fever pitch in terms of intensity as a player. So I do think Texas will be able to match any intensity that Oklahoma has. But John Matier is really going to be the key. You talked about it, Bobby, you know, Dylan Gabriel really won that game for Oklahoma. A few years ago against Texas, he had that game when he drive the lane. He made a lot of plays with his legs, keeping plays alive and scramble drill. That's what John Matier is going to have to do. So if they do, you know, they are going to pull off the upset against Texas, it'll be the John Matier kind of coming out party against Texas for sure. By the way, the other big thing that happened this week is, you know, C.J. is no longer John Matier's biggest fan. Who knew it would be Brynn and Soresby? Oh, we probably should end on that.

25:05But I'll say Jerry spot on with Oklahoma. They could very easily have two losses. Rod Bobby, you guys kind of hit on it too. Even Will Munchamp talked about this. He was involved in Florida, Georgia. It was a big time robber against me. Even he said the first time he coached in Texas, oh, you, it was different than anything he had been in this has been our buckle second game. And that, and think about Sark's history in this game, guys. If there's going to be weird bounces of the ball or weird stuff happen, it's going to happen in that game. I mean, the Marvin Mems toe tap catch where there's a blade of grass between his foot and the end line. You've got the inner the Quinn interception where JT Sanders gets jarged loose from the ball and the ball pops up in the air. Think about how different the 2024 game might be of Silas Bolton doesn't fall on that tray. Why is your funnel in the end zone? So the only thing I've learned about Texas OU over the years, Bobby, the only thing that's for sure is nothing's for sure. What are you talking about that game? Shoot it. There'll be less crickets in the stands this year. Where is Stoney Clark today? That's the thing. That's the thing. Exactly. All right. Jerry, Bobby, Hank, Rod, CJ, thank you guys

26:07for the knowledge, the Ensel, the expertise. As always, big naked and Matthew behind the scenes for producing this. So I want to remind everybody, if you're not a member over at onSexisFootball.com, you still got time to get over to the website and take advantage of our spring sale. When you get over there, just use the promo code O-T-F-O-G, when you sign up and you become an O-T-F-O-G and get one year of access at onSexisFootball.com. We're just 39 and 95. Make sure that you like this video, that you're subscribed to the OnSexisFootball YouTube channel and that you got those notifications set that way. Anytime we drop a video or go live, you're not missing any of our long more coverage or breaking news. For Jerry, for Bobby, for Hank, for Rod, for CJ, for Matthew, for the entire OnSexisFootball staff. I'm Jeff Howell. Thank you so much for watching and listening. And until next time. Welcome. Welcome, have a good weekend.