No. 7 Texas Longhorns vs. BYU Cougars: How to Watch, Betting Odds

The Texas Longhorns host the BYU Cougars on Saturday at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium in just the sixth matchup all-time between the two programs.

The Texas Longhorns host the BYU Cougars on Saturday at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium in just the sixth matchup all-time between the two programs. It could be the last time for a while, with BYU just joining the Big 12, and Texas making the exit for the SEC next season.

Maybe surprisingly, the Cougars own the all-time record against the Longhorns 4-1, with the lone win for Texas coming by a 17-16 win in Austin in 2011. Other than that and the first matchup in 1987, a 22-17 win by BYY in Austin, the contests haven't been close. In the other three matchups, in 1988, 2013, and 2014, the Cougars outscored the Longhorns 128-34, scoring 40-plus in all three matchups.

Longhorns QB Maalik Murphy / USA Today

Texas will be without quarterback Quinn Ewers due to a shoulder injury, but hold on, Longhorns fans, there is no Arch Manning appearance planned on Saturday. Rather, freshman Maalik Murphy gets the nod under center in his first career start. Murphy has seen limited action this year, completing 4-of-8 passes for 47 yards  - all in mop-up time. 

“There’s going to be some excitement in his bones. Let's make sure we play well around him,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday. “He throws a very beautiful ball. There’s not a throw he can’t make.”

It's the third week in a row the Cougars will face a backup quarterback.

“We kind of just treat every quarterback the same,” BYU defensive lineman Jackson Cravens said. “At this level, I feel like most QBs are pretty good, backup or not."

WHAT: Brigham Young University Cougars (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) at Texas Longhorns (6-1, 3-1 Big 12)

WHERE: DKR - Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX (100,119)

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, 2:30 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: ABC / FuboTV (try it free)

HOW TO LISTEN: KTXX-FM 104.9 | KZNX-AM 1530 | Longhorn Radio Network

TICKETS: SI Tickets

BETTING via SI Sportsbook

SPREAD: Longhorns -19.5

TOTAL: 50.5

MONEYLINE: BYU +700, Texas -1613