Steve Sarkisian Details Challenge Texas Longhorns Face vs. Houston Cougars QB Donovan Smith

The Texas Longhorns will face their second mobile quarterback in a row on Saturday. But Houston Cougars signal-caller Donovan Smith is much more than that, according to Steve Sarkisian.

He's no Dillon Gabriel, nor is he Jalon Daniels 2.0, but The Texas Longhorns can't afford to let Houston Cougars quarterback Donovan Smith get going Saturday in front of the home crowd at TDECU Stadium. 

Not again. 

Week 8 might mark the first time the No. 8 Longhorns will face off against the Cougars as a conference foe since 1996, but it's not the first time they've taken on Smith. Houston departed the AAC following the 2022 season after receiving a bid to join the Big 12, along with UCF and Cincinnati. 

Smith said see-ya to Texas Tech after Joey McGuire named Tyler Shough his starting quarterback for 2023, but not before he ended Texas' College Football Playoff hopes. 

"He's a great quarterback," senior defensive back Jahdae Barron said. "(We) played him last year at Tech. He has a lot of talent to himself."

The Longhorns (5-1, 2-1 Big 12), were two removed from a heartbreaking 20-19 loss against Alabama, but hopes of winning the conference remained high. Hudson Card and Bijan Robinson led the offense out to a 31-24 lead entering the fourth quarter. 

Smith, who replaced an injured Shough, woke up and chose violence to give the Red Raiders momentum, connecting with Baylor Cupp for a 19-yard pass to tie the game at 31. He then led Texas Tech 56 yards downfield for a 45-yard field from Trey Wolff to take the lead. 

Houston's quarterback Donovan Smith (1) gestures at a receiver during the Big 12 football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Sept, 30, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium.  :: Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bert Auburn responded as time expired with a 34-yard kick, sending the game into overtime. A Robinson fumble on the opening play gave the ball back to Tech, which four runs and a 20-yard chip shot later secured the 37-34 upset. 

Smith completed 38-of-56 attempts for 331 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score. 

"(Donovan Smith is playing) at a high level," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday. "They're running QB counter with an RPO and he's making the decision to throw it or run it. Then, he's such a big physical guy. It's not so much the elite speed of a mobile quarterback, but the fact of how big he is."

Smith's versatility has been evident for the Cougars (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) this fall. His 66.2 completion rating ranks third among Big 12 quarterbacks, while his 1,601 passing yards and 13 touchdowns also rank among the top three. 

But it's Smith's mobility behind the line of scrimmage that Texas must be keen on. He's averaging 2.9 yards per attempt, but his four rushing touchdowns rank top-five among quarterbacks in the conference. 

And Smith is confident heading into Saturday's game. He should be following his comeback performance against West Virginia last Thursday when he threw for 253 yards and five total touchdowns. But his final pass, a 49-yard Haily Mary to Stephon Johnson, secured the 41-39 upset and evened the Mountaineers' record to one loss in conference play. 

Should Texas and West Virginia win out, the Big 12 will turn to strength of schedule to determine which team heads to Arlington. The Longhorns have the better win, coming in Week 2 against then-No. 3 Alabama. 

Of course, that only happens if Texas can stop Smith from pulling off a second upset.

"It's important with him that we tackle really well and that we try to shrink the running lanes for him, especially on the quarterback-designed runs," Sarkisian said. Kickoff from TDECU Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.