Texas Longhorns Keys to the Game vs. Houston Cougars

What does Texas need to look out for in Saturday's contest against the Cougars to avoid the upset?

What does Texas need to do to secure a win over Houston on the road?

No, really, this is a question worth pondering over.

The No. 8 Longhorns enter TDECU Stadium as a three-touchdown favorite over the former Southwest Conference rival, but doesn't that make the game feel like a trap? Texas is two weeks removed from its heartbreaking Red River loss against No. 5 Oklahoma, but it's also well-rested after a bye week.

Doesn't that create cause for concern?

Playing after losses can create culture. It can show the potential of what a team is made of. More importantly, the taste of defeat lingers, forcing great programs to rise up to the occasion.

Is that what Texas fans should expect against a Cougars squad that would love nothing more than to send the Horns to the SEC with another loss in the long-standing Lone Star rivalry?

Texas Longhorns take the field at Darrel K. Royal-Memorial Stadiu :: Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas will win if ...

It doesn't lose its flare. There's really no other way to put it. The Longhorns aren't just the far superior team in this matchup, but they likely are the top roster in the conference on paper.

A first-round quarterback? Check.

One of the best young running backs taking over for the Doak Walker Award winner? Check.

Countless weapons in the passing game? Xavier Worthy, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington all say "check" to that.

Steve Sarkisian said after a week of rest and a quality week back on the practice field, Texas is eager to make noise on Saturday. And not because players are pissed off at the national narrative surrounding the program after Red River, but more so it's an internal anger.

“They’re angry and they want to get back on the field; they want to play," Sarkisian said Thursday. "I know that a lot of them wanted the rest last week, and they all want to get out of there and play again next Saturday to kind of get that taste of their mouth.”

Rest can be a positive, but it also can cause a drop-off in attitude and complacency. Worthy said prior to Red River that the team allowed itself to be too complacent in 2021 after several quality wins.

Does the same happen come Saturday afternoon in Houston?

Houston will win if ...

Donovan Smith duplicates the 2022 success. And yes, it really is that simple when looking at the rest of Houston's roster.

Texas looked to be the better team entering Lubbock last season against Texas Tech. Hudson Card, on paper, was the better quarterback. Bijan Robinson, on paper, was supposed to be the difference-maker.

Spoiler alert: Smith, who played in 11 games last season for the Red Raiders, didn't get the memo. He ended up becoming the hero AT&T Jones Stadium needed, throwing for 331 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-34 overtime upset win.

Dana Holgorsen's offense differs from Joey McGuire's, but Sarkisian believes Smith seems more relaxed in the Air Raid attack.

“His comfort level throwing the ball this year coming into this game as opposed to last year early in the season when we faced him (has improved)," Sarkisian said. "He’s throwing the ball at a high level, he’s very comfortable.”

Mobile quarterbacks have struggled to succeed against Pete Kwitkowski's defenses in recent years. Since 2021, no quarterback has averaged over 3.3 yards per carry and has been held to less than 90 rushing yards per contest.

Smith, who averages 2.9 yards per run, has scored four touchdowns inside the red zone. If the Longhorns can force him to throw, they also can force him into making mistakes.