Update: This game has been delayed by weather.
How to watch Texas vs. BYU 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
Here’s what to look for when the Longhorns meet the Cougars.
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
No. 15 Texas won 56-7 last week over New Mexico State, and like most games of that score, there were impressive statistics to be found everywhere. Fifty-six of those points went unanswered. The Longhorns stampeded up and down the field to a school record 715 yards, while David Ash threw for 343 and two touchdowns. And yet, for all that and their 19 returning starters, the Longhorns did not have a perfect game against the Aggies, committing three turnovers and remaining scoreless well through the first half. Though they are favored against the Cougars, they’ll need to avoid those kinds of mishaps if they want to return to being a national power this season.
BYU opened with a close 19-16 road loss to Virginia, losing the game when Cavaliers running back Kevin Parks scored with 2:33 to play. Taysom Hill’s line last week was about as ugly as the weather he played in -- the sophomore went 13-of-40 for 175 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. If the Cougars are to score the upset, he’ll have to throw with more accuracy, although the lack of pouring rain should help quite a bit.
The numbers
Rankings and records: These two teams have played three times, and BYU leads the series 2-1. This is the second game of a home and home series between Texas and BYU, with Texas having won its home game 17-16 in 2011.
Three names to know
Jamaal Williams - BYU running back - Williams carried the bulk of the offense for the Cougars last week, rushing for 144 yards on 33 carries.
Daje Johnson - Texas wide receiver - A breakout candidate and big play threat for the Longhorns, Johnson did just that last weekend against New Mexico State. He had only three catches for 67 yards, with one grab going for 66 yards. The Longhorns will try to get him the ball any way they can -- Johnson also had 6 carries for 62 yards.
Jackson Jeffcoat - Texas defensive end - Though he missed most of last season, Jackson is considered high draft pick material, and the Cougars will have to focus on slowing the senior defensive end if they want to get Jamaal Williams going at all.
Two things at stake
BYU would love to get an upset win here over the Longhorns -- it came within a point of doing it last season, and finishing the job at home would give it a huge boost heading into next week’s Holy War match-up against Utah.
For Texas, this game doesn’t have any large implications in its conference standings or for its record, but it’d like to see some continued improvement and steadiness from David Ash, and a cleaner game as a whole from the entire team. Texas had three turnovers last week, which can’t happen with a very talented and underrated Ole Miss team coming to town after this game against BYU.
How to witness
TV: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Online streaming: ESPN3
Further reading
For more on BYU, you'll want Vanquish The Foe.
For more on Texas, visit Burnt Orange Nation.
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