Jonathan Brooks was injured in the Longhorns’ victory over TCU.
On Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas, late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Texas running back Jonathan Brooks (24) is tackled by TCU safety Mark Perry (3). Brooks hobbled off the pitch and did not return to the match.
No. 7. Texas is now the only team atop the Big 12 after narrowly defeating TCU 29–26 on Saturday night in Fort Worth.
After ten games, Texas (9-1, 6-1 in the Big 12) has the best record the Longhorns have had since 2009, the last time they advanced to the national championship game (a defeat to Alabama that has dogged the programme for nearly 15 years).
The Longhorns led by 20 points in the second half for the second straight week, but they managed to hold on for a three-point victory.
What we learned from Saturday’s game is as follows:
A significant loss
Jonathan Brooks, a running back, recorded his sixth 100-yard rushing performance of the year, but an injury ended his evening in the fourth quarter.
After gaining seven yards, Brooks was tackled and crawled off the field, finishing with 104 yards on 21 carries. A staff member from Texas took him to the injury tent and then assisted him to the locker room.
Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of Texas, was not immediately aware of Brooks’ condition.
After the game, he told reporters, “We’re going to have to get him back to Austin and check him out in the morning.” “On Monday, I’ll have a better update for you.”
Because Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson were still on the team, Brooks did not get as much playing time as he did the previous season, but he quickly established himself as Texas’ best running back this season.
With two exceptions—98 yards against BYU and 99 yards against Houston—Brooks has scored 100 yards on the ground in every Big 12 game this season.
Considering how much Texas has depended on Brooks this season, losing him now could be costly.
Freshman running back CJ Baxter replaced Brooks after the TCU game. Although Baxter has had a strong rookie campaign (329 yards on 69 carries and three touchdowns), it will be important to keep an eye on Brooks’ injury as theRegular season comes to an end.
1 out of 25
November 11th, Fort Worth, Texas: At Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 11, 2023, Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns attempts a pass against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Texas’s wide receiver Adonai Mitchell sealed the victory with a 35-yard reception.
With just over two minutes remaining, the Longhorns faced a third-and-12 from their 13 after TCU had cut the lead to 29–26.
Mitchell received a deep pass from Quinn Ewers on the sideline. With the ball in the air, he adjusted and made the catch while tumbling. The Longhorns were able to win by running out the clock after the first down.
QB1 is back.
Following his absence from the BYU and Kansas State games due to a shoulder injury sustained on October 21st against Houston, Quinn Ewers returned to the starting lineup for Texas.
In 33 pass attempts, he completed 22 for 317 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
After the game, Ewers remarked, “It’s great to be back out there.” “I thought my level of comfort had not changed since I left.”
One more near victory
The Longhorns won all three of their games this season and are 4-1 when games are decided by 10 points or less, despite allowing another opponent—UH, Kansas State, and TCU—to rally from a deficit of more than 20 points. The Longhorns had a 2-5 record in games decided by ten points or less the previous season.
Even though Texas’ victories aren’t pretty, they are unquestionably better than last year’s close games.
Benchmark
In programme history, Ja’Tavion Sanders is the only tight end to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards. David Thomas, a tight end for the Longhorns from 2002 to 2005, was the last player from Texas to accomplish this feat.
Against TCU, Sanders caught four passes for 47 yards.
Looking forward
The following weekend, Texas will travel to Iowa State for its final away game of the regular season. Since 2017, Texas has not prevailed in Ames.
