Has everyone caught their breath after the thriller down in Austin?
Or how about all of the FBS vs. FCS blowouts elsewhere around the state?
Big points were scored this past weekend — both in terms of magnitude and total — in the world of Texas college football. Here are the standout players who made it happen.
It was Texas’ Hollywood Smothers, because: Two touchdowns — including the game winner — against the nation’s top-ranked team goes a long ways around here. Smothers ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-23 win vs. Ohio State this weekend. He scored once with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter (to pull Texas within six points) and again with 0:25 left in the fourth quarter (to tie the game before a point after attempt) in an early contender for the best game this season. The No. 1 Longhorns (2-0) landed Smothers out of the transfer portal from N.C. State to rebuild their run game. So far, so good.
It was Texas’ Arch Manning, because: He completed 8 of 11 pass attempts for 83 yards in that crucial fourth quarter comeback vs. the Buckeyes. The former five-star recruit passed for only 196 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception in the 24-23 win, but he played his best when the Longhorns needed it most. Manning threw his one touchdown — a 3-yarder to wide receiver Ryan Wingo with 14:19 left in the game — to spark what became a historic comeback.
It was SMU’s Kevin Jennings, because: More touchdowns than incompletions is generally a good thing. Jennings completed 14 of 16 pass attempts for 337 yards and 5 touchdowns in a blowout 56-10 win vs. UC Davis. The South Oak Cliff alum was so good that four different quarterbacks were used in the game. He’s on track for a special season after consecutive strong performances to start the year. The No. 16 Mustangs (2-0) are thankful he stuck around for it.
It was Baylor’s Gavin Freeman, because: We’re not sure if any in-state skill position player has had a better start to the season than he has. Freeman caught 10 passes for 104 yards in a 44-3 win vs. Prairie View A&M and has been one of the most productive wide receivers in the country through two weeks of the season. The Oklahoma State transfer has 22 catches (No. 1 in the country) and 258 yards (No. 7 in the country) in his first two games with the Bears (1-1).
It was TCU’s Jaden Craig, because: He looked a lot better than he did against North Carolina, and for now, the TCU faithful can enjoy that. Craig completed 24 of 31 passes for 391 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 63-7 win vs. Grambling State. The Harvard transfer more than doubled his quarterback rating game-to-game, and while the strong performance might’ve come against a FCS opponent, it’s a step in the right directions for he and the Horned Frogs (1-1).