40 Acres Sports

Our Thoughts

Brian – I’m finally with Berg on this one, Texas is the number one team in the country. I’m not ready to drop them out of my poll like he is, but they’ve looked very average against every half-decent team they played this year and have used up all their returning champs mojo. They haven’t played like the best team in the country this year, so there’s no reason they should be up there.

I have to admit I didn’t get to watch too many games on Saturday since I was at the Texas-OU game. I did catch a little of the Tech-Nebraska game and UCLA vs. Cal (both games were on TBS, who does a much better job than ABC) between Texas’ big victory and partying like it’s 1999. (1999, get it? The last year we beat OU, I crack myself up.) Tech is definitely worrying me. I’m not worried they’ll beat Texas, I’m worried they’re not very good and might blow it against a very average Kansas State team and not come into Austin on the 22nd ranked in the top 10.

Matt –This was one of the greatest weekends of football that I have been apart of in a long time. I was at the Texas/OU game, and man did it feel good to put a whoopin’ on ole Stoops and the Sooners. The only real down note was the fact that Ohio State lost, which could definitely hurt Texas in the long run. We really need Ohio State to run the table now.

Surprisingly, USC again looked almost ordinary, which is why I am leaving them in the 4th spot. Penn State may be the real deal, so I am moving them up a bit, and did you see that section of all white at Happy Valley? Craziness. UCLA was also pretty impressive and I think deserves the Top 10 ranking I have given them. These next few weekends will be big as usual, and I really hope that Va. Tech and Florida St. each figure out a way to lose. I am going with the scenario that Miami will beat Va. Tech and then FSU will beat Va. Tech in the ACC Championship. Hook ’em.

Related Links

• Last week’s rankings
• Harris Interactive Poll (PDF, 28 KB)
• Master Coaches Survey

Every single writer has Texas in the Rose Bowl.

I can’t tell you how good recapping a Texas victory over OU feels. The last time we beat OU, I was a freshman in college, which seems ages ago. I was lucky enough to be at the game, which made the victory even more special. But even with this win, we still have a lot left to do this season if we want any hopes of returning back to the Rose Bowl. I really hope Texas doesn’t fall into their own hype and focuses on Colorado this weekend. Back to the game though, here is how I graded the performances.

Quarterback – Overall Grade: A
Vince led Texas all the way through this win, and while I wouldn’t really say he played spectular, it was definitely a special performance. He controlled the tempo very well and made touch passes like I have never seen him make before. There were a few instances where he missed some wide open receivers, but that is expected over the course of a game. He made the big throws when he had to, and started off the opening drive with a nice touchdown pass to Taylor. His deep touchdown pass to Pittman right before the end of the first half really felt like it sealed the deal in the game. I will take 3 touchdown passes and 45 rushing yards almost any weekend out of the year.

Running Backs – Overall Grade: A-
Jamaal Charles was just nuts. He did exactly what Brian had predicted, and broke a long touchdown over 50 yards. He ended up with 116 yards on just 9 carries and added a score before he was taken out with a minor injury. Selvin did most of the relief, and I must say that it scares me every time he runs the ball. Is it just me, or has he fumbled in every game he has played? Melton wasn’t really that big of a factor, but he wasn’t really needed.

Wide Receivers – Overall Grade: A+
Very Impressive performance out of this group. They seemed to run great routes and were wide open several times. Taylor seemed to run by everyone like they were standing still. Pittman has been Vince’s goto man, and he proved that yet again grabbing 4 catches for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns. And again, that touchdown before the half basically sealed the deal.

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I think they should. USC has had 3 straight unimpressive weeks.

A new photoset has been added to our galleries section of this weekend’s Texas/OU game. We have 46 photos of pregame warmups, in game action, and the some great shots of the victory celebration. There’s a classic shot (photo #43) of Will Winston waving the big Longhorn flag while Kasey Studdard is congratulated by a very grateful cheerleader. Nice to see the big guys having some fun in more ways than one.

Be sure to check it out and leave us some feedback on both the photos and on the gallery feature itself. Also, please let us know if you have any trouble viewing the gallery, this is a new set up and we’re still working out a few kinks.

View the gallery.

Horns’ switch to more pass-happy offense was a success, though I wish we had given JC the ball more.

The deep ball to Pittman at the end of the 1st half is the polar opposite of a few years ago.

We expected them to be good, fast, very athletic, big and everything like that.

Texas had 3 scoring plays of 60+ yards during the game.

We’ll have our own gallery from the game up soon.