College Kickoff: Longhorns look to answer critics against Sam Houston as Bearkats visit DKR

Arch Manning
Photo credit Gaby Velasquez / El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

(Talk1370.com) -- It'll be Texas and Sam Houston at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, as the Longhorns take on the Bearkats. On this week's edition of College Kickoff, Brian Fitzgerald catches up with Chad Hastings of Orangebloods.com and OrangeBloods Live to preview the game.

Catch Talk 1370's College Kickoff every Saturday at 10am on 1370AM, 95.5 HD2, and the free Audacy app.

Sam Houston (0-3) at No. 8 Texas (2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 20, kickoff at 7pm CT

BetMGM College Football Odds
Opening Line: Texas by 39.5.
Against the spread: Texas 0-3, Sam Houston 0-3.
How to watch: SEC Network+

Key stats
Texas Offense
Overall: 382.7 yards per game (77th in FBS)
Passing: 200.3 yards per game (88th)
Rushing: 182.3 yards per game (54th)
Scoring: 24 points per game (92nd)
Texas Defense
Overall: 245 yards per game (21st in FBS)
Passing: 174.3 yards per game (37th)
Rushing: 70.7 yards per game (12th)
Scoring: 10.3 points per game (18th)
Sam Houston Offense
Overall: 320.7 yards per game (111th in FBS)
Passing: 185 yards per game (102nd)
Rushing: 135.7 yards per game (93rd)
Scoring: 21.7 points per game (100th)
Sam Houston Defense
Overall: 442.3 yards per game (125th in FBS)
Passing: 314.7 yards per game (133rd)
Rushing: 127.7 yards per game (67th)
Scoring: 38.7 points per game (130th)

Texas ranks 126th in third down percentage, converting 28.6% of the time. Sam Houston ranks 123rd on defense, holding its opponents to 48.9%.
Texas ranks 128th in the FBS with 81 penalty yards per game.

Texas ranks 130th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 61.5% of trips. Sam Houston's red zone defense ranks 102nd at 100%.

Sam Houston ranks 100th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 28:10, compared to Texas' 36th-ranked average of 32:24.

Team leaders
Texas
Passing: Arch Manning, 579 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs, 55.3 completion percentage
Rushing: Manning, 112 yards on 23 carries, 3 TDs
Receiving: Parker Livingstone, 198 yards on 8 catches, 3 TDs
Sam Houston
Passing: Hunter Watson, 310 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 57.7 completion percentage
Rushing: Watson, 108 yards on 24 carries, 2 TDs
Receiving: Elijah Green, 124 yards on 11 catches, 1 TD

Last game
Texas won 27-10 over UTEP on Saturday, Sept. 13. Manning led Texas with 114 yards on 11-of-25 passing (44.0%) for one touchdown and one interception. He also carried the ball nine times for 51 yards and two rushing touchdowns. James Simon carried the ball 17 times for 67 yards, adding one reception for eight yards. Christian Clark put up 32 yards on two catches.

Sam Houston fell to Hawaii 37-20 on Sunday, Sept. 7. Mabrey Mettauer passed for 91 yards on 12-of-18 attempts (66.7%) with no touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball 16 times for 45 yards. Green carried the ball 10 times for 30 yards, adding three receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown. Malik Phillips recorded 32 yards on three catches.

Next game
Texas plays at Florida on Oct. 4.
Sam Houston plays at New Mexico State on Oct. 2.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Gaby Velasquez / El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images