Texas tries to recover from its loss to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. Texas A&M is struggling just to make a bowl, and Houston is ready for a Big 12 shootout against Oklahoma State.
The Houston Chronicle's Kirk Bohls and the Austin American-Statesman's Cedric Golden tackle the top 10 topics in college football this week:
What do your midseason grades look like for UT's vaunted portal members?
BOHLS: Not all that great, but not all their fault either. Cam Coleman gets a B for his clutch catches and five touchdowns and might improve to an A if Arch Manning can get him the ball for more than 17 receptions in five games. I'd give offensive line transplants Melvin Siani, Laurence Seymore III and Dylan Sykorski a C-minus at best. Tight end Michael Masunas can block but is never a target and gets a C-minus. Linebacker Rasheem Biles receives an A-plus and linebacker Juice Cryer an A-minus, cornerback Bo Mascoe a B-minus (he shut down Jeremiah Smith in the fourth quarter but gave up the late Tennessee touchdown) and kicker Gianni Spetic a B-plus.
GOLDEN: Wideout Cam Coleman has been good when called upon, but 17 catches in five games nets him a C, given his enormous price tag. Right tackle Melvin Siani and guard Laurence Seymore are part of an underachieving offensive line so they get a D. Running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers haven't been huge factors in SEC play so they get a C. Linebackers Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer have made plays all over the field so I give them both an A. Kicker Gianni Spetic would have gotten an A had he made that kick against Oklahoma but he missed. He gets a B. Punter Mac Chiumento had one job against OU: get the ball out of there. Even with the protection breakdown, it drops him to a C.
If you have to pick one or the other for UT's regular-season record, do you take 11-1 or 8-4?
BOHLS: I'd have to take 8-4. The offense has been so dismal, I can't see the Longhorns running the table. They should get past Florida 34-17 and probably Ole Miss in the next two weeks because of the visitors' pitiful defenses, but it's easier to imagine losses to LSU, Missouri and spoiler Texas A&M than a seven-game win streak.
GOLDEN: Do you really want me to type these words? No way they finish 11-1. This is a really good defense - it would be elite if it created turnovers - but the offense doesn't have the look of a unit capable of powering a seven-game winning streak. The Horns will take down Florida 34-20, but lose at least one more game, either at LSU or at Missouri. They will finish 10-2 at best but 9-3 would not shock me. Still can't get over OU. What a choke job that was. It possibly ruined the season.
How many carries will Derrek Cooper get against Florida?
BOHLS: Not enough is the easy answer. Steve Sarkisian dropped the ball, giving the native Floridian only two touches in the second half of the OU loss after running for 41 yards on just six carries in the first half. I bet DC carries the ball at least 15 times Saturday.
GOLDEN: Hopefully more than the two he got in the second half in Dallas despite running like a young Jerome Bettis. I expect the Horns to air it out against the SEC's worst pass defense, but Cooper has earned some more playing time. He will carry it eight times for 55 yards and a touchdown. They need his physicality moving forward.
Will Texas A&M qualify for a bowl game this year?
GOLDEN: It comes down to if they can win two more games after beating Citadel by 40 Saturday. I'll say no. They have road games against Alabama, South Carolina and Oklahoma plus home games against Tennessee and Texas. This has the feel of a 5-7 College Station dumpster fire. Quarterback Marcel Reed has regressed behind that porous offensive line, and the defense doesn't have the juice of the 2025 squad.. On the bright side, business is booming for Billy Liucci and Co., cesspool insults notwithstanding.
Who wins the Oklahoma State-Houston showdown?
GOLDEN: I can't help but wonder how the Aggies would be faring with Conner Weigman at quarterback. He has been reborn in Houston with 15 touchdowns and only one interception.This could be a shootout between Weigman and Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker who is third in the country in passing yards per game at 315 per. I'll take Houston at home in a 45-42 thriller.
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What is your lock of the week?
GOLDEN: I'm 0-4 and counting on locks of the week, FYI. If I was in Vegas, Kirk would have to wire me bus fare to get my broke carcass back to the 512. Let's see whose week I can ruin this time. Give me the resurgent UCLA Bruins -2½ to take out Wisconsin.
Can Bear Bachmeier and BYU knock off Notre Dame?
GOLDEN: I just found out last week that Bear has an older brother on a team named Tiger. Just thought I'd share that. As for the game, the Cougars are playing at scenic LaVell Edwards Stadium in prime time, but I can't see them pulling it off without injured running back LJ Martin. In close games, I'll take the better quarterback, and Notre Dame's C.J. Carr is having a Heisman-type season with 16 touchdowns with only one interception behind an offensive line that's given up only two sacks in 168 passing attempts. I'll take the Irish, 31-24.
Did Texas give up too soon on CJ Baxter, or does he benefit from a better line at Kentucky?
GOLDEN:I don't think so. Sometimes a change of scenery is beneficial. The Wildcats are doing a better job of run blocking as evidenced by the team's 5.1 yards per carry, though that number has dipped to 3.62 in conference play. To his credit, Baxter is fifth among SEC running backs with 484 yards and is averaging 4.63 yards per attempt in league play. Texas could definitely use his playmaking ability but that offensive line can't block an online troll, let alone a good defensive front.
What's your best guess on going to a 24-team College Football Playoff next season?
BOHLS: I remain hopeful the SEC doesn't relent and sticks to its guns, but it's looking like we're headed wrongfully to 24 even though the public doesn't want it. If it does go to 24, you'll know it's all about money and get ready for some lousy, first-round games in 2027. Maybe second round too.
GOLDEN:Two dozen is happening though you can never convince me there are 24 teams capable of winning a national championship. That number is closer to eight. This thing has always been about the dollars. More football makes me happy. I'm sure there are a lot of coaches whose jobs are safer as long as they make the field every year.
Who is your favorite college play-by-play TV announcer, and who gets on your nerves?
BOHLS: I love Sean McDonough. He's sardonic, witty, knowledgeable and candid. I have grown a little weary of Gus Johnson's theatrics over a first down.
GOLDEN: I've always been a fan of FOX's Gus Johnson and ESPN's Joe Tessitore. They bring a brand of excitement to the game that matches up with the emotion of the sport. Johnson gets the edge. Who gets on my nerves? None come to mind but let me know if ESPN's Pat McAfee ever calls a game.
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Grading UT's transfers, A&M's bowl chances and a Big 12 shootout | A Texas take on college football.