Why Texas Longhorns’ mindset matters more than talent heading into Kentucky

If the Texas program hasn’t already put the win over OU behind it, they’re in trouble as they get ready to travel to Kentucky. The most important factor in whether or not Texas earns victories over programs like Kentucky and Mississippi State is that they’re in the right state of mind. They can’t get “up” for every game like it’s the Red River Shootout, but a focused and disciplined team would approximate that effort level.

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Kentucky’s outlook

Kentucky is down from the previous heights of the Mark Stoops era. The run game is solid but not what it has been previously, and the defense has dropped down a couple of levels. They offer ground in both the run and the pass game.

That written, modern college football is more variable than it’s ever been. Ask James Franklin. Or, after this past weekend, ask Dan Lanning. The fact that Indiana is on the road to play Oregon in a conference game tells you we’re living in the upside down.

In watching Kentucky play Ole Miss—a team it upset the year prior on the road—it was apparent how vocal the crowd was. That was a day game, whereas this one will be played at night. We’ve seen countless times where a raucous home crowd can carry a team to success as it rattles the opponent. Loud environments lead to pre-snap penalties, something that has plagued Texas all season.

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Texas’ offensive youth and development

Part of the variance for Texas this season has been the youth on offense. Pick a position, and you’ll find young players receiving a lot of snaps. Was Saturday a sign they are growing up?

Take Nick Brooks, for example. He did not play “good” in general terms, but he did play good in relative terms. Left guard has been Texas’ Achilles’ heel on offense, and he looks like a long-term answer even if he’s far from a finished product.

What about Ryan Wingo? The explosive yet unrefined receiver played like the quintessential reliable possession receiver on Saturday. We’ve seen a complete 180 in his consistency.

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Arch Manning’s evolution

How about the biggest example of a young player growing up? Arch Manning, known for a gunslinger mentality, played much more within himself. I recall only one throw that was truly dangerous—a forced pass in the back of the end zone. Other than that, he looked like a game manager—a very talented game manager.

If the offense has begun to find its identity, it’s not too late for this season to be one we remember for a long time. My belief has been that Manning will be downright dangerous toward the end of the year. That will become even more likely as the run game (to include the tight ends) and receivers round into form.

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A season still taking shape

I’ve seen too much bad to buy fully back into this season after one game, though I’m watching with earnest—and on Saturday, I watched with enjoyment. One of the absolute best parts of this job is chronicling the development and maturation process of individual players. This year, we might get to see it for an entire side of the football.

If the offense continues to grow, the OU win won’t be the lone highlight of the season. While they’re too talented on offense for that to be the case, they do lack maturity and, all too often, execution. We saw a winning formula on Saturday—one in which execution was more important than talent. Arch didn’t even need to throw bombs. They just went out and played hard with the right mentality and discipline.

Now we just need to see it again.