We're at the point in the season where we know what teams are and essentially know what they're playing for. But that still doesn't create some room for intrigue. We asked our FBS college football staff to come up with one question for each of the 13 FBS programs in Texas. What's the lens in which they'll be viewing the rest of the season through?
Here were their answers, in alphabetical order:
BAYLOR
Can the wide zone be revived?
Baylor won the 2021 Big 12 Championship behind a stout defense and a grueling run game from offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes dubbed the “wide zone”. Two years later, Blake Shapen has thrown the ball 30+ times in every start because the Bears have the Big 12’s second-worst rushing offense with 115 yards a game. Offensive line coach Eric Mateos brought in brothers Clark and Campbell Barrington, whom he knew from his BYU days, to help shore up this offensive line. So far this season, the Bears are losing most of their battles along the line of scrimmage. If they’re to scrape together three more wins, the run game has to return to take pressure off Shapen.
(Carter)
HOUSTON
What constitutes a successful first season in the Big 12?
Before Donovan Smith’s hail mary to Stephon Johnson to shock West Virginia as time expired, it looked like Houston was on a collision course for a 1–6 start. Then they got the miracle they needed in their Big 12 home opener and followed it up by taking No. 8-ranked Texas to the wire in a 31-24 loss. There are moments when Houston looks thoroughly outmatched, such as spotting Texas a 21-point lead or getting blanked in the second half by TCU. Then there are times where I want to fall in love with quarterback Donovan Smith. The 3–4 record is almost a positive considering how close Houston was to the season falling off the rails, but does six wins and bowl eligibility constitute faith in Holgorsen’s vision?
(Carter)
NORTH TEXAS
Can this defense get enough stops to go bowling?
Eric Morris’s air raid has soared since inserting Chandler Rogers into the lineup after an 0–2 start. Rogers has completed 65 percent of his passes with an impressive 14:1 TD-to-INT ratio. Yes, the defense is still dead last in the nation allowing 255 rushing yards per game, but they’ve been opportunistic in a 3–2 run. Three interceptions and two fourth down stops against Temple can partially be explained by the Owls using their backup quarterback, but forcing Tulane’s Michael Pratt into two turnovers opened some eyes. They’ll need a similar effort in a daunting back half of the schedule.
(Carter)
RICE
Can Rice compete for the AAC if its defense even manages to put up average production?
WAIT, don’t leave! Just hear me out. Rice has all but abandoned the run in favor of JT Daniels airing it out. The Owls are last in rushing plays called (37 percent) but are Top 40 in the nation in points per play and yards per play. He's been everything.
The problem is that one of Daniels' best games, and the best game of Luke McCaffrey's career (199 receiving yards), were wasted by a putrid defensive display against USF in a 42-29 loss. Rice's defense finally put together their best game last week forcing three turnovers and holding Tulsa to 4-of-14 on third downs resulting in Rice's largest conference win in 10 years. I'm not saying they will compete for the AAC, I'm just saying that no one's stopped Daniels and McCaffrey, so what happens if they can get a little bit of help?
(Ishmael)
SAM HOUSTON
How much can Sam Houston fix this season, off-season?
It's been a painful start to FBS-life for Sam Houston. Their running back room is decimated and their best receiver has been out of action since September. The offensive line is what it is and the same could be said about quarterback. It's resulted in the 0-7 start, even despite the Bearkats' defensive numbers being better than the record indicates.
How much can fixed with the time left in the season? On that line of thinking, can Sam Houston rebuild its entire offensive line, find a capable starting quarterback and replace outgoing seniors in one off-season? This could be the biggest challenge KC Keeler's faced in his career, but if you're would you rather have anyone else other than one of the best coaches in recent CFB to handle it?
(Ishmael)
SMU
Can the passing game find enough big plays for a conference title?
SMU is 5–2 in large part because the defense has shown stark improvement from recent years, allowing just 14 points a game and boasting the nation’s 11th-best pass defense. On paper, it’s the same dynamic SMU offense averaging 36 points a game. But SMU has yet to establish a number one wide receiver in Rashee Rice’s wake. Jake Bailey is the leading receiver with 294 yards, but four other guys also have 200. SMU has rarely taken the top off the defense, which they don’t need to for the regular season AAC slate. But if this team wants to win the conference and potentially reach a NY6 Bowl, they’ll need to find more of a deep passing game.
(Carter)
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