Fansided

College Football Blitz, Week 3: Clemson isn’t going anywhere

By Jack Crosby

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 16: Clemson Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) carries the ball during the NCAA football game against the Clemson Tigers and the Louisville Cardinals on September 16th 2017, at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 16: Clemson Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) carries the ball during the NCAA football game against the Clemson Tigers and the Louisville Cardinals on September 16th 2017, at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Ehlinger (11) of the Texas Longhorns changes the plays at the line in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Ehlinger (11) of the Texas Longhorns changes the plays at the line in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Big 12: Maybe the Longhorns are gonna be okay after all

Very little was talked about more back in Week 1 of the college football season than the misfortunes of the Texas Longhorns. In the first game of the Tom Herman era in Austin, they were embarrassed at home by Maryland, which left fans tossing their Darrell K. Royal Stadium trash onto the field as the waning moments ensued. When Texas is bad, people take pleasure in it. When Texas seems bad after hiring a hotshot coach who is supposed to return them back to prominence, well, that just makes things all the more enjoyable for the #H8ERS.

Saturday night in Los Angeles, though, we saw glimpses of what this Texas team in 2017 could be. They made the trip to face off against the then-No. 4 team in the country, the USC Trojans and the expectation was a full-on beatdown by the Trojans. But what we ended up getting was one of the games we’ll remember the most when the season comes to a close, as USC only squeaked away with a 27-24 win — in double overtime.

The Longhorns’ defense put on quite the impressive showing in hampering this high-powered USC offense, shutting them out in both the first and fourth quarters. Linebackers Anthony Wheeler and Malik Jefferson both finished with double-digits in tackles, and the defense was able to bring USC quarterback Sam Darnold down three times for sacks. If this unit continues to improve upon what we saw on Saturday night as the year goes on, then this could be one of the better defenses in the Big 12. I know, that’s not really saying all that much, but still.

Offensively, this team clearly needs some work — you know, like in the running game, where they totaled just 68 yards on the night. However, it’s clear they probably have something special in freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who will only getter better under the tutelage of the offensive specialist in Herman.

Texas in 2017 might actually be just fine after all in the first year of the Herman Era, and that was pretty evident on Saturday night in LA.

Or, who knows … maybe Maryland is just the best team in the nation. I guess that’s on the table (shrugs).

Home/College Football