The drive by No. 3 Texas to top of SEC fueled by defense with Kentucky up next in title chase
AUSTIN, Texas -- — Look under the hood of Texas' drive to the top of the Southeastern Conference standings in its first season in the league and it is easy to see what generates the horsepower: Defense.Texas (9-1, 5-1 SEC) plays Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) on Saturday and the Longhorns rank No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in fewest passing yards allowed and No. 4 in points allowed per game (11.6). With two games left in the regular season, the Longhorns are tied for first in the SEC and rank No. 3 in the College Football Playoff.
This is from the team that boasted the “All gas, no brakes” motto about explosive offense when coach Steve Sarkisian took over the program in 2021.
“I love it what we're doing defensively,” Sarkisian said. “I don't think our guys believe that anyone can move the ball on them, that anyone's going to score. And that's a beautiful thing to watch."
Texas has allowed 10 points or less five times this season, which started with a shutout and includes two games of not allowing a touchdown. The secondary has surrendered just three passing touchdowns while taking away 15 interceptions. Senior cornerback Jahdae Barron leads the team with four.
“The experience of our secondary is what has led to this,” Sarkisian said of the turnover-to-touchdowns ratio. “We just don't blow coverages ... They make every pass feel contested.”
Texas needs a win its final two games to stay on track for the SEC championship game and hold position in the playoff hunt as one of the top four seeds. Kentucky would love to play the spoiler in an otherwise dismal season.
Texas will be Kentucky's fourth opponent ranked seventh or higher. The Wildcats beat Mississippi in the first one, then lost to Georgia and Tennessee by a total of eight points. The Wildcats have played in a bowl the last eight seasons and need to win their final two games to keep that streak alive.
“I want to finish strong,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said.
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