The 2020 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Longhorns played their home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Tom Herman.
The Longhorns finished their season with a 5–3 conference record in Big 12 play, and 7–3 overall, having had their final regular season game against Kansas cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. They then went on to rout the 4–1 Colorado Buffaloes in a 32-point Alamo Bowl victory to finish as the No. 19 team in the nation.
However, despite this fourth-straight bowl win, Tom Herman was fired after four years as head coach. This followed a second consecutive season that fell short of expectations and included a narrow home loss to Iowa State that eliminated Texas from Big 12 championship contention in Week 13. Initial reports had linked former Florida and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer to Herman's hot seat job in the months prior to his firing; yet, ultimately, the post went to Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who was named head coach on January 2, 2021, just hours after Herman's dismissal. Pass rusher Joseph Ossai was also named a consensus All-American.
Offseason
Coaching changes After being demoted from his role as offensive coordinator, Tim Beck was hired by NC State as offensive coordinator. Additionally, both co-defensive coordinators, Todd Orlando and Craig Naivar, were fired, along with several other coaches. Orlando and Naivar were replaced by former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash and South Carolina linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler.
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBPlace KickerPKGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSSplit endSEPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Coaching staff departures
NamePositionNew TeamNew Position Tim Beck Offensive coordinator NC State OC/QB Todd Orlando Defensive coordinator USC DC Drew Mehringer Wide receivers FAU Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Jason Washington Run game coordinator / cornerbacks Mississippi State Safeties
Players drafted into the NFL
2 51 Sam Cosmi OT Washington Football Team 3 69 Joseph Ossai DE Cincinnati Bengals 5 148 Ta'Quon Graham DT Atlanta Falcons 5 152 Caden Sterns S Denver Broncos 6 218 Sam Ehlinger QB Indianapolis Colts
Preseason
Big 12 media days The Big 12 media days were held on July 21–22, 2020 in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Big 12 media poll Big 12 media poll 1 Oklahoma 80 2 Oklahoma State 6 3 Texas 4 4 Iowa State 5 Baylor 6 TCU 7 Kansas State 8 West Virginia 9 Texas Tech 10 Kansas
Schedule
Spring game The Longhorns held spring practices in March and April 2020. The Texas football spring game took place in Austin, Texas on April 25, 2020.
Regular season Texas released its 2020 schedule on October 22, 2019. The 2020 schedule consisted of 6 home games, 4 away games and 1 neutral-site game in the regular season. The Longhorns were scheduled to host 3 non-conference games, against South Florida, LSU, and UTEP. Texas was scheduled to host West Virginia, Baylor, TCU, and Iowa State, and Texas was scheduled to travel to Kansas State, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Oklahoma State in regular season conference play."Texas releases 2020 football schedule". USA Today. October 22, 2019.
On August 12, 2020, the Longhorns' revised schedule was released.Moyle, Nick (August 12, 2020). "Texas releases revised football schedule for 2020 season". San Antonio Express News. Previously scheduled games against South Florida on September 5 and LSU on September 12 were both canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On November 18, 2020, the Big 12 Conference announced that the Texas–Kansas game would be rescheduled from November 21 to December 12 because of Kansas' "inability to meet the minimum position requirements established by the Big 12 Conference." A team needs 53 players to play a game, and there are also minimum numbers of players for each position group. Due to the "ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the region", Kansas suspended fan attendance at all home games from November 17 to November 30, although it did not make a decision whether the December 12 Texas–Kansas game would allow fan attendance.Galloway, Matt (November 18, 2020). "KU football postpones Texas matchup to Dec. 12". The Hays Daily News.
Original
Revised
1: Due to Kansas's inability to meet minimum position requirements due to COVID-19, the game was postponed from November 21 to December 12, and was then canceled on December 10 because of a rise of COVID-19 cases in both programs.
Coaching staff Tom HermanHead Coach4thHouston (HC)Chris AshDC/S1stRutgers (HC)Coleman HutzlerCo-DC/LB1stSouth Carolina (LB/ST)Herb HandCo-OC/OL3rdAuburn (OL)Mike YurcichOC/QB1stOhio State (PGC/QB)Jay BoulwareAHC ST/TE1stOklahoma (RB/ST)Andre ColemanWR2ndKansas State (OC/WR)Stan DraytonAHC/RGC/RB4thChicago Bears (RB)Oscar GilesDL4thHouston (DL)Jay ValaiCB1stRutgers (CB)Mark HagenAHC D/DL1stIndiana (Co-DC/DL)
Game summaries
Vs. UTEP
Statistics UTEP TEX First downs 14 28 Total yards 233 689 Rushing: Att/Yds 33/43 33/208 Passing yards 190 481 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–39–1 29–41–0 Time of Possession 34:17 25:43 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 12–27, 141 yards, 1 INT Rushing Deion Hankins 11 car, 34 yards Receiving Justin Garrett 4 rec, 58 yardsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 25–33, 426 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Keaontay Ingram 9 car, 44 yards Receiving Joshua Moore 6 rec, 127 yards, 1 TD
At Texas Tech
Statistics TEX TTU First downs 27 24 Total yards 476 441 Rushing: Att/Yds 48/214 24/110 Passing yards 262 331 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–41–1 31–52–3 Time of Possession 34:39 25:21 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 24–40, 262 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Keaontay Ingram 12 car, 89 yards Receiving Joshua Moore 5 rec, 73 yards, 3 TDsTexas Tech Passing Alan Bowman 31–52, 325 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing SaRodorick Thompson 19 car, 104 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Erik Ezukanma 7 rec, 91 yards, 1 TD
Vs. TCU
Statistics TCU TEX First downs 25 16 Total yards 458 388 Rushing: Att/Yds 51/227 24/152 Passing yards 231 236 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–30–0 17–36–1 Time of Possession 24:51 25:09 Team Category Player StatisticsTCU Passing Max Duggan 20–30, 231 yards Rushing Max Duggan 17 car, 79 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Quentin Johnston 3 rec, 70 yardsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 17–36, 236 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Roschon Johnson 5 car, 63 yards Receiving Jared Wiley 2 rec, 63 yards
Vs. Oklahoma
Statistics TEX OU First downs 27 30 Total yards 428 469 Rushing: Att/Yds 34/141 55/208 Passing yards 287 261 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–53–2 28–42–1 Time of Possession 23:56 36:04 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 30–53, 287 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Sam Ehlinger 23 car, 112 yards Receiving Joshua Moore 8 rec, 83 yardsOklahoma Passing Spencer Rattler 23–35, 209 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing T.J. Pledger 22 car, 131 yards Receiving Austin Stogner 6 rec, 56 yards
Vs. Baylor
Statistics BAY TEX First downs 22 19 Total yards 316 429 Rushing: Att/Yds 21/64 47/159 Passing yards 252 270 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–44–0 15–23–1 Time of Possession 27:53 32:07 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Charlie Brewer 30–43, 256 yards, 2 TDs Rushing John Lovett 4 car, 21 yards Receiving R.J. Sneed 4 rec, 62 yardsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 15–23, 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Keaontay Ingram 16 car, 57 yards Receiving Tarik Black 1 rec, 72 yards
For the first time since September 30, 1950, Texas wore White uniforms at home. These retro/throwback style uniforms were worn to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1970 National Championship Team.
At Oklahoma State
Statistics TEX OSU First downs 17 32 Total yards 287 530 Rushing: Att/Yds 40/118 51/130 Passing yards 169 400 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–35–0 27–40–1 Time of Possession 30:21 29:39 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 18–34, 169 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Bijan Robinson 13 car, 59 yards Receiving Jake Smith 7 rec, 70 yards, 1 TDOklahoma State Passing Spencer Sanders 27–39, 400 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Chuba Hubbard 25 car, 72 yards Receiving Tylan Wallace 11 rec, 187 yards, 2 TDs
This was Texas' first road win over a Top 10 opponent since beating #5 Nebraska 20–13 in Lincoln on October 16, 2010.
Vs. West Virginia
Statistics WVU TEX First downs 21 17 Total yards 360 363 Rushing: Att/Yds 26/43 36/9 Passing yards 317 184 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 35–50–0 15–31–0 Time of Possession 34:21 25:39 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 35–50, 317 yards Rushing Leddie Brown 15 car, 47 yards, 1 TD Receiving T.J. Simmons 4 rec, 71 yardsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 15–31, 184 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Bijan Robinson 12 car, 113 yards Receiving Jake Smith 3 rec, 59 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Iowa State
Statistics ISU TEX First downs 25 21 Total yards 433 448 Rushing: Att/Yds 33/121 35/145 Passing yards 312 303 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–0 18–30–0 Time of Possession 32:57 27:03 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 26–36, 312 yards, 1 TD Rushing Breece Hall 20 car, 91 yards, 1 TD Receiving Charlie Kolar 6 rec, 131 yardsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 17–29, 298 yards, 1 TD Rushing Sam Ehlinger 15 car, 65 yards, 1 TD Receiving Brennan Eagles 5 rec, 142 yards
At Kansas State
Statistics TEX KSU First downs 26 24 Total yards 608 448 Rushing: Att/Yds 33/334 46/274 Passing yards 274 174 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–27–0 16–27–2 Time of Possession 24:20 35:40 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Sam Ehlinger 20–27, 274 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Bijan Robinson 9 car, 172 yards, 3 TDs Receiving Jake Smith 4 rec, 55 yardsKansas State Passing Will Howard 16–27, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Deuce Vaughn 10 car, 125 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Malik Knowles 6 rec, 95 yards, 2 TDs
At Kansas
Due to Kansas's inability to meet minimum position requirements due to COVID-19, the game was postponed from November 21 to December 12, and was then canceled on December 10 because of a rise of COVID-19 cases in both programs.
Vs. Colorado (Alamo Bowl)
Statistics TEX CO First downs 26 20 Total yards 638 378 Rushing: Att/Yds 40/303 46/182 Passing yards 335 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–28–0 14–33–2 Time of Possession 29:02 30:58 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Casey Thompson 8–10, 170 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Bijan Robinson 10 car, 183 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Moore 5 rec, 86 yards, 2 TDsColorado Passing Sam Noyer 8–23, 101 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Jarek Broussard 27 car, 82 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Dimitri Stanley 4 rec, 86 yards
Rankings
References