Texas Football: 5 overreactions after the loss to LSU

5. Running back room is a lost cause until they start getting healthier

There shouldn’t be much of a problem for Texas football while taking on Rice in terms of balancing out the offense. An electric passing game combined with a dual-threat quarterback lining up behind center should be more than enough for Texas to get the best of a mediocre Group of Five program at best with Rice.

Rice did show that it can hang with a strong opponent like the Wake Forest Demon Deacons last week, but the run defense was less than stellar. Wake Forest had a 100-yard rusher thanks to a long run on the day of 96 yards. Here’s the opportunity this Texas ground game needs after converted true freshman quarterback Roschon Johnson was the most efficient true running back against LSU.

Rice is one of the worst run defenses in the nation in about the past 15 games. An inexperienced Rice defensive line won’t help them out all that much against a Longhorns rushing attack that will be motivated to have a bounce back performance. Rice will need all hands on deck to shut down the Longhorns on the ground in Week 3.

However, the leading rusher for Texas in the loss to LSU was the quarterback. And junior star signal caller Sam Ehlinger posted just over three yards per carry and one touchdown. Sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram was abysmal for most of the game. Texas might have to wait to make this running back room much improved until the trio of backups return from injury.