Texas Football: 5 bold predictions for Alamo Bowl vs. Utah

3. Texas allows five sacks

The worst offensive line, and pass protection, during the regular season in the Big 12 belonged to OL coach and co-offensive coordinator Herb Hand and the Texas football program. The Longhorns racked No. 83 in the FBS in sack rate this season, seven percent, and No. 103 in stuff rate, 14.8 percent (courtesy of Football Outsiders). Down the stretch the offensive line couldn’t get much of anything going.

In total, the Longhorns offensive line let up 33 sacks during the regular season which was the worst number in the Big 12. That’s around three sacks per game. Those 33 sacks saw Texas lose 188 yards.

Imagine if Texas didn’t have a dual-threat quarterback sitting back in the pocket as experienced and mobile as junior Sam Ehlinger. That number would’ve been much worse if say redshirt junior Shane Buechele was the starting quarterback on the Forty Acres still, instead of with head coach Sonny Dykes and the SMU Mustangs.

Texas had a similar problem to that of the Texas A&M Aggies during the regular season (head coach Jimbo Fisher saw his team allow 33 sacks for around the same amount of yards loss). Texas A&M also has a mobile quarterback behind center in junior dual-threat Kellen Mond.

The way that the Longhorns and Aggies tended to cut down on the number of sacks was get a balanced offensive rhythm going consistently. Texas has the weapons to do so too.

Although, it doesn’t look good for a Texas offensive line that will battling in the trenches with a very stout and experienced Utah front seven. Utah’s defensive line (a 3-4 front on most downs) has three seniors starting on it. The Utes rank in the top 20 in both line yards per carry allowed and standard downs line yards. They also rank in the top 40 in sack rate (around seven percent).

This could be a long day for Ehlinger facing up against the likes of senior defensive end Bradlee Anae (a team-leading 12.5 sacks so far on the season) and the Utes pass rush.