Texas Football: 5 reasons the Longhorns will upset Utah in Alamo Bowl

1. Healthier defense

The most lacking part for the Texas football program, as usual during Herman’s tenure, was the play of the defense. Former Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando can’t take all the blame here, but it seemed like a change was looming. Orlando was let go after his third-year with the program, and replaced by former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash.

The combination of a new defensive coordinator/scheme and a healthier set of starters through and through should bring a new energy for this Longhorns defense in the Alamo Bowl. Players that were often injured this season like sophomore safety Caden Sterns and sophomore nickelback B.J. Foster should be ready to go tonight.

Texas ranked at No. 55 in the nation this season in defensive efficiency, and they allowed 28.0 points per game (good for No. 74 in the nation). This defense will need a healthier group out there against the balanced Utah offense since Huntley and Moss can do some real damage. It could also be difficult to hang with this stout Utah defense, which ranked at No. 5 in defensive efficiency in the country.

A real x-factor for the Longhorns on defense in the Alamo will be the injury status of senior standout linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch. So far this season, McCulloch was effective when healthy but only played in seven games.

There’s a number of Longhorns defenders that are questionable, but should be ready to go for the first time in a while in the Alamo Bowl.