Texas Football is preparing to host the Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend at DKR Memorial Stadium. After getting humbled by the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia, last weekend, Texas needs a major blowout victory. They have fallen in the College Football Playoff polls and need to improve their resume before the end of the season. Blowing the Razorbacks out of the water is one way to get the Committee's attention on Saturday.
Both teams have met 80 times, and the Longhorns have a 57-23 record against them. Hopefully, by the end of the game, the Longhorns will hold a 58-23 record in the series.
Let's look at four big storylines heading into the matchup at DKR Memorial Stadium this weekend.
1. Taylen Green is a talented, dual-threat QB
Taylen Green is another dual-threat quarterback that the Longhorns will be facing this weekend, and Texas might want to consider spying him in case Green decides to take off running. What worries me about Green is that he almost took down the LSU Tigers last weekend.
If the Longhorns can corral him, they should be able to beat the Razorbacks this weekend.
2. Bobby Petrino looking for first win
After taking over for Sam Pittman in the middle of the season, Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino is looking for his first win as the interim head coach. He almost got it last weekend against LSU, but came up short by three points. When an interim head coach wants to keep his job, he will do everything in his power to earn it, including pulling off an upset. The Longhorns better be prepared for a Razorbacks team ready to throw the kitchen sink at them.
3. Anthony Hill Jr. injury
Another storyline surrounding the Longhorns' defense this weekend is the absence of Anthony Hill Jr. in the lineup as he got injured in the game against the Bulldogs last weekend. However, Colin Simmons is healthy and ready to take on more responsibility this weekend. I don't think Hill's absence will affect the Longhorns too much, but it might be used as a reason if the Razorbacks upset the Texas.
4. Time for Arch to step up
There have been times this season when Arch Manning has shown his potential as a Heisman Trophy contender, and other games when he looks like a freshman quarterback. The Bulldogs' defense got into his head last week.
It's time to put that game behind him and look like a Heisman contender this weekend if he wants to help the Longhorns get into a good bowl game.