No. 5 Texas vs. Texas State live updates: Raleek Brown’s 13-yard rushing TD pushed lead to 21-0

AUSTIN, Texas — A season with high expectations gets under way for the No. 5 Texas Longhorns on Saturday against the Texas State Bobcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in a prelude to the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes coming to the Forty Acres next week.

After Texas State received the opening kickoff, a touchback deep into the end zone, Texas gave up a first down on three short completions, but inflicted a tackle for loss on a second-down running play and got pressure on Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson to force a throwaway on third down under pressure from fifth-year defensive tackle Hero Kanu.

A bad snap to the Texas State punter impacted his rhythm, leading to a shank out of bounds only 17 yards past the line of scrimmage, affording Texas favorable field position at its own 44-yard line.

Lined up in 12 personnel, the first touch went to senior running back Hollywood Smothers, who bounced the run outside behind blocks from sophomore tight end Nick Townsend and junior wide receiver Ryan Wingo, made two defenders miss in the open field, and got down the sideline for a 45-yard gain.

Two plays later, on 3rd and 5, junior wide receiver Cam Coleman beat an attempt to jam him at the line of scrimmage and left the Texas State cornerback falling to the ground on an easy six-yard touchdown catch, his first touch for the Longhorns.

With the Bobcats facing 3rd and 11, the Longhorns made their first big mistake of the season when sophomore cornerback Kade Phillips was flagged for pass interference down the sideline on a hopeful throw by Jackson. Texas State was able to gain another first down, but when Jackson pulled the ball, senior linebacker Rasheem Biles had contain. Going for it on fourth down, Jackson had his pass batted down at the line of scrimmage by junior defensive tackle Alex January for a turnover on downs.

Facing its own fourth down, senior quarterback Arch Manning found Wingo on a wheel route before connecting with senior tight end Spencer Shannon for 11 yards, the first career target and catch for the Mater Dei product. On the next play, Wingo found the end zone on jet sweep, a pass credited to Manning that turned into an eight-yard touchdown with help from Shannon and Townsend blocking on the edge.

On a drive that started with a 22-yard run by Jaylen Jenkins, Texas State created another explosive play when Jackson scrambled to find an outlet receiver down the sideline for 25 yards to the Texas 5-yard line. A one-yard gain up the middle ended the first quarter.

The Texas defense forced Jackson to hold the ball long enough for Phillips to break up a pass in the end zone and force 3rd and goal from the 4-yard line after GJ Kinne used his first timeout of the first half. The play call by Kinne wasn’t an effective one, as Kanu created quick penetration to create a tackle for loss, forcing a field-goal attempt that missed wide left from 24 yards.

Able to stand in the pocket on second down, Wingo worked open for a 16-yard reception before Smothers found a seam outside for nine yards. Running downhill on his first college carry, freshman Derrek Cooper moved the chains, but freshman wide receiver Jermaine Bishop quickly put the Horns off schedule by dropping a screen pass.

It didn’t hurt Texas as head coach Steve Sarkisian dialed up a screen pass to Smothers that featured Townsend as an escort for the first down. After a check down to Smothers and a run by fifth-year running back Raleek Brown produced 3rd and 1, Sarkisian used his first timeout of the half, sparking frustration with the officials.

With sophomore running back Michael Terry III in the game in a two-back set, Smothers took a carry up the middle for the first down and Townsend caught a short pass for nine yards. Needing to convert another 3rd and 1, a pin and pull for Brown included a nice cut by the USC and Arizona State transfer for a 13-yard touchdown and a 21-0 margin with 7:53 remaining in the second quarter.