While the No. 7 Texas Longhorns face what looks to be an easy day at the office against UTEP, the Texas A&M Aggies travel to South Bend for a top-25 showdown with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Can Mike Elko and Co. pull off a shocker?
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Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) looks to evade defense from Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons (11) in the second quarter of the Lone Star Showdown at Kyle Field in College Station, Nov. 30, 2024.
Sara Diggins/American-Statesman, NAAS
American-Statesman columnist Cedric Golden and the Houston Chronicle’s Kirk Bohls break down those matchups and tackle other hot storylines in college football.
1. Is this a must-win for Notre Dame if the Irish want to make the College Football Playoff?
Golden: It isn’t because the Irish can still open 0-2 with a loss to Texas A&M and win 10 straight against one of the friendliest schedules in the country. A quick glance at their schedule reveals the No. 16 Aggies are the only ranked team.
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MORE CEDDY: Arch Manning says he can improve upon five-touchdown performance
It does place huge pressure on the Irish if they drop one at the house and know they will have to run the table and not have the benefit of a conference championship to punch their ticket. With that said, I expect running back Jeremiyah Love and this offense will bounce back from the disappointing loss to Miami and turn back the upstart Aggies 31-28.
Bohls: It absolutely is. The Irish cannot start 0-2 and get in the playoffs because their weak schedule doesn’t include another top 25 team and they can’t play for the ACC title. I don’t see how they make it with a second loss. Even though I’ve been high on the Aggies’ chances, I’m going with Notre Dame grinding out a 24-21 win.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian leads his team through the tunnel ahead of the game against San José State at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
2. What phase of the game does Texas need to improve against UTEP?
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Golden: The Longhorns have to cut down on the penalties. It’s not important that the Horns will blow out the Miners 45-10, but it’s how they blow out the Miners. After committing 12 penalties for 115 yards in the rout of San Jose State, the Horns have to know those careless unforced errors can get them beat against quality competition. It’s one thing to commit effort fouls like holding but the administrative infections — the false starts and jumping across the line before the snap — are the types of mistakes that have to be eliminated if the Horns are to finish this season in the tournament for the third straight year.
Bohls: That’s easy. Steve Sarkisian must improve the dismal third-down conversion rate of 27% after two games. The Longhorns have converted just 7 of 26 attempts and rank 121st. Only three Power Four teams rate worse — North Carolina (24%), Arizona State (21%) and UCLA (21%). Here’s betting they do much better Saturday when they wear down the Miners 42-7.
MORE KIRK: Why did Sarkisian answer the injury question on Arch Manning that way?
3. Does edge rusher Colin Simmons get back into beast mode this week?
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Golden: Yes. He’s too good to keep struggling. It’s time for defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski to unleash the beast in Simmons, who has gotten more headlines for committing penalties than racking up sacks. Sarkisian got attention by benching him to start the second half of the San Jose State game after he jumped the snap twice and Simmons didn’t commit another penalty. It’s past time for him to get back to what he does best. UTEP will be a nice start. Expect a pair of sacks and four hurries.
Bohls: Without question. He’s got to be stir crazy after his subpar play with five penalties in the first two games. Put him down for two sacks and three tackles for losses.
MORE: Will RB Quintrevion Wisner play against UTEP?
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 06: Le’Veon Moss #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies stiff arms a Utah State Aggie defender in the first half of a game at Kyle Field on September 06, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images)
Joe Buvid/Getty Images
4. List the five best quarterbacks in the SEC as of today.
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Golden: 1. Oklahoma’s John Mateer; 2. Missouri’s Beau Pribula; 3. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia; 4. Alabama’s Ty Simpson; and 5. Arkansas’ Taylen Green. Mateer has changed the culture of that OU offense while Pavia may be the most overlooked QB in the conference. In case you’re wondering, I have Texas’ Arch Manning seventh and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed eighth.
Bohls: My top five in the early going are Oklahoma’s Mateer, Missouri’s Pribula, Arkansas’ Green, A&M’s Reed and Alabama’s Simpson. Mateer ranks sixth nationally with 331 yards a game and has the league’s best win. Pribula is completing 79% of his passes. Green’s already thrown for 10 touchdowns. Reed has seven touchdowns and no picks. Simpson completed all 17 of his passes against Louisiana-Monroe and also hasn’t been intercepted. Notice anyone missing?
5. Was the Big 12 too lenient in suspending an officiating crew for allowing an illegal punt in the Kansas-Missouri game?
Golden: Absolutely. It should have been a minimum of three games because this is the big time. Do you know how many high school officials would love to be calling games in the Big 12 with the perks that come along with it? For an entire crew of eight to miss this rule should create more questions moving forward. This was an embarrassing look for the conference.
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Bohls: Nah. That’s hardly the biggest mistake a crew has ever made. Why get upset over a punt instead of a kickoff? Besides, maybe the officials were atoning for the extra fifth down they gave Colorado in a win over Missouri in 1990 and went on to win a share of a national championship and was just trying to make it up to the Tigers.
WATCH: Longhorn Confidential previews Texas-UTEP
6. Which top 25 team goes down this week?
Golden: Give me No. 18 Tennessee to take out No. 6 Georgia in Knoxville. That’s shaping up to be a classic.
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Bohls: It’s tempting to say Arkansas will knock off No. 17 Ole Miss, but I was so impressed with the beatdown Vanderbilt put on Virginia Tech that I believe Pavia and the Commodores will get it done against an inconsistent No. 11 South Carolina team, 28-24.
7. What college football stadiums top your bucket list?
Golden: One of these days, the SEC schedule makers will get around to sending the Longhorns to Baton Rouge for an LSU game. Death Valley has already been atop my bucket list, not just because of the stadium but because I’ve received numerous invitations to tailgates over the years. I’ll take Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium — I have to see those checkerboard end zones — as No. 2 with Penn State’s Beaver Stadium rounding out the list though former colleagues who have been there say traveling there on game day can be a logistical nightmare. A fourth would be a UNLV game at Allegiant Stadium. Not that I care about the Rebels. It’s the city.
Bohls: I’ve been to the Big House, genuflected before Touchdown Jesus and been to the Shoe three times. I’ll check off the hedges at Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. Hopefully I’m still around to see the checkerboard end zone at Tennessee. Finally, Army-Navy has moved around, but I’d love to see it wherever it’s played. I’d like to see Boise State’s blue field.
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8. What’s the most overrated team in the AP top 10?
Golden: You saw my upset pick. I’m not in love with the Georgia Bulldogs. I know the subs got a lot of playing time against Austin Peay, but 28-6? The Bulldogs will be better in a month, but at this point they’re the most vulnerable top-10 team out there.
Bohls: I’m going with Georgia. The Dawgs have beaten only Marshall and Austin Peay, and Gunner Stockton has been downright pedestrian with only two touchdowns and an average of 208 yards a game. Time to flex, Dawgs.
9. How long does Bill Belichick last at North Carolina?
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Golden: This season and next at the most. He isn’t built for the long term and it’s not like he set the world on fire during that 29-38 stretch in the four seasons after Tom Brady left the New England Patriots. At 73, his best coaching days are well behind him. When you’re getting more pub for a girlfriend that’s nearly 50 years younger than you instead of what’s happening on the field, it’s time to hang it up.
Bohls: I’ll go against the grain and say three years. Three lackluster years. I don’t think any NFL team wants to touch him, so it’s Chapel Hill or the rocking chair.
10. Whom should Florida hire when Billy Napier gets fired soon?
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Golden: Good question, but first the Gators need to figure out a way to get one of those old Brown Derby restaurants across the country on a aircraft carrier because it will take a brim that big to hold Napier’s $22 million buyout. Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin represents a sizable upgrade. He knows these SEC streets after strops in Tennessee and Alabama before he landed in Oxford. His 26-16 conference record over five-plus seasons speaks for itself.
Bohls: I’ll throw a Hail Mary and say the Gators should target a proven winner in Penn State’s James Franklin, who if he doesn’t win it all this year could probably use a change of scenery.