#1 Texas Defeats #15 Tennessee, 42–21
PML College Football — Full Breakdown Based on Uploaded Game Stats
The Texas Longhorns handled their business against #15 Tennessee, pulling away for a convincing 42–21 victory inside DKR. While the score looks comfortable, Texas’ success came from balanced offense, opportunistic defense, and key individual performances across every position group. Below is a full player-by-player evaluation based entirely on your provided stats.
Quarterbacks
Maalik Murphy – Senior (RS) – 21/34, 240 Yards, 1 INT
Murphy didn’t throw a touchdown, but he played winning football.
- Control & efficiency: A 61% completion rate on 34 attempts shows composure and rhythm.
- Explosive plays: His long of 30 yards and 11.4 YPA show he stretched Tennessee vertically and punished soft spots in zone coverage.
- Pocket presence: Took just 1 sack, reading blitzes well and getting the ball out on time.
- Turnover: The lone interception came on an aggressive shot downfield, but he bounced back without hesitation.
Murphy’s command of the offense kept Tennessee off balance, and he played like a veteran senior in a top-15 matchup.
Running Backs
Michael Terry III — 15 CAR, 92 YDS, 6.1 AVG, 3 TD
Terry was the offensive MVP.
- Three touchdowns showcased his finishing ability inside the red zone.
- Showed burst with a 33-yard long, combining patient vision with violent acceleration.
- Forced 3 broken tackles, proving why he’s a premier back in the PML.
- Tennessee had no answer for him in space or between the tackles.
This was a statement performance from the sophomore — a player whose role is increasing weekly.
CJ Baxter — 6 CAR, 41 YDS, 6.8 AVG
Baxter was the perfect change-of-pace complement.
- Averaged a strong 6.8 yards per carry.
- Added 18 yards after contact, showing physicality on second-level runs.
- His 16-yard burst in the first half helped soften Tennessee’s front.
While he didn’t score, Baxter kept drives alive and extended chains consistently.
C. Clark — 2 CAR, 13 YDS
Small workload but efficient.
- Ran hard, posted 6.5 YPC.
- Showed some wiggle with a 9-yard long.
Maalik Murphy — 3 CAR, 9 YDS, TD
Murphy added an important red zone score.
- Used his frame and strength (235 lbs) to power through on a goal-line keeper.
- His mobility remains underrated in your offense.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
Jaime Ffrench — 9 REC, 115 YDS, 12.8 AVG
Ffrench was the best receiver on the field — for either team.
- Functioned as Murphy’s go-to target.
- 68 RAC yards, showing big-play ability after the catch.
- Long of 30 yards, slicing up Tennessee’s secondary repeatedly.
- Displayed elite technique, separation, and route discipline.
A true WR1 performance from the sophomore.
J. Endries — 3 REC, 33 YDS
Endries filled the TE possession role well.
- Moved the chains on intermediate throws.
- Had 1 drop, but otherwise reliable.
K. Lockett — 5 REC, 30 YDS
Lockett provided quick-hitting production.
- 5 receptions show that Tennessee gave him space underneath.
- Had 2 drops, but contributed meaningful YAC (24 yards).
- Effective as a slot control piece.
Michael Terry III — 1 REC, 23 YDS
Terry wasn’t just a runner —
- His lone catch went 23 yards, another explosive gain.
- Continued proving why he’s one of your most versatile weapons.
CJ Baxter — 1 REC, 20 YDS
Strong play-action counter:
- Baxter’s 20-yard grab kept the defense honest and extended a key scoring drive.
J. Washington — 2 REC, 19 YDS
A solid complementary target.
- Both catches came in tight coverage situations.
- Reliable depth production.
Offensive Line
While OL stats aren’t directly shown, we can evaluate based on the offensive output:
- Allowed only 1 sack across 34 pass attempts — elite protection.
- Missed very few blocks in the run game, paving the way for 155 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs.
- Consistently generated push, especially on inside zone and RPO looks.
This was one of the OL’s best outings of the season.
Defense
Eli Bowen — 12 TACKLES, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PD
Bowen was the defensive star.
- Led the team in tackles (12) from the CB spot — outstanding run support and perimeter discipline.
- Recorded 2 tackles for loss, diagnosing screens and stopping flats before they developed.
- Added a clutch interception, showcasing ball skills that match his “Ballhawk” ability.
- Tennessee targeted him often — and regretted it.
Bowen played like an All-American.
Xavier Filsaime — 9 TACKLES, 1 TFL
The enforcer on the back end.
- Clean tackling, took great angles, erased explosive plays.
- His TFL came on a perfectly timed safety blitz.
Laiatu Lefau — 7 TACKLES, 2 TFL
Lefau was a menace at the second level.
- Two TFLs on inside runs.
- Played downhill with great instincts.
Z. Umeozulu — 7 TACKLES, 4 TFL, 2 SACKS
A dominant game from your edge defender.
- Team-high 4 TFLs
- 2 sacks
- Controlled the edge and collapsed the pocket consistently.
- Forced Tennessee into long-yardage situations repeatedly.
This was arguably his best game of the season.
Jaylen Williams — 6 TACKLES
Reliable and disciplined.
- Very active in the box.
- Clean tackling, helped limit Tennessee’s rushing efficiency.
D. Williams Jr. — 6 ASSISTS
Assisted on several pile stops and fit well into the run scheme.
Kobe Black — 6 TACKLES
Strong boundary support.
- Broke up perimeter plays and kept receivers in front of him.
S. McOliver — 5 TACKLES, 1 TFL
Productive depth defender.
- Good awareness in space.
- Contributed well to mixed coverages.
L. Fano — 4 TACKLES, 2 TFL, 0.5 SACK
Fano added valuable rotational pressure.
- Tackles for loss came at critical moments.
- His half-sack helped end a Tennessee scoring threat.
C. Fite — 2 TACKLES
Efficient with limited snaps, maintained gap integrity.
Team Summary
Offense
- 395 total yards
- 6.6 yards per play
- Dominant ground game (155 yards, 4 TDs)
- Efficient passing without forcing throws
- One of Texas’ most balanced performances of the season
Defense
- Held Tennessee scoreless for the entire second half
- Forced 2 sacks, 1 INT, and multiple drive-killing TFLs
- Shut down Tennessee to just 7 points after the first quarter
Overall
This was a statement win from the #1 team in the nation.
Texas dominated physically, schematically, and situationally — a complete performance you can build on going into conference play.
