Quarterfinal Win vs. No. 9 Notre Dame — 42–28
Texas Advances to the National Semifinal
In a game where Notre Dame threw the kitchen sink—vertical shots, tempo, exotic blitzes, and a relentless passing attack—your Texas Longhorns responded with poise, balance, and toughness. The 42–28 victory was far from a cruise; it required stars to play like stars, role players to execute, and your veterans to steady the ship.
Below is the full unit-by-unit, player-by-player breakdown of who delivered, how they impacted the win, and where their performance elevates Texas heading into the semifinal.
QUARTERBACKS
Maalik Murphy — 19/30, 185 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 8 rushes, 70 yards, 1 TD
This game was a microcosm of Murphy’s identity: controlled aggression, the ability to stress defenses with both arm and legs, and the resilience to shake off mistakes.
- Passing:
- 63% completion rate against one of the most complex safety rotations you’ve seen all season.
- The lone interception came on a disguised robber concept; he responded with two straight scoring drives afterward.
- His 17-yard TD strike was a perfect timing throw off a high-low read.
- Rushing:
- His 39-yard keeper was the most important play of the third quarter—flipping field position and reestablishing momentum.
- Averaged 8.8 yards per carry, consistently punishing Notre Dame for playing too much 2-man.
- Pocket presence:
- Took 3 sacks, but avoided two more with smart movement.
Verdict: A winning, composed performance—exactly what a senior QB should provide in a playoff atmosphere.
RUNNING BACKS
CJ Baxter — 17 carries, 93 yards, 2 TDs
Your tone-setter. Your hammer. Your closer.
- 5.5 YPC against a top-10 rush defense.
- Two red-zone touchdowns where he powered through contact at the 3-yard line.
- Created 30 yards after contact, proving once again that Texas’ run game is built on physical identity.
- The offensive line fed off him—his downhill finishes forced Notre Dame to commit extra hats, which opened your RPO game.
Verdict: Championship-level back. Controlled the flow of the offense.
M. Terry III — 4 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
The perfect change-of-pace spark.
- Averaged 10.0 YPC, including a 22-yard burst that broke the Irish’s pursuit angles.
- His touchdown run early helped Texas seize a two-score cushion.
Verdict: Efficient, explosive, decisive.
WIDE RECEIVERS + TIGHT ENDS
Jaime Ffrench — 7 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD
The offensive MVP of the passing game.
- When Murphy needed a reliable separator, Ffrench was the answer.
- 50 RAC yards speaks to his toughness and willingness to attack underneath windows.
- Scored on a perfectly executed quick out where he beat press at the line and finished through contact.
Verdict: Volume receiver, chain mover, pressure-proof.
Kaliq Lockett — 4 receptions, 46 yards
Quietly one of the most important contributors.
- Worked the intermediate windows brilliantly.
- His 17-yard catch on 3rd & medium was one of the game’s turning points.
- One drop, but otherwise reliable and efficient.
Verdict: The glue guy of the receiving room today.
M. Terry III — 3 receptions, 38 yards
Dual-threat weapon.
- Helped Murphy against blitz looks as a safety valve.
- Turned a simple swing pass into a 26-yard RAC gain that set up Baxter’s second touchdown.
Verdict: Huge impact as both runner and pass-catcher.
J. Endries — 2 receptions, 25 yards
When Texas needed a tight-end presence, Endries answered.
- Beat man coverage twice on seam-release concepts.
- His 17-yard catch in the 4th helped bleed the clock.
Verdict: Under-the-radar but valuable.
CJ Baxter (receiving) — 2 receptions, 21 yards
Did damage on checkdowns and flats.
- Forced linebackers to widen their fits.
- His reliability allowed Murphy to avoid unnecessary risks.
Verdict: Complete three-down back performance.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Protection:
- 3 sacks allowed, but far more were avoided thanks to recovery blocks.
- Handled Notre Dame’s twisting front better as the game progressed.
Run Blocking:
- Generated 203 rushing yards and multiple explosive gains.
- Consistently reset the line of scrimmage.
Standouts:
- Interior trio was excellent on combo blocks.
- The tackles played disciplined against wide outside-backer alignments.
Verdict: A playoff-worthy trench performance.
DEFENSE
Notre Dame threw for 376 yards—but Texas played a classic “bend but don’t break” game and won the situations: red zone, third down, pressure moments.
Below are the individual defensive evaluations.
Shane McOliver — 13 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack
YOUR DEFENSIVE MVP.
- Played like a coach on the field.
- Diagnosed screens, option plays, and Irish motions instantly.
- His 3 TFLs came at massive moments—two on 2nd & short, one on a crucial RPO.
- Sack came on a green-dog blitz where he closed space violently.
Verdict: Best game of his senior year. Leader. Difference-maker.
K. Black — 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT
Game-changer.
- His interception deep in Texas territory prevented a possible go-ahead score.
- Played downhill and confident in run fits.
- Wrapped up well in space.
Verdict: Tone-setting, opportunistic performance.
J. Williams — 8 tackles
Quietly strong.
- Firm in his zones, clean in pursuit.
- Prevented two potential explosive plays by taking disciplined angles.
Verdict: Dependable, smart football.
E. Bowen — 7 tackles
Another consistent presence.
- Strong perimeter run defense.
- Didn’t allow yards after contact when aligned in the alley.
Verdict: Steady, physical, and trustworthy.
D. Walters — 6 tackles
Solid complementary performance.
- Closed well on intermediate crossers.
- Delivered a big open-field stop late in the 3rd.
Verdict: Reliable rotational value.
X. Fils-Aime — 6 tackles, 1 TFL
Key contributor in space.
- His TFL stopped Notre Dame’s tempo series cold.
- Strong hip-turning in coverage.
Verdict: Athletic and impactful.
L. Lefau — 5 tackles
Played his role well.
- Filled interior gaps with strength.
- Prevented cutback lanes that Notre Dame typically exploits.
Verdict: Important in maintaining defensive structure.
F. Walker — 4 tackles
Showed burst off the edge.
- Nearly got home twice on pressures.
- Provided containment on rollout concepts.
Verdict: Good discipline game.
C. Fite — 3 tackles, 1 sack
Timely splash play.
- Sack came on a perfectly executed twist.
- Brought needed interior push in the fourth quarter.
Verdict: Situational disruptor.
D. Williams Jr. — 2 tackles, 1 TFL
Strong rotational snaps.
- His TFL in the red zone forced Notre Dame into a field-goal attempt.
Verdict: High-energy impact.
SPECIAL TEAMS + GAME SITUATIONAL NOTES
- Kick coverage was clean—no explosives allowed.
- Field position battles were controlled by disciplined fair-catch strategy.
- Complimented your offensive balance perfectly.
FINAL VERDICT
Your Texas Longhorns looked like a No. 1 seed:
- Balanced offense (203 rushing, 185 passing)
- Explosive run game
- Reliable QB play under pressure
- Defensive situational dominance
- Superstar performances from Baxter, Ffrench, McOliver, and Black
This is the performance of a team built for January football.
Texas moves on—battle-tested, confident, and still undefeated.
