Player-by-Player Evaluation: Longhorns Overwhelm Auburn with Offensive Firepower
From the opening drive, this game felt like a statement performance.
Texas didn’t just beat Auburn — the Longhorns controlled the game in phases, exploding offensively, answering every Auburn punch, and leaning on depth when the game turned into a track meet. While Auburn piled up yards late, Texas’ efficiency, balance, and execution separated the two teams.
This was a night where stars shined, role players delivered, and the offense hit another gear.
Below is the complete player-by-player evaluation from Texas’ dominant win.
QUARTERBACKS
Marcel Reed — QB
22/31, 312 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT | 70% | 198.0 Rating
9 rushes, 48 yards, 1 TD
This was one of Marcel Reed’s best games of the season.
Reed was in command from start to finish — decisive reads, confident throws, and excellent ball placement at every level of the field. Four passing touchdowns, zero interceptions, and constant pressure on Auburn’s secondary tell the story.
What stood out most was Reed’s composure when Auburn tried to speed the game up. He didn’t force throws, took what the defense gave him, and punished coverage mistakes immediately. His rushing touchdown added another layer Auburn simply couldn’t account for.
This was a complete quarterback performance.
Impact: Offensive engine, tempo controller
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Akili Smith Jr. — QB
3/7, 15 yards
Smith’s role was limited in this one, but he handled his snaps cleanly. No turnovers, no negative plays — simply managed his opportunities within the flow of the game.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐
RUNNING BACKS
Manu Rome — HB
12 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDs | 7.5 YPC
2 catches, 49 yards
Rome continues to be one of the most reliable weapons in this offense.
He ran decisively, finished runs, and punished Auburn for playing light boxes. Both of his rushing touchdowns came from vision and patience rather than pure speed, and his receiving production added another explosive element.
Rome’s efficiency kept Auburn honest and allowed Texas to stay balanced even during scoring flurries.
Impact: Explosive, efficient, versatile
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Marcel Reed — QB (Rushing Contribution)
Reed’s 48 rushing yards and touchdown were timely and controlled. He picked his moments well and avoided unnecessary hits.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Depth Backs
- B. Jackson: 3 carries, 13 yards
- J. Simon: 2 carries, 12 yards
Both backs ran with purpose in limited reps and kept the offense on schedule late.
WIDE RECEIVERS & PASS CATCHERS
Kaliq Lockett — WR
8 catches, 139 yards, TD | Long of 52
108 yards after catch
Another dominant outing from Lockett.
He was Auburn’s biggest problem all night — beating press coverage, winning on crossers, and turning routine catches into explosive gains. His touchdown was the result of elite separation and burst, and his YAC numbers highlight just how dangerous he was in space.
Even with a single drop, his impact never wavered.
Impact: Primary playmaker, matchup nightmare
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
D. McCutcheon — WR
4 catches, 46 yards, 2 TDs
McCutcheon continues to be money in scoring situations.
Two touchdowns on four catches is elite efficiency. He found soft spots in coverage, worked the red zone exceptionally well, and made Auburn pay for lapses in discipline.
Impact: Red-zone assassin
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
J. Washington — WR
3 catches, 33 yards
Washington was solid in the intermediate game, helping move the chains and keeping Auburn from focusing solely on Lockett.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐½
A. Butler — WR
4 catches, 27 yards, TD
Butler delivered when his number was called. His touchdown came on a well-timed route and strong finish through contact.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
K. Young / J. Simon / E. Winston
- Young: 2 catches, 17 yards
- Simon: 1 catch, 8 yards
- Winston: 1 catch, 8 yards (2 drops)
Depth receivers rotated in and contributed, though Winston’s drops will be something to clean up moving forward.
DEFENSE
While Auburn accumulated yardage, Texas’ defense made timely plays, especially in the backfield and on third downs, to keep the game from swinging.
Dalton Brooks — SS
6 tackles
Brooks was steady and reliable on the back end, keeping plays in front of him and limiting explosive breakdowns.
Impact: Defensive stabilizer
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kobe Black — CB
6 tackles
Black played disciplined coverage and tackled well in space. While he didn’t record a turnover, his positioning prevented big gains.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐½
K. Phillips — DB
6 tackles
Phillips was active and physical, particularly in run support.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐½
Xavier Filsaime — FS
5 tackles, 1 TFL
Filsaime continues to be a versatile presence, stepping into run lanes and providing support underneath.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Z. Umeozulu — EDGE
5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
Umeozulu brought consistent pressure off the edge and was one of the most disruptive defenders on the night.
Impact: Backfield disruptor
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
C. Ross II — LB
5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack
Ross played downhill and finished plays, especially when Auburn tried to establish rhythm in the run game.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
J. Williams — LB
5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT (86 yards)
Williams’ interception was one of the biggest defensive moments of the game. His return flipped field position and halted Auburn momentum immediately.
Impact: Momentum-changing playmaker
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
R. Hodges — DL
5 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks
A disruptive performance. Hodges consistently collapsed the pocket and forced Auburn into uncomfortable situations.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
M. Charles — DL
3 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack
Charles was effective in limited reps, penetrating quickly and finishing plays in the backfield.
Grade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was a complete offensive showcase paired with a defense that made impact plays at the right time.
- Marcel Reed played at an elite level
- Manu Rome and Kaliq Lockett powered explosive balance
- Defensive playmakers created momentum-swinging moments
Texas didn’t just survive Auburn — the Longhorns imposed their style and proved they can win shootouts when needed.
