#4 Texas Longhorns (57) vs #10 USC (45)
College Football – PML Universe
Coach Cody Hirsch
OFFENSE
QB MARCEL REED — The General
26/35 | 490 yards | 6 TD | 3 INT | 74% | 18.8 YPA | 43 rush yards, TD
Reed authored one of the most high-variance but absolutely electric performances of his Texas career. His three interceptions kept USC alive early, but his response was legendary: explosive deep accuracy, confident pocket movement, and surgical mid-range placement that shredded a secondary stretched thin by Texas’ speed.
The 18.8 yards per completion reflects how you weaponized his dual-threat traits not by tucking and running—but by manipulating safeties with mobility and hitting vertical shot plays. His 83-yard TD strike to Manu Rome flipped momentum and set the tone for a night where Texas simply had more answers than USC had coverages.
MOVING FORWARD: Reed is playing at a Heisman-like level when he’s decisive. Cleaning up early-drive turnovers could be the only barrier between him and a historic statistical season.
HB/WR MANU ROME — The Prototype
Rushing: 14 car | 76 yds (5.4) | 0 TD
Receiving: 4 rec | 125 yds | 1 TD | long 83
Rome’s versatility turned this game. Not only did he average 31.3 yards per catch, but his 19 yards after contact on the ground reflected a physical edge USC struggled to match. The staff’s decision to move him around the formation—motion, slot alignments, angle routes—forced mismatches that USC’s linebackers were never able to solve.
MOVING FORWARD: He’s trending toward a true three-level weapon—think Deebo Samuel usage with Travis Etienne body control.
TE JAMAR WASHINGTON — The Chain Mover
5 rec | 90 yds | long 23
Washington thrived in the intermediate window. When Reed needed a reliable outlet, Washington’s crisp timing routes bailed the offense out of several 2nd-and-long scenarios and helped stabilize drives post-turnover.
MOVING FORWARD: Washington is becoming Reed’s “trust target”—expect him to rack up high-efficiency production as defenses overcommit to Rome and Ffrench.
WR JOHNTAY FFRENCH — The Sparkplug
6 rec | 83 yds | 2 TD | RAC 43
Ffrench’s agility in space remains elite. His two touchdowns were a reminder that he can break defenders’ leverage even when he’s not winning physically. A couple of drops prevented a monster night, but his red zone usage continues to validate his value as a separator.
MOVING FORWARD: Execution trimming away drops elevates him from playmaker to star. The flashes are already there.
WR DEANDRE MCCUTCHEON — The Silent Burner
5 rec | 62 yds | 1 TD | long 26
McCutcheon’s ability to feign vertical threats opens up comeback and dig routes that marry perfectly with Reed’s anticipation. His touchdown showcased timing and leverage mastery.
MOVING FORWARD: Could be the Longhorns’ “X-factor” in games where teams sit two-high and refuse to let Rome break loose.
WR KALIQ LOCKETT — The Efficiency King
2 rec | 57 yds | 1 TD | 28.5 YPC
Lockett didn’t need volume—he needed impact. Averaging 23.0 RAC yards per catch, his YAC work on slot crossers forced USC to widen coverage horizontally, softening middle-field windows for Reed’s bombs.
MOVING FORWARD: When Lockett gets touches, drives end in points. The staff may look to increase his designed touches in high-leverage moments.
DEFENSE
FS XAVIER FILSAIME — The Stabilizer
10 tackles | 3 TFL | 1 PBU
Filsaime wore multiple hats—run force, deep middle, alley support—and did them all at a high level. His three tackles for loss were critical in stalling USC drives that otherwise could’ve turned into a shootout-within-a-shootout.
MOVING FORWARD: Filsaime feels like the emotional core of the defense—his reads clean up others’ mistakes.
CB KOBE BLACK — The Game-Breaker
5 tackles | 2 INT | 1 TD | 77 INT yards | long 41
Every defense needs a closer. Black was yours. Both interceptions flipped field position; the pick-six was the game-turning dagger that pulled momentum fully toward the burnt orange despite USC’s constant scoring pressure.
MOVING FORWARD: He’s playing like the best corner in the PML universe right now—targeting him is a risk opponents can’t keep taking.
SS Dalton BROOKS — The Workhorse
9 tackles | 1 TFL
Brooks consistently filled gaps and handled chase responsibilities well against USC’s stretch-and-pull run concepts. If there’s a place to improve, it’s finishing plays behind the LOS—he gets there, now it’s about landing the knockout.
MOVING FORWARD: His reliability frees Texas to stay light and fast in coverage.
LB CHARLES ROSS II — Quiet Pressure, Real Impact
7 tackles | 1 TFL
Ross didn’t fill the sack column, but USC’s run game refused to challenge him directly for a reason. His discipline squeezed cutback lanes and made USC’s rushing attack predictable.
MOVING FORWARD: Interior disruption could be the difference later against power run teams—he’s trending the right way.
OVERALL TAKEAWAYS
- Texas can win shootouts OR strangleholds — versatility is emerging.
- Reed’s ceiling is championship-level when turnovers don’t snowball.
- Rome gives you formation flexibility no defense has an answer for.
- Black + Filsaime might be the best back-end duo in the nation.
- If the defense finds more negative plays up front, Texas becomes terrifying.
FINAL GRADING
| Unit | Grade | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| QB room | A | Reed delivered a 6-TD masterpiece with resilience after early miscues |
| Skill positions | A+ | Rome, Ffrench, McCutcheon, Washington… too many weapons |
| OL | B+ | Kept Reed clean enough to let explosives develop |
| Front 7 | B | Strong tackling, but more splash plays needed |
| Secondary | A+ | Pick-six, consistent tackling, limited back-breaking USC explosives |
BOTTOM LINE: Texas survives a shootout because the stars played like stars. If the turnover swings disappear, this offense might be unstoppable.
