Longhorns Punch Their Ticket to the Title Game Behind an Offensive Masterclass
In a semifinal that turned into a fireworks show, your Texas Longhorns delivered one of the most explosive offensive performances in program history, outlasting No. 4 Wake Forest 63–42. It was a game defined by efficiency, balance, and big-play ability at every level of the offense—paired with timely, opportunistic defense.
Now, after this statement victory, Texas is officially heading to the National Championship.
Below is a full player-by-player breakdown of the semifinal win.
QUARTERBACKS
Maalik Murphy — 23/31, 310 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT (74%)
Murphy delivered a championship-caliber performance when Texas needed it most.
- 190.1 rating—one of his best of the season
- 78-yard strike that broke the game open
- Perfect handling of Wake Forest’s pressure packages
- Zero turnovers despite heavy disguised coverages
Murphy was calm, calculated, and almost flawless. He distributed the ball as a true veteran, made pre-snap checks like a pro, and sliced Wake’s secondary with intermediate accuracy all day.
Verdict: QB1 played like a national title leader.
RUNNING BACKS
CJ Baxter — 14 carries, 127 yards (9.1 YPC), 2 TDs
A menace. A sledgehammer. A game-breaker.
- 74-yard touchdown run that ignited momentum
- Forced missed tackles at the second level
- Controlled the pace of the offense
- Averaged nearly 10 yards every time he touched the ball
Wake Forest never found an answer. Baxter’s blend of power, acceleration, and vision solidified him as one of the nation’s elite backs.
Verdict: Workhorse. Big-play machine. Championship engine.
Other RB Contributions
- M. Terry III: 5-yard tough run and solid blocking in pass protection
- Murphy (Scrambling): 9 yards on two keeps, extending drives on broken plays
Not flashy, but efficient—exactly what the offense needed behind Baxter’s dominance.
WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS
Ryan Wingo — 3 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD
The most dangerous man on the field.
- 32.7 yards per catch
- 61 yards after catch
- 78-yard TD bomb that buried Wake Forest’s coverage
His elite acceleration and ability to stack DBs vertically made him unguardable. Every touch was a threat to score.
Verdict: WR1, game-breaker, and future first-round talent.
J. Endries — 7 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD
Texas’ chain mover and matchup nightmare.
- Found soft spots in Wake’s zones
- 12.7 yards per catch
- Red-zone touchdown off a perfectly timed corner route
Endries played his most complete game of the season—route precision, toughness, and YAC value all on display.
Verdict: The glue of the passing game.
Jaime Ffrench — 5 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD
Quietly huge performance.
- Scored a key first-half touchdown
- 39 yards after the catch
- Converted multiple third downs
Ffrench’s reliability in the short-to-mid range kept Texas on schedule, helping the offense maintain rhythm.
Verdict: Dependable and explosive when needed.
CJ Baxter (Receiving) — 4 receptions, 31 yards
Not just a runner—Baxter extended drives as a pass catcher.
- 11.0 RAC average
- Seamless outlet valve for Murphy
- Broke multiple tackles in space
Verdict: Complete back with elite versatility.
J. Washington — 1 reception, 29 yards
One target, one explosive play. He maximized his opportunity with a slippery RAC run.
Verdict: Efficient and dangerous in limited touches.
D. McCutcheon — 1 reception, 11 yards
Moved the chains with a physical catch in traffic.
Kaliq Lockett — 2 receptions, 9 yards
Provided underneath spacing and did important dirty work as a blocker.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The stat line says everything:
- 448 total yards
- 9.3 yards per play
- Zero sacks allowed on Murphy
This was domination. Texas won the trenches from the opening drive, clearing lanes for Baxter and giving Murphy a clean platform all night.
Verdict: Championship-level trench play.
DEFENSE
Wake Forest managed 701 total yards, but the Longhorns’ defense delivered exactly when it mattered—forcing turnovers, winning red-zone snaps, and sealing the game in the fourth quarter.
Here’s how the unit graded out player-by-player:
Derek Williams Jr. — 13 tackles
Your defensive MVP.
- 6 solo tackles
- Consistently erased explosive plays
- Took perfect angles all game
Williams was the stabilizer in a chaotic offensive shootout.
Verdict: Lead tackler and emotional anchor of the secondary.
Shane McOliver — 10 tackles, 2 TFL
Once again showing why he’s one of the best SAMs in PML.
- Blew up Wake’s outside zone repeatedly
- Set the physical tone early
- Critical stop on 3rd-and-short
Verdict: Relentless and disruptive.
L. Lefau — 10 tackles, 1 TFL
Sideline-to-sideline machine.
- Clean fits
- Steady tackling
- Excellent pursuit speed
Verdict: Consistent and clutch.
J. Williams — 9 tackles, 1 interception (59-yard return)
A game-changing playmaker.
- The 59-yard interception return completely shifted momentum
- Reliable in both man and zone
- Tackled at a high level
Verdict: Playmaker of the game on defense.
E. Bowen — 7 tackles, 1 TFL
Smart and physical.
Held his ground against Wake’s tempo and motion-heavy offense.
D. Walters — 6 tackles
Strong complementary performance with excellent angle discipline.
X. Fils-Aime — 6 tackles
Burst and range on full display.
F. Walker — 5 tackles
Filled downhill aggressively and helped contain the edge.
K. Black — 4 tackles
Quiet day statistically, but strong in coverage responsibilities.
K. Phillips — 3 tackles
Solid rotational snaps.
FINAL VERDICT
Texas proved they are the most complete team in the nation:
- Elite QB play
- Dominant run game
- Explosive wideouts
- Fast, physical, opportunistic defense
The 63–42 win cements the Longhorns as the team to beat.
TEXAS IS CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND
With the semifinal win sealed, the Longhorns advance to the National Championship Game, one win away from completing a historic undefeated season.
