Every week after handing over one of many worst penalty performances of the Steve Sarkisian period, the Texas Longhorns responded with a a lot cleaner efficiency in opposition to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Saturday’s 31-3 victory, although yet one more particular groups penalty wiped a punt return landing off the board.
The Longhorns have been flagged 5 instances for 42 yards. Two extra penalties have been referred to as and declined or offset by a Mississippi State flag.
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The offense was liable for three flags and two extra offsetting calls. Left deal with Melvin Siani was liable for a holding on first down, proper deal with Andre Cojoe was referred to as for a false begin that moved the Longhorns again on third down, and the unit was flagged for an unlawful formation on first down. An unlawful shift offset a move interference name on the Bulldogs whereas a holding name was declined.
Coming early within the second quarter, Texas was in a position to overcome the holding penalty on Siani when working again Raleek Brown ran for 11 yards on second down and quarterback Arch Manning scrambled for 10 yards on third and 9. The drive ended with a subject objective after Cojoe’s false begin on third and seven led to a tougher conversion — extensive receiver Jermaine Bishop gained eight yards on the following play.
The unlawful formation penalty got here after the negated punt return landing with Texas backed up in its personal territory, practically resulting in a security after the following carry by working again Hollywood Smothers from the 4-yard line was dropped for a three-yard loss.
Three pre-snap penalties are lower than the usual that Texas can play at. Lining up incorrectly earlier than the snap, whereas at house, is irritating and difficult to excuse. Their efficiency would look even worse had the opposite two penalties been accepted.
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A face masks name on Texas linebacker Justin Cryer negated what was a superb alternative for the protection. Cryer got here unblocked from the precise facet and grabbed the Mississippi State quarterback’s face masks whereas attempting to deliver him down.
Simply the largest penalty of the night, a block within the again on a punt return referred to as in opposition to former walk-on extensive receiver Rett Andersen, took a landing by Ryan Niblett off of the scoreboard.
The contact that induced the flag took down a Mississippi State that arguably did not have a real probability to deliver Niblett down. Nonetheless, it occurred at a key second and despatched the defender sprawling, making it a simple name for the referees though it drew heavy boos from the hometown crowd in attendance.
As a complete, the efficiency was a lot better than final week, however nonetheless has room for enchancment — pre-snap penalties are psychological errors.
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The Longhorns averaged 8.3 penalties per sport in 2025, totaling 108 flags for 906 yards over 13 video games, which ranked 134th out of 136 groups in whole penalties and 132nd in penalty yards per sport.
This season, Texas is 73rd in penalties per sport at 6.62 and ninety fifth in penalty yards per sport with 62.75.