AUSTIN, Texas — Bijan Robinson ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns, Jahdae Barron returned an interception 44 yards for a score in the third quarter and No. 21 Texas beat UTSA 41-20 on Saturday night.
Texas trailed 17-7 in the second quarter then rallied to tie it by halftime. Robinson’s 78-yard touchdown run gave Texas the lead, and Barron’s interception return put the Longhorns up by 11 to snuff the Roadrunners’ bid for an upset that would have been the biggest win in the history of a rising program that has only been playing football since 2011.
Hudson Card got the start at quarterback for Texas (2-1) in place of the injured Quinn Ewers. Card had his own struggles with an ankle sprain during the week and wasn’t announced as the starter until game time. He still finished with 161 yards passing and even scampered for a 32-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Texas jumped into the national rankings on the strength of its close loss a week earlier to then-No. 1 Alabama, but found itself quickly down by 10 as UTSA (1-2) followed a surprise onside kick with a trick play touchdown pass to Zakhari Franklin.
Texas eventually wore down the Roadrunners, last season’s C-USA champions behind a rushing attack that rolled up 298 yards. Robinson put the game out of reach with a 41-yard touchdown run with 9:36 left that made it 38-20.
THE TAKEAWAY
UTSA: Quarterback Frank Harris was frustrating Texas with his ability to elude a steady pass rush, find the creases in coverage and keep the drives moving with his legs. Then one misfired pass swung the game when Harris floated a short pass that was tipped right to Barron who had an open field for the interception return. Harris finished with 222 yards passing and 38 rushing.
Texas: Even when the Longhorns have questions at quarterback, having Robinson to rely on can deliver a lot of answers. He won’t often have easy going behind an offensive line that starts two freshmen. But his ability to squirt through tight spaces, spin and launch into breakaway speed make him a constant threat.
UP NEXT
UTSA hosts Texas Southern next Saturday.
Texas starts Big 12 play next Saturday at Texas Tech.
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