Wyoming is up next for No. 4 Texas after win at Alabama earned the Longhorns new respect

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — With one thumping win over Alabama, Texas rejoined the conversation about national championship contenders.

Their ranking reflects that. Texas jumped from No. 11 to No. 4 in the AP Top 25, their highest position since finishing the 2009 season at No. 2. The challenge now is to stay there and keep people talking, even if the Longhorns don't really want to talk about Alabama any more.

“We see it every year ... Teams have one good win and then get upset," Longhorns senior cornerback Ryan Watts said. “Every team is going to try to come and ruin our parade, especially Wyoming."

The Cowboys (2-0) are next up on Saturday in the final nonconference game for Texas (2-0) before the Longhorns start their final season in the Big 12. Texas joins the Southeastern Conference next year.

“I feel like just telling everybody, ‘Forget about (Alabama),’” Texas receiver Xavier Worthy said. “Our main goal wasn’t to beat 'Bama for the season. Our main goal is obviously championship."

No championships will be settled until much later. For now, Wyoming got Texas' attention in Austin when the Cowboys rallied to beat Texas Tech in overtime in their season opener behind a gritty performance from quarterback Andrew Peasley, who passed for three touchdowns in the win.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian wants the Longhorns to move past the Alabama win this week, but still carry the bounce of confidence they earned in Tuscaloosa.

“I think one of the mistakes I can make is trying to beat them down and then knock the confidence out of them,” Sarkisian said. “I’ve spent two and a half years trying to instill confidence into them, so I want to be mindful of that.”

GO LONG

Texas hit the deep passes against Alabama that were misfires in the first game against Rice. Quinn Ewers had scoring throws of 44 yards to Worthy and 39 yards to Adonai Mitchell. Texas loves to dial up four to five deep attempts per game and hitting even just one or two can stretch a defense. Wyoming hasn't surrendered a touchdown pass of 40 yards or longer in 10 games.

SACKS TALLY

Texas sacked Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe five times and kept him under constant pressure. Freshman linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., and sophomore edge rusher Ethan Burke have combined for four sacks this season. Hill had two against Alabama. Wyoming's top pass rusher, defensive end DeVonne Harris, had eight sacks last season but is still looking for his first of 2023.

KEEPING IT CLEAN

After giving up two sacks in the first game against Rice, Texas protected Ewers against Alabama. He was not sacked while passing for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Ewers is also making good decisions with the ball. Dating to last season, Ewers has thrown 184 passes without an interception, the second-longest streak in school history. He is still 120 attempts shy of Sam Ehlinger for the Texas record.

FAMILIAR FOE

Wyoming coach Craig Bohl has seen his share of Texas teams over his long career. Bohl, 65, was an assistant at Rice from 1989-1993 when the schools were in the old Southwest Conference, and at Nebraska from 1995-2002, when the Cornhuskers and Longhorns met in the Big 12.

“A lot of years coaching against them," Bohl said. “This is the best Texas football team I’ve seen.”

The Cowboys have 22 players from the Lone Star State. Texas has Wyoming transfer wide receiver Isaiah Neyor, who sat out last season with a knee injury. He caught 44 passes for the Cowboys in 2021. He has one catch for Texas this season

PERFECT SCORE

Wyoming ranks just 95th nationally in total offense at 346 yards per game, but the Cowboys are perfect in scoring when they get inside their opponent's 25-yard line with six touchdowns and a field goal.

Wyoming (2-0) at No. 4 Texas (2-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Longhorn Network)

Line: Texas by 28 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Texas 5-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Texas earned all kinds of respect and momentum with last week's win at Alabama that catapulted the Longhorns from No. 11 to No. 4. A loss to Wyoming would spoil all of it. Wyoming would love to ruin the party. The Cowboys already proved they can tangle with Big 12 teams when they rallied to beat Texas Tech in the season opener.

KEY MATCHUP

Wyoming defensive end DeVonne Harris vs Texas offensive tackles Kelvin Banks and Christian Jones. Harris had eight sacks last season and one of the top edge rushers in the Mountain West, but he's looking for his first sack of 2023. He's also on the lighter side at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. Banks and Harris protect quarterback Quinn Ewers flanks and both weigh more than 320. Texas didn't allow a sack against Alabama and will be looking to keep him clean again.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wyoming: Quarterback Andrew Peasley earned national respect with his gutsy play in leading the comeback against Texas Tech. He has five touchdown passes this season and has run for one more, but now faces a Texas defense that has already snatched four interceptions in two games, all by different players.

Texas: Freshman Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., and sophomore edge rusher Ethan Burke are emerging standouts on an aggressive Texas defense that has held each of its first two opponents under 400 yards. Those two have combined for four of Texas' seven sacks already. Hill had two against Alabama.

FACTS & FIGURES

Wyoming is the last non-conference game for Texas before the Longhorns' final Big 12 season. ... Texas receiver Xavier Worthy has five career touchdowns of 40 yards or longer. ... Dating to last season, Ewers has thrown 184 passes without an interception, the second longest streak in school history. ... Wyoming has 22 players from Texas. ... Wyoming had four sacks last week against Portland State. Texas had five against Alabama.

Michel runs for three TDs, leads Air Force over Utah State 39-21

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) — Emmanuel Michel scored three touchdowns on short runs and Air Force dominated the first half in a 39-21 victory over Utah State in a Mountain West Conference opener on Friday night.

Michel sandwiched 1- and 2-yard touchdown runs around a 4-yard scoring run by quarterback Zac Larrier and the Falcons (3-0) led 21-0 after one quarter.

John Lee Eldridge III ran 13 yards for a score, Matthew Dapore kicked a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter and Air Force led 32-7 at halftime.

Michel's 2-yard TD run midway through the third quarter made it 39-7.

McCae Hillstead threw a touchdown pass in each of the last three quarters for the Aggies (1-2). Hillstead tossed a 2-yarder to Terrell Vaughn in the second quarter. He connected with Jalen Royals from 9 yards out in the third quarter and with Micah Davis from the 6-yard line in the fourth.

Larrier completed 3 of 4 passes for 84 yards and ran 10 times for 56 yards for the Falcons. Owen Burk rushed 15 times for 110 yards, while Michel added 106 yards on 28 carries. Air Force piled up 428 yards of offense, including 344 on the ground.

Hillstead completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards for the Aggies. Davis had four receptions for 84 yards. Utah State managed only 54 yards on 26 rushes.