Texas football can ride its old-school throwback defense to a CFP championship | Golden

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America is a place where people are obsessed with staying young.

Gyms are packed with aging folks who are hell-bent on keeping Father Time at bay, but in the world of college football, old works better, and when it comes to the Texas Longhorns, a veteran defense has been the biggest, most reliable weapon in this postseason run.

For all the talk about Steve Sarkisian being college football's best offensive mind, the Longhorns' perfect blend of youth and old-school experience on defense has this program in great position to win these next three games and capture a coveted national title, starting with a win over upstart Arizona State in Wednesday's College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

This formula works because of the lessons the veterans have imparted to the newcomers. It's tried and true, and it's working at Texas.

Sark is a play-calling son of a gun, but Texas' CFP fortunes lie with the guys trying to take the ball, not the ones trying to advance it. The Horns might be new to this conference, but their style of football is a tribute to the old SEC.

And it all starts with a veteran defense that was constructed in the mode of SEC groups from the past. After the CFP semifinal loss to Washington last season — a game in which Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. riddled the Horns for 430 yards and a pair of touchdowns, returning secondary stars Jahdae Barron and Michael Taaffe agreed that being 116th-best nationally in pass defense wouldn't cut it in 2024.

What's happened is a huge 180. The Horns are 114 spots better in pass defense and have grabbed a team-high 20 interceptions. Barron and Taaffe made All-America teams, and Barron became the third Longhorn to win the Thorpe Award.

Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba, an LBJ High School legend, was the perfect addition to an experienced secondary.

"The consistency with which the guys have prepared has made the difference for the defense this year," defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski said Friday. "To be where we're at right now, it's been fun. A lot of that is attributable to the players and the assistant coaches."

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A defensive build in the mode of Bama

Apologies for bringing up painful memories, but Texas’ 2009 national championship loss provided the blueprint to what could be a national championship 15 years later: an offense that’s predicated on the running game with occasional downfield shots and a physical but fast defense that saves its best for sudden-change situations.

Some don’t remember, but even with future All-Pro wideout Julio Jones, and even with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and backup Trent Richardson combining to rush for 2,409 yards and 25 touchdowns while quarterback Greg McElroy was fine in a complementary role with 2,508 yards passing, 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions, it was the Crimson Tide's defense that was the true backbone of that team.

While many of us believe Mack Brown would have earned his second national title had Colt McCoy not gotten hurt on the first drive, the result played out against the Colt-less Horns because of a ball-hawking defense led by stars such as Rolando McClain, Javier Arenas and Marcel Dareus, whose early tackle ended McCoy's college career.

The Tide ranked second nationally in average yards allowed (244.1) while allowing the third-fewest touchdowns (18), with a great offensive and defensive formula that Saban used until the changing landscape of college offenses forced him to bring in more arm talent at the most important position. 

Spring ahead to present day, and his old assistant Sarkisian realized early in his tenure that big human beings on both sides of the ball, an impactful run game and a playmaking defense could take this program places. As for the defense, former reserves Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins have anchored the middle of the line while thoroughbred linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is already a star as a sophomore.

The Horns, just  like the 2009 Crimson Tide, are ranked in the top five in yards allowed (261.1) and touchdowns allowed (20 through 14 games), plus they are star-studded with All-American/Thorpe Award winner Barron and fellow All-Americans Collins, Taaffe and Hill as well as national freshman of the year Colin Simmons.

Arizona State has one of the best young offenses in the game, but the Horns are surging because they can get timely stops. Just ask the Texas A&M Aggies, who got stonewalled at the 1-yard line in front of 105,000 fans at Kyle Field whose encouragement wasn’t enough to push running back Amari Daniels past the goal line to pay dirt. Or ask Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Tigers running back Keith Adams Jr., who combined for a grand total of zero yards on the two most important goal-line carries of their season. 

Young Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt is an up-and-comer, and Cam Skattebo is one of the most electric running backs in America with six games of 150 yards or more, but they will be up against the most explosive, veteran defense they will have seen this season. The Horns aren't looking past the Devils despite being a 13½-point favorite, but the confidence and swagger are obvious coming out of Austin.

When asked what the Sun Devils can expect on New Year's Day, Collins said, "Just turn on the tape."

Yep, you will see a bunch of old guys running around and making plays.

Wednesday's game

No. 5 Texas (12-2) at No. 4 Arizona State (11-2), CFP quarterfinal, Peach Bowl in Atlanta, noon, ESPN, 1300, 98.1, 105.3 (Spanish)

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