KNOXVILLE, TN

Cigar smoke was wafting from the Texas locker room after their nail-biting victory over Tennessee on Saturday.

The only time we truly saw consistent offense in that game happened during a rather unusual moment: when the Secret Service was clearing a path for President Trump during the national anthem.

The game was quite a spectacle at Neyland Stadium, with Texas’s Arch Manning doing just enough to guide his Longhorns to victory.

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There was a palpable buzz in the air as the President made his way from the airport to the Tennessee campus for his appearance in the first half.

However, it was the Texas defense that truly dominated the scene, racking up ten total sacks, which, according to Steve Sarkisian, left several Tennessee players needing assistance off the field in yet another physically demanding SEC match.

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So, what stands out the most?

The Longhorns have now been battle-tested, twice

Texas now boasts the two best victories in college football this season, having beaten Ohio State just two weeks earlier.

Steve Sarkisian, the head coach, made it clear he’s not apologizing for how his team wins—and really, why should he?

“For us, we’ve got more of these to go. We have seven ranked opponents left to play. That’s why I’m not apologizing for beating a top-15 team on the road while others don’t even schedule them,” Sarkisian asserted after the game.

Wondering how the Longhorns would handle a challenging atmosphere filled with over 100,000 fans was a valid question, especially given the Tennessee athletic department’s strategy of luring fans in early with half-priced alcoholic beverages.

The answer became clear through their defensive performance, as Tennessee’s quarterback, Faizon Brandon, was under constant pressure throughout the game.

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Colin Simmons from Texas made a significant impact, finishing with five sacks and complicating matters for the Vols’ freshman QB.

Some believed the first road trip of the season would be detrimental to this Sarkisian-led squad. But if you were paying attention, you’d know otherwise.

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This Texas team has shown resilience time and again, overcoming tough challenges, whether in the final moments or during crucial defenses.

Arch Manning: Calm Under Pressure

While Manning may have thrown for only 127 yards in the first half, leading the game 10-3 at halftime, he found ways to keep the team moving in the second half.

His final stats—201 yards and no touchdowns—don’t tell the whole story, as he positioned Texas to secure the win once more.

Tennessee struggled to contain talents like Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, which ultimately cost them during critical stretches of the game.

The seven sacks registered by Texas’ defense kept Tennessee’s offense largely at bay as well.

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This was a significant road test for Texas, and they emerged victorious. Ultimately, as they boarded the plane back to Austin, that’s what mattered.

Yes, there were moments of messy offensive line play and a peculiar unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Simmons, but that’s just background noise for now.

Both teams still have room for improvement. Tennessee, lacking a veteran starter, seems to be struggling more than Texas, where Manning is discovering new ways to find the end zone.

In the end, Texas again demonstrated why they might be the premier team in college football, especially in such a difficult environment.

As the equipment team began packing up to return to Texas, cheers erupted from the Longhorns locker room.

“We’re the real UT, so they can stop talking,” one player proclaimed.

On that afternoon in Knoxville, this Texas team proved its mettle yet again, with a victory that ultimately hinged on their defense—just like their recent win against Ohio State.

After all, you don’t amass 12 sacks against an SEC opponent without having a top-tier defensive unit. Perhaps the real conversation should center around that group, which has propelled them to four wins this season, two of which were against Top-15 teams.

It’s easy to get caught up in the spotlight of Arch Manning, but don’t overlook the strength of this defense.