AUSTIN, Texas – Sam Ehlinger opened the season with a record-setting first half, establishing Texas records for a single half with 424 passing yards and five passing touchdowns to lead No. 14 Texas (1-0, 0-0) to a 59-3 win over UTEP at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. The Longhorns scored touchdowns on five of their first six possessions and added a field goal on their seventh, jumping to a 38-0 lead, before closing out the half with a touchdown on their final possession.
KEY STATISTICS
- Sam Ehlinger 78-yard TD pass to Joshua Moore on the opening play from scrimmage was the second-longest of his Texas career, trailing only a 90-yard strike to John Burt back in 2017 against Oklahoma State.
- Ehlinger and Casey Thompson combined to pass for a single-game school record 481 yards.
- Ten different receivers caught passes, led by Moore's six catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
- On UTEP's first possession of the second quarter, Josh Thompson intercepted a pass at the UTEP 42-yard line, setting up the Longhorns fifth score of the game to give UT a 35-0 lead.
- Casey Thompson threw the first two touchdown passes of his career, finishing the day 4-for-7 for 55 yards and two TD's.
- Graduate transfer wide receivers Brenden Schooler and Tarik Black each caught their first touchdown passes for the Longhorns.
- Texas totaled 689 yards of offense with 481 yards through the air.
- Joseph Ossai led UT with eight tackles, the 10th time he has registered at least eight stops as a Longhorn.
- DeMarvion Overshown collected two tackles for loss, while Marcus Tillman, Jr. and Alfred Collins each registered a sack.
UP NEXT
Texas opens conference play in Lubbock, Texas with a matchup against Texas Tech on Saturday, September 26 at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FOX.