Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s 35-6 loss at No. 7 Texas
Brandon Judd
·9 min read
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis (10) throws under pressure from Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell (88) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Saturday’s game between BYU and Texas. Check back for updates throughout the game.
Final score
Texas 35, BYU 6
The Cougars lost for the second time in three weeks after the Longhorns took advantage of numerous BYU mistakes, particularly on offense.
BYU put up just 292 yards of total offense and never found the end zone, as Kedon Slovis was intercepted twice and lost a fumble late in the game.
Texas, meanwhile, put up 354 yards of total offense and was efficient enough to keep the Cougars playing from ever closing the gap after another slow start got BYU behind early.
Fourth quarter
Texas 35, BYU 6
1:43 — Texas capitalized on another Kedon Slovis turnover. This time, a Slovis fumble gave the Longhorns the ball inside BYU territory again, and Jaydon Blue scored on a 34-yard run. Texas 35, BYU 6.
9:07 — After getting stuffed twice inside the BYU 5, Texas finally took advantage of field position after Kedon Slovis’ second interception thrown.
Michael Taaffe intercepted Slovis and returned it 45 yards to the BYU 8, and on the next play after a false start, Maalik Murphy threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell. Texas 28, BYU 6.
13:10 — BYU made a second straight goal-line stand, this time stuffing Jonathon Brooks for a 1-yard loss at the Cougars 2 on fourth-and-1.
The Longhorns are absolutely shutting down the BYU offense and have a dominant lead heading into halftime.
The Cougars are being outgained just 161 to 113, but more than 30 of BYU’s yards came on the final few plays before the half as the Cougars were trying to run out the first half.
Maalik Murphy has completed 10 of 15 passes for 103 yards, one touchdown and an interception to lead a Texas offense that has two scoring drives.
A punt return for a touchdown also put BYU in an early hole.
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) tries to side step BYU safety Raider Damuni (33) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas’ Xavier Worthy (1) returns a punt for a touchdown against BYU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis (10) throws under pressure from Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell (88) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas’ Xavier Worthy (1) returns a punt for a touchdown against BYU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) breaks up a pass intended for Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) looks to throw against BYU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his team prepare to take the field for an NCAA college football game against BYU in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) lunges for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis, left, is upended by Texas defensive end Tausili Akana, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) is upended by BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) catches a pass in front of BYU safety Raider Damuni (33) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis, left, is upended by Texas defensive end Tausili Akana, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) runs past BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, left, argues a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU place kicker Will Ferrin (44) celebrates his field goal against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) is hit by BYU safety Raider Damuni (33) on a run during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU safety Crew Wakley, left, tips away a pass intended for Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (0) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU cornerback Eddie Heckard (5) breaks up a pass intended for Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (0) makes a catch over BYU safety Crew Wakley (38) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is upended by BYU safety Crew Wakley (38) on a run during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is upended by BYU safety Crew Wakley (38) on a run during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) makes a catch against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (0) is tripped up just short of the goal line by BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas defensive end J’Mond Tapp (17) breaks up a pass intended for BYU running back Miles Davis (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. Tapp was called or pass interference on the play. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) dives over BYU safety Ethan Slade (26) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Keilan Robinson (7) runs past BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) is lifted by teammate Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) after he scored a touchdown against BYU during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, right, runs for a touchdown against BYU during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Second quarter
Texas 21, BYU 3
0:58 — Maalik Murphy threw his first touchdown as a Longhorn, hitting a wide-open Adonai Mitchell for a 30-yard score in the final minute of the first half. Texas 21, BYU 3.
The Longhorns answer BYU’s long field-goal scoring drive with an efficient one of their own, and the Cougars are down three scores.
It could be worse if BYU hadn’t forced two turnovers.
4:57 — Will Ferrin kicked a 24-yard field goal to get BYU on the board after a 16-play, 64-yard drive that took almost 10 minutes. Texas 14, BYU 3.
The Cougars’ field goal was set up by the Isaiah Bagnah fumble recovery. BYU converted two fourth downs on that drive.
14:54 — Isaiah Bagnah forced a turnover on a strip sack of Maalik Murphy after the Longhorns drove to the BYU 11, keeping Texas from making this a three-score game.
That’s the second forced turnover for the Cougars.
First quarter
Texas 14, BYU 0
4:10 — Jonathon Brooks scored on a 4-yard run to give Texas a two-score lead. Texas 14, BYU 0.
The Longhorns started the drive at the BYU 26 after Terrance Brooks picked off a tipped Kedon Slovis pass and returned it 40 yards.
7:17 — BYU squandered a chance to capitalize on a takeway. After Crew Wakley intercepted Maalik Murphy but a blindside block wiped out a long return, Kedon Slovis had a pass tipped and intercepted, giving Texas the ball back in prime position.
12:08 — Xavier Worthy made the first electric play of the game, returning a punt 74 yards for a touchdown after BYU’s first possession went three-and-out. Texas 7, BYU 0.
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