IN THE TRENCHES: WEEK 6 OUTLAND TROPHY MATCHUPS PRESENTED BY THE FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA A weekly look at the matchups featuring Outland Trophy candidates Texas (2-1) vs. (1-2), 11 a.m. CT on FOX () This week’s Outland Trophy feature puts us in Dallas for one of the season’s great rivalry games. But as we revisit the and Oklahoma , it is at a crossroad of sorts for both programs. Both teams already have a conference loss, meaning the loser Saturday drops most hopes of a conference title and likely Playoff contention. This game offers the winner to trend back positive after last week’s losses. Not so for the loser. Offense shouldn’t be a problem. Texas left tackle Sam Cosmi (#52, 6-7, 309, Humble, Texas), who has started at either end of its line the last 30 games, has the Longhorns cranking away as the nation’s sixth-leading offense, racking up 517.7 yards per game. The ‘Horns have had 59- and 63-point games. Oklahoma counters with two Watch Listers in left tackle Adrian Ealy (#59, Jr., Gonzales, La.) and center Creed Humphrey (#56, Jr., Shawnee, Okla.) and is only four yards back at 513.0 ypg. Through three games Texas has moved at a faster tempo in general under first-year offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. The strong protection has allowed Yurcich and quarterback Sam Ehlinger to have a quick-strike capability unseen in previous years. Texas scored on a 78-yard pass on its first play of the season against UTEP and had three drives of less than 2:00 at Texas . The Longhorns have nine drives of 2:00 or less thus far. The increased pace has lightened the load on Cosmi (pronounced KOZ-mee) and the line somewhat in that they must hold their blocks for a shorter duration. Texas loves to jump to a lead; it has scored 45 first-quarter points thus far. We point to offense again with Oklahoma, unranked entering this game for the first time since 2005. With Humphrey, a second-team FWAA All-American last year, directing the line up front along with Ealy, a 2019 second-team all-conference pick, the Sooners have scored at least 28 points in a school-record 55 consecutive games. The attention in the preseason was how well Oklahoma would protect redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler. The Sooners haven’t missed a beat, as Rattler leads the Big 12 in passing offense (325.7 ypg; ninth nationally) and passing efficiency rating (187.3; seventh) while ranking second in total offense (331.0 ypg; 10th). His completion percentage of 73.4 is sixth nationally and would currently break ’s single-season record of 70.9 from 2016. The winning team in the series’ last 10 games has scored at least 24 points, and at least 31 points eight times. As scoring isn’t an issue between these two teams, protection becomes even more essential as one defensive stop can change a game. Six of the last seven Texas-OU meetings have been decided by seven points or less.

Florida State (1-2) at Notre Dame (2-0), 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC The Irish are riding high – even without having played a game since Sept. 19 – with the electric start of quarterback Ian Book but also on the ground, and it’s because of the protection up front with one of the country’s most established and most talented offensive line. No. 5 Notre Dame is one of only three schools with at least three Watch List members, and you’ll find them on the left side and the middle – left tackleLiam Eichenberg (#74, Gr., Cleveland, Ohio), guard Aaron Banks (#69, Sr., Alameda, Calif.) and center Jarrett Patterson (#55, Jr., Laguna Hills, Calif.). The line’s success can be seen in the early success of running backs C’Bo Flemster and Kyren Williams. Flemster had his first career 127-yard rushing day in the Irish’s last game Sept. 19 against USF. Notre Dame rushed for six TD’s against the Bulls, the most in a game since 2018. Williams had 112 yards rushing and 205 all-purpose yards in the opener against Duke. We have mentioned Florida State Watch List member and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (#21, Sr., Houston, Texas) many times in this space. Wilson tallied the ninth sack of his career in last week’s win over Jacksonville State to go with two tackles. He has eight tackles on the season. His most notable moments of the season came on special teams, becoming only the second Seminole ever to block two field goals in the same game in a season-opening loss to Georgia Tech. Wilson decided early on to forego the NFL Draft and return for the 2020 season. He missed the final four games of 2019 but earned first-team All-ACC honors anyway with 44 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 8.5 TFL’s. Perhaps this is the game, in the national spotlight, that kick-starts a rebound to his season. As FSU has multiple challenges ahead of it, Wilson is a bright spot along that journey.

Scott Farrell, collegepressbox.com outlandtrophy.com @OUTLANDTROPHY