Texas coaches now have a better idea how Mississippi State plans to replace injured quarterback Blake Shapen.

Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby announced Monday that freshman Michael Van Buren Jr. will be the starter against the top-ranked Longhorns at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Texas is likely to see two quarterbacks — Van Buren and redshirt freshman Chris Parson.

“Both of those guys are going to be a big part of the competition, but Mike is going to run out first,” Lebby said Monday, according to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. “I can go ahead and announce that.”

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Van Buren stepped into the void created when Shapen went down last weekend against Florida. Shapen had started 26 consecutive games dating back to November 2021. The former Baylor transfer had completed 68.5% of his throws for 974 with eight touchdowns and only one interception so far in 2024.

Van Buren has completed seven of 13 passes for 100 yards in two appearances this season.

“I was proud of how he was able to put a drive together there in the fourth quarter for us,” Lebby said of Van Buren. “He’s a guy that has great confidence in himself and the guys around him. Chris has been unbelievable from being a great teammate, working his butt off, doing some of the things that we need him to do to create a ton of confidence, but Michael will run out there first.”

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Sarkisian and his coaching staff aren’t necessarily worried about which quarterback is out there for MSU. The Horns are more focused on studying Lebby’s system and tendencies.

Lebby is a product of the Art Briles coaching tree at Baylor. Briles’ system utilizes wide offensive splits and quick throws to get rid of the football, which negates the pass rush.

“Well, it’s difficult because you don’t see it all the time,” Sarkisian said. “It’s a little bit unconventional that way.

“They’ll utilize the quarterback run, and then they'll try to isolate you on matchups and go attack your DBs if they can find that,” he added. “And then when he gets you into a formation, and he can keep you in it and go really fast, then he can get you on your heels that way, too.”