A key Texas player just issued a challenge to Tennessee, and it may decide who wins the Vols-Longhorns showdown
A big challenge has been issued by Texas ahead of the Longhorns’ matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in Neyland Stadium.
Texas defensive lineman Hero Kanu made it clear that the Longhorns have a simple goal against Tennessee’s offense this weekend.
And if Texas achieves that goal, they’ll probably win the game.
Kanu told reporters on Monday that the Longhorns’ goal is to hold the Vols below 100 rushing yards.
Tennessee is averaging nearly 300 rushing yards per game this season.
Texas allowed 161 rushing yards to Texas State in Week 1, but they allowed just 94 rushing yards to Ohio State in Week 2. UTSA rushed for only 72 yards last week against the Longhorns.
Tennessee’s offense is built around the run. The Vols are 36-2 under Josh Heupel when they’ve rushed for 200-plus yards. Tennessee is 12-18 when they don’t rush for at least 200 yards under Heupel.
Tennessee is 1-6 under Heupel when they fail to rush for 100 yards, with the lone win coming against Pittsburgh in 2022 (losses were Alabama and Georgia in 2021, Georgia in 2022, Missouri in 2023, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt in 2025).
Rushing for over 100 yards against Texas won’t guarantee a Vols win, but failing to get to at least 100 rushing yards will almost guarantee a Vols loss.
