The Texas Longhorns play the Arkansas Razorbacks at 2:30 p.m. in Austin.
They may be slim, but the No. 17 Texas Longhorns' chances of making another College Football Playoff are still alive. At 7-3 (4-2 SEC) they now sit on the outside looking in on the latest playoff rankings, but with two more games on the schedule at home, Texas could control its own destiny by putting together a pair of convincing wins.
That goal begins Saturday at 2:30 p.m. as the Longhorns host their longtime rival Arkansas Razorbacks at DKR.
The Razorbacks (2-8, 0-6 SEC) have crawled through a tumultuous season that saw coach Sam Pittman get fired and Bobby Petrino hired in interim. With a star-studded matchup with the undefeated Texas A&M Aggies next week, this could offer all the characteristics of a "trap game", but each sequence pushes the Longhorns closer and closer to their ultimate goal, so there is no room for error or lapses in focus.
Here are some points to keep an eye on as the old Southwest Conference foes square off for the 81st time all-time.
1. Spying on Taylen Green with Anthony Hill Jr. Out
The standout Texas linebacker broke a bone in his hand in the Longhorns' blowout loss to the Georgia Bulldogs 35-10 last week in Athens. After initial optimism from head coach Steve Sarkisian, Hill has been ruled out for this game.
That makes defending Arkansas' dynamic quarterback that much more challenging. Green is one of the more physically imposing dual-threat QBs in the country (6-6, 224 pounds). He ranks in the top 10 in the SEC each in passing and rushing yards per game.
Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski will need to put together a game plan that tries to limit Green's use of his legs and the Hogs' punishing run game overall. Last week, the Razorbacks nearly beat LSU thanks to 70 rush yards by Green, his most since posting 85 against the Aggies over a month ago. Starting running back Mike Washington Jr. is approaching 1,000 rushing yards on the season.
Look for Ty'Anthony Smith and Liona Lefau to get a lot of action in the second level. Though they're both undersized a bit, they bring a lot of experience and hunger to this defense that is met with a tough test of will.
2. Arch Manning Rising to the Occasion
The Longhorns quarterback has silenced doubters throughout this year as he begins his tenure as the starter, but he was unable to earn a statement road upset in Athens.
In this one, all eyes will be on whether Manning's composure and decision-making can result in a finish most are expecting - a Texas win. Arkansas has surrendered an average of over 450 total yards per game in conference play, but they've battled enough to hang around in close road contests.
As the leader of the team, this is the moment where Arch needs to shoulder the team's expectations and play with nothing to lose. Against an inferior defense like Arkansas, that should be enough to find success and build confidence for a do-or-die regular-season finale.
3. Channeling the Emotions into a Response
As a team, the Longhorns need to brush off the ugly finish against the Bulldogs and focus on what's in front of them: a rekindled rivalry with a lot still at stake if business is handled. Sarkisian spoke in this week's media availability about how this presents a "great opportunity" for his team.
"Anytime you lose a ballgame - especially on the road in a caliber game that we were in - I think you can really test your character and test your culture," Sarkisian said.
"We're excited about the opportunity. I'll tell you what, our guys have been working really hard [this week], they got great energy, they're detailed in what they're trying to get done. So, looking forward to it."
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.