The Texas Longhorns head to Sanford Stadium with something they haven't had since August ... a clean slate.

After a well-timed bye and months of patch-and-pray roster management, the SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report shows no Longhorns listed ahead of Saturday night's Week 12 showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs.

For a 7-2 team riding a four-game winning streak, that's not just good news, it's a complete attitude adjustment.

The headline return is defensive back Michael Taaffe. The fifth-year heartbeat has been out since Week 8 following thumb surgery. Before the injury, he stacked impact plays with an interception, a sack and 51 tackles, while teammates kept calling him the locker room compass.

Getting Taaffe back isn't merely about coverage shells and alley fits, it's about juice, checks, and some calm in a hostile storm of a stadium where one busted communication can swing the game.

Also cleared from injury is defensive back Jelani McDonald, who returns from concussion protocol after it appeared the injury situation might linger for him.

The bye week gave the Waco native the time needed, and the Longhorns regain a versatile piece who's piled up two interceptions, three passes defended and 31 solo tackles.

Against Georgia's layered route concepts and downhill run looks, another healthy back who tackles in space is worth its weight in red-zone stops.

But the Longhorns have certainly suffered this season.

At various points, the injury sheet read like a two-deep roster breakdown. Cedrick "CJ" Baxter was sidelined for three weeks, plus stints for Aaron Butler, Xavier Filsaime, Jonathan Cunningham and linemen Connor Stroh and Cole Hutson.

Survive-and-advance turned into a weekly theme, and the Longhorns have kept stacking wins in the process.

Now, at last, they're walking into the fire with a full toolbox.

Georgia won't care about resumes or return-to-play notes. The Bulldogs sit at No. 5 in the CFP rankings for a reason.

But Texas finally brings health to match its edge. With Taaffe organizing the back end and McDonald tightening the flats, the defense can play faster on early downs and steal a possession ... or two.

That's the thin line between noise and statement in a top-10 road game for the Horns.

Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday on ABC. A clean report and a clean mission ... go take one in the Bulldogs' back yard.