The Longhorns are a juggernaut on the defensive side of the ball through four games.

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns continued to cruise through outmatched non-conference opponents and did so once again against the ULM Warhawks in Saturday’s 51-3 win at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas managed to put away ULM with relative ease thanks to a stout performance from the defense dominating its opponent in both facets of the offense.

ULM: 111 yards total offense (57 rushing, 54 passing)

The Longhorns were fast and physical all game and took away what the Warhawks hope to do the most offensively — run the ball and control the clock. The Texas run defense was absolutely stout at the point of attack, allowing ULM just 2.3 yards per carry including six tackles for loss, an effort led by safety Michael Taaffe and linebacker Liona Lefau, whose biggest contribution in that avenue came on a third-quarter safety to give Texas a 37-3 lead. Perhaps most importantly, Texas has given up just one touchdown on the ground, a blown assignment against the UTSA Roadrunners, matching the mark set by last year’s defense, compared to five in 2022 and seven in 2021.

This contributed to a total defensive performance just outside the top 20 single-game totals of all time, yet another dominant performance overall. Texas currently sits tied for first nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 5.5 points per game thus far in 2024. While the Horns will surely see that number increase as the level of competition increases, they’ve been on a steady ascent under defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. In the Longhorns’ first year under the new regime, they finished No. 99 overall, giving up 31.1 points per game. That number dropped significantly in 2022, moving all the way up to No. 28 with 21.6 yards per game, and No. 15 a year ago with 18.9.

Texas: 239 rushing yards

With the injuries in the running back room, it was hard to set expectations for what the Texas running game would be in 2024 and we finally got a glimpse of its potential against ULM. For the first time since last year’s win over the Texas Tech Raiders, the Longhorns eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark as a year. During the first two years of Steve Sarkisian’s tenure, Texas had the advantage of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, a pair that made results like that feel routine, but since Texas has managed that feat just four times in the 18 games since that pair left.

With the injuries to the room, Texas looked to Jaydon Blue to lead the charge this season, but the speedster ultimately got banged up as well and missed last week’s matchup against UTSA. Making up for lost time, Blue turned in a 124-yard, three-touchdown performance on the ground, propelling Texas beyond the 200-yard mark. Coincidentally, the last time Texas eclipsed the 200-yard mark was Blue’s first time over 100 yards rushing — that same Texas Tech game.

Texas: Even turnover margin (two INTs thrown, 2 INTs gained)

If there’s one blemish on the Longhorns’ game, and season overall, has been their struggle to hold onto the football.

Texas currently sits No. 70 in turnovers lost, giving up the ball five times through four games, including Arch Manning’s two interceptions against ULM. For context, Texas didn’t have five giveaways until Week Six of last year and Week Eight in 2022. While this may not be an issue in the coming week, it’s something to look toward as Texas gets deep into SEC play.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have forced just three turnovers this year, but the Oklahoma Sooners have been elite. OU has turned opponents over 12 times through four games, including eight fumbles and four interceptions, a total that sits atop the country. The Georgia Bulldogs, who come to Austin shortly after Texas faces the Sooners, haven’t turned the ball over a single time this year, but have forced three turnovers.