Through its first four games, the Texas Longhorns have given up a grand total of 22 points.

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Colorado State walked in with zero and walked out with the same. Michigan managed 12 points. UTSA scored 7. ULM tallied a field goal. While these offenses aren’t exactly muderer’s row, the Texas defense shut them down and looked good doing it.

The last time Texas gave up less than 21 points in its first four games was 1977. Could there be some similarities between the two teams? Well, there’s at least one. In 1977, just as in 2024, Texas ascended to the No. 1 ranking. That year, the Horns posted shutouts in their first two games, to Boston College and Virginia respectively, then gave up 15 to Rice and 6 to No. 2 Oklahoma. Texas assumed OU’s No. 2 ranking after beating the Sooners and Arkansas and then climbed to No. 1 after beating SMU.

You might remember a certain fellow from that 1977 team. Not only did Texas ride a stout defense to the No. 1 ranking, it also rode Heisman winner Earl Campbell. The only problem occurred in the final game of the season when the Horns faced Notre Dame. By the score of 38-10, the Horns were uncharacteristically blown out by the Joe Montana led Domers in the Cotton Bowl. Just one win away from the National Championship. 

It’s unlikely the current defense can hold its opponents under 13 points a game like the 1977 squad did, but so far it has looked like a defense the team can ride to serious national title contention. Toss in the offense with its own Heisman contender, Quinn Ewers, and well, expectations are justifiably very high for Texas just four games in.

Up next for Texas is Mississippi State with its backup quarterback. MSU might not win an SEC game this season. After that it’s the bye week followed by an Oklahoma offense that isn’t exactly setting the world on fire. The Sooners managed just 16 points against U of H, which is at least one more than it scored against Tennessee this past Saturday.

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It’s a near certainty for the first half of the season Texas will be able to sustain a sub-13 point pace which is quite the achievement. If this defense keeps up its level of play, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team playing for all the marbles like its predecessor 47 years ago.

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