Rich Tijerina

American-Statesman Staff

A California-born, Texas-raised Aggie overseeing the Statesman's Longhorns coverage. I've worked in New Braunfels, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi again and now Austin, since 2002. Words matter.

Bevo Beat

‘The sun came up’ after the loss to Iowa State, but the clouds remain over Tom Herman’s program

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 30th, 2020

Highlights from Texas head coach Tom Herman’s weekly press conference on Monday ahead of Saturday’s Kansas State game: Let’s give Herman some credit for at least this: He was peppered with direct questions about his job performance and security right off the bat (and, truthfully, all the way throughout the … Read More

Five key plays: No. 13 Iowa State 23, No. 17 Texas 20

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 28th, 2020

There were 134 snaps taken in No. 17 Texas’ 23-20 loss to No. 13 Iowa State on Friday. Here are five plays that ended up making a big difference in the Longhorns’ loss:   1. A costly sack Texas gave up only two sacks in the game. But the last … Read More

Iowa State 23, Texas 20: Our five questions for the Longhorns — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 27th, 2020

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the 17th-ranked Longhorns ahead of Friday’s 23-20 loss to 13th-ranked Iowa State. How they played out:   1. Did Texas look rusty? No. It had been 20 days since their last game, but for the second straight game, the Longhorns exploded out … Read More

No. 13 Iowa State 23, No. 17 Texas 20: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 27th, 2020

How it all happened Friday at Royal-Memorial Stadium:   First quarter 1st quarter: Texas 13, Iowa State 7. No rust at all. The Longhorns, who hadn’t played in 20 days, started on fire — a steady dose of Bijan Robinson, making his fourth straight start, and a nicely-placed throw to … Read More

Bevo Beat

You can stop believin’: Texas’ 23-20 loss to Iowa State shatters Big 12 title game hopes

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 27th, 2020

It’s all over at Royal-Memorial Stadium. And when we say over, we mean Texas’ chances at playing for a Big 12 championship this season. It’s all about the math. With the Big 12 title game coming down to four teams — Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State — the … Read More

Bevo Beat

No rust, plenty of defense: In must-win game, Texas leads Iowa State at halftime, 13-10

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 27th, 2020

It’s halftime at Royal-Memorial Stadium, and 17th-ranked Texas is leading No. 13 Iowa State, 13-10. The good news: Despite the score, it just feels like Texas is in control. You can make the case that this should be at least a 20-10 lead, maybe even 24-10. The bad news: Despite … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: Texas knows ‘that you can’t win ’em all till you win the first one’

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 23rd, 2020

Highlights from Texas head coach Tom Herman’s weekly press conference on Monday ahead of Friday’s Iowa State game: Talk about a tale of two weeks. Last Monday, Herman shot back at questions over his job security and recent troubles with recruiting — and that was when he was prepping for … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: Coaching, recruiting in a world of rumors, unnamed sources and personal agendas not easy

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 16th, 2020

Highlights from Texas head coach Tom Herman’s weekly press conference on Monday ahead of Saturday’s Kansas game: For a team that has won three straight games, should be well-rested after a week off and is prepping to play a team that hasn’t won a game since October 2019 … Read More

Texas 17, West Virginia 13: Our five questions for the Longhorns — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 7th, 2020

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the 22nd-ranked Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 17-13 win over sixth-ranked West Virginia. How they played out:   1. With no Keaontay Ingram, who led the Texas running game? Bijan Robinson. The five-star freshman started and finished things the right way: … Read More

No. 22 Texas 17, West Virginia 13: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 7th, 2020

How it all happened Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium:   First quarter 1st quarter: Texas 7, West Virginia 7. Bijan Robinson got the start for the third straight game, and burst for a 54-yard run on Texas’ first play. It led to Sam Ehlinger’s 89th career touchdown pass, which moved him … Read More

Bevo Beat

The results are in: Texas takes West Virginia, wins third straight game, 17-13

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 7th, 2020

At this point of the season, with a pair of Big 12 losses already on the ledger, every game is a must-win game for Texas. The 22nd-ranked Longhorns produced their second straight defensive gem, shutting down West Virginia’s running game, forcing the Mountaineers into field goals and taking advantage of … Read More

Bevo Beat

In a tough defensive start, Texas leads West Virginia at halftime, 10-7

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 7th, 2020

It’s halftime at Royal-Memorial Stadium, and No. 22 Texas is leading West Virginia 10-7. This one looked like it was going to be a shootout — Texas zipped its way downfield for an opening-drive touchdown, then West Virginia answered with an efficient touchdown drive of its own — but then … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: Sure, the OSU win was great, but Texas ‘immediately moved on to West Virginia’

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 3rd, 2020

Highlights from Texas head coach Tom Herman’s weekly press conference on Monday ahead of Saturday’s West Virginia game: Injury updates: RB Keaontay Ingram, who left Saturday’s win after only two carries, will miss Saturday’s game with a high ankle sprain. Surgery’s not required, Herman said. … WR Brenden Schooler practiced … Read More

Texas 41, Oklahoma State 34: Our five questions for the Longhorns — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 31st, 2020

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 41-34 overtime win over sixth-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater. How they played out:   1.  Did Texas scheme up another way to slow down Chuba Hubbard? Yes. The 2019 Doak Walker Award finalist who led … Read More

Texas 41, Oklahoma State 34: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 31st, 2020

How it all happened Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater:   First quarter 1st quarter: Oklahoma State 14, Texas 7. The Cowboys got the first score — duh, a Tylan Wallace touchdown catch  — but the Longhorns got the first big break when a Spencer Sanders RPO fumbled handoff … Read More

Bevo Beat

Oh yes, Ossai! Defense paves the way in Texas’ 41-34 overtime upset of No. 6 Oklahoma State

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 31st, 2020

Another week, another overtime. And a huge win for the Texas Longhorns. Texas played its third overtime game this season, and fittingly, the game ended with a Joseph Ossai sack on fourth down, leading the Horns to a 41-34 win over sixth-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Joshua Moore — Texas’ … Read More

Bevo Beat

How’s this for a trick? Defense is keeping Texas in it at Stillwater; OSU leads at halftime, 24-20

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 31st, 2020

It’s halftime at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. Sixth-ranked Oklahoma State — the lone remaining unbeaten team in the Big 12 — is leading Texas, 24-20. The Cowboys have produced twice as many yards as Texas. But three turnovers have led to 13 Texas points. This win-or-else game for the … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: Rainy days and Mondays don’t get Texas’ coach down, especially after a win

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 26th, 2020

Highlights from Texas head coach Tom Herman’s weekly press conference on Monday ahead of Saturday’s Oklahoma State game: Maybe Saturday’s 27-16 win over Baylor is giving him a little more oomph this week. Herman was a bit more spry than he has been on recent Mondays, pushing back on a … Read More

Texas 27, Baylor 16: Our five questions for the Longhorns — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 24th, 2020

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 27-16 win over Baylor at Royal-Memorial Stadium. How they played out:   1. Did Sam Ehlinger get his first true win against Baylor? Yes. The Texas quarterback can now say he’s beaten every school in … Read More

Texas 27, Baylor 16: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 24th, 2020

How it all happened Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium:   First quarter 1st quarter: Baylor 3, Texas 0. The Horns looked sluggish and were shut out in the first quarter for the second game in a row. Texas slumbered through the quarter, producing 37 total yards in three drives. Read More