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

Tom Herman: Texas’ battered defense should play better this week against Iowa State

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 12th, 2018

Tom Herman’s weekly press conference was on focus. Injuries. Sam Ehlinger’s development. Schematic changes on the defense. Philosophical changes on the defense. Making adjustments on the line. His thoughts on Iowa State’s quarterback. His thoughts on Iowa State’s star receiver. What didn’t come up was Iowa State’s star running back … Read More

Texas 41, Texas Tech 34: Our five pregame questions — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 10th, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday night’s 41-34 win over Texas Tech. Here’s how they played out: 1. Did Texas establish the run? No. The Longhorns didn’t have a 100-yard rusher, averaged 3.3 yards per carry and finished with 157 yards, their fifth-lowest … Read More

Texas 41, Texas Tech 34: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 10th, 2018

How it all happened Saturday night in Lubbock: First quarter Texas Tech 7, Texas 0. For the eighth time in 10 games, the Horns gave up points on an opponent’s opening drive. Jett Duffey’s touchdown to T.J. Vasher was the score, but a key fourth-and-5 conversion at UT’s 44 (a … Read More

Bevo Beat

Holy Humphrey! Texas survives a late Texas Tech rally, leaves Lubbock with wild 41-34 win

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 10th, 2018

It’s over in Lubbock. No. 19 Texas, with no more wiggle room for its hopes at making the Big 12 championship game, has escaped with a wild 41-34 victory Texas Tech. Ten years ago, Michael Crabtree broke the Longhorns’ hearts with a last-second touchdown catch. Tonight, Lil’Jordan Humphrey returned the … Read More

Bevo Beat

Big defensive play jolts Texas awake; Horns leading Texas Tech 17-10 at halftime

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 10th, 2018

It’s halftime in Lubbock. No. 19 Texas is leading Texas Tech, 17-10. The cowbells are clanging. Texas is going without starting safety Brandon Jones for the second straight game and without starting wide receiver Colin Johnson, both of whom were ruled out earlier today. Lil’Jordan Humphrey is playing out wide … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman, on WVU, the two straight losses and Texas Tech: ‘We’ve got to move on’

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 5th, 2018

Tom Herman’s regularly-scheduled game week press conference ahead of this week’s Texas Tech game surprisingly featured several questions about Texas’ opponent, not about the Longhorns themselves. Texas is 6-3 and 4-2 in the Big 12. The Horns have lost two in a row after that 6-1 start and No. 6 … Read More

West Virginia 42, Texas 41: Our five pregame questions — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 3rd, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 42-41 loss to West Virginia. Here’s how they played out: 1. Did Kris Boyd and Davante Davis redeem themselves? Boyd: Yes. Davis: No. Don’t blame Davis, however. He suffered a shoulder injury on the second play … Read More

West Virginia 42, Texas 41: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 3rd, 2018

 How it all happened on Saturday: First quarter Texas 14, West Virginia 10. The Mountaineers scored on a field goal to open the game — now the seventh … Read More

Bevo Beat

Heartbreak at home: Late 2-point gamble pays off for West Virginia; Texas falls 42-41

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 3rd, 2018

It’s all over at Royal-Memorial Stadium. No. 17 Texas, which was a 1 1/2-point favorite today, has fallen to No. 13 West Virginia, 42-41. What a game. Back-and-forth. Big plays here, big stops there. Long field goals. Big pass plays. A player ejection. Several fourth-down gambles.   … Read More

Bevo Beat

Not a great day for defense: Texas leads West Virginia at halftime, 28-27

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 3rd, 2018

It’s halftime at Royal-Memorial Stadium. No. 17 Texas is leading No. 13 West Virginia, 28-27. The Longhorns are just 1 1/2-point favorites at home today in front of a sellout crowd. These teams looked close on paper and that’s holding up on the field. Consider this: Through the first 20 … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: ‘The sun came up today. As it did yesterday.’

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 29th, 2018

Texas came crashing back to earth last Saturday in Stillwater, a 38-35 loss to Oklahoma State that knocked the Longhorns from sole possession of first place in the Big 12 and, with two losses, all but ended their hope for a CFP berth. Texas, Oklahoma and West Virginia all are … Read More

Oklahoma State 38, Texas 35: Our five pregame questions — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 28th, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 38-35 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Here’s how they played out: 1. Did either team look settled at quarterback? Both, surprisingly. Surprising on both sides. Sam Ehlinger, who was iffy to start because of the sprained … Read More

Oklahoma State 38, Texas 35: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 27th, 2018

How it all happened Saturday night in Stillwater: First quarter Oklahoma State 17, Texas 7. The Longhorns benched their starting cornerbacks for disciplinary reasons, instead starting a redshirt freshman and a true freshman. The Cowboys capitalized. OSU quarterback Taylor Cornelius, who has been drawing the ire of fans, was 9 … Read More

Bevo Beat

Stunned in Stillwater: Comeback bid falls short in Texas’ 38-35 loss to Oklahoma State

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 27th, 2018

It’s all over in Stillwater, Okla. No. 6-ranked Texas, which was a 2.5-point favorite tonight, has fallen to Oklahoma State, 38-35. Goodbye, six-game win streak. Goodbye to the inside track to make the Big 12 championship game. That’s still a possibility, but the path is a bit trickier now. But … Read More

Bevo Beat

Stalling in Stillwater: Sluggish Texas trails Oklahoma State at halftime, 31-14

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 27th, 2018

It’s halftime at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. No. 6 Texas, a 2.5-point favorite tonight, is trailing Oklahoma State 31-14. We’re about to find out how the Longhorns look when they’re forced to wear the rally hat. This is the third time Texas has trailed at halftime this season; the … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: On Ehlinger’s shoulder, Oklahoma State and the true meaning of Texas’ No. 6 ranking

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 22nd, 2018

After skipping last week’s regular media availability on Monday because of Texas’ off week, head coach Tom Herman was back at the podium today. Not surprisingly, Sam Ehlinger’s sprained shoulder was the big topic. Ehlinger is “on schedule” to play at Oklahoma State on Saturday with his sprained shoulder, Herman … Read More

Texas 23, Baylor 17: Our five pregame questions — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 13th, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 23-17 win over Baylor. Here’s how they played out: 1. How did Texas use Lil’Jordan Humphrey? As a wide receiver; Humphrey had seven catches for 41 yards. And as a running back; he ran it two … Read More

Texas 23, Baylor 17: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 13th, 2018

How it all happened Saturday: First quarter Baylor 7, Texas 3. This game started like last week’s ended — with a 40-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker. But Sam Ehlinger played only 11 snaps, leaving on the opening drive with a shoulder injury. That brought in Shane Buechele, who led … Read More

Bevo Beat

Hello, bowl game: Shane Buechele, No. 9 Texas hold off Baylor, 23-17

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 13th, 2018

It’s all over at Royal-Memorial Stadium. No. 9-ranked Texas, a 16-point favorite today, has beaten Baylor, 23-17. It was Texas’ fourth straight win over the Bears.  The big storyline of the day: It was Shane Buechele, not Sam Ehlinger, … Read More

Bevo Beat

It’s halftime, and Shane Buechele has Texas leading Baylor 23-10

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

October 13th, 2018

It’s halftime at Royal-Memorial Stadium. No. 9 Texas, which is a 16-point favorite today, is leading Baylor, 23-10. Remember that time Colt McCoy exited the national championship game against Alabama on the fifth play with a shoulder injury? Texas has suffered its second biggest shoulder injury of the last 10 … Read More