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.

Texas 28, Georgia 21: Our five Sugar Bowl questions for Georgia — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

January 2nd, 2019

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Bulldogs ahead of Tuesday’s 28-21 loss in the Sugar Bowl: 1. Did Georgia look motivated, deflated or somewhere in between? Deflated. Uninspired. Disinterested. Take your pick. Either way, the Bulldogs looked flat for three-and-a-half quarters. Two mistakes in the punting game, … Read More

Texas 28, Georgia 21: Our five Sugar Bowl questions for Texas — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

January 2nd, 2019

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Tuesday night’s 28-21 win in the Sugar Bowl. Here’s how they played out: 1. Who ended the season as Texas’ leading rusher? Tre Watson. The graduate transfer from Cal, playing in his final game, led all rushers … Read More

Texas 28, Georgia 21: The expanded Sugar Bowl boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

January 1st, 2019

How it all happened Tuesday night in New Orleans: First quarter Texas 10, Georgia 0. The Longhorns couldn’t have asked for a stronger opening. Sam Ehlinger completed all five of his passes on the opening drive and produced his 14th rushing score of the season, the first UT quarterback with … Read More

Bevo Beat

Hello, Sugar: Texas controls Georgia from the start, claims impressive 28-21 win

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

January 1st, 2019

It’s all over at the Superdome in New Orleans. Fifteenth-ranked Texas, which was a two-touchdown underdog to No. 5 Georgia, has won the Sugar Bowl in impression fashion, 28-21. It’s easy to point to the pre-game mascot vs. mascot incident of Bevo’s near goring of Uga, as if that set … Read More

Bevo Beat

Pretty sweet so far: Texas is controlling Georgia, leads 20-7 at halftime

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

January 1st, 2019

It’s halftime at the Superdome in New Orleans. No. 15 Texas, which is a two-touchdown underdog tonight, is controlling No. 5 Georgia. The Longhorns lead 20-7. Maybe the Bulldogs came in deflated, having been excluded from the CFP semifinal field after taking Alabama to the brink in the SEC title … Read More

Bevo Beat

Men’s preview: Texas vs. Texas-Arlington

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

December 27th, 2018

Texas vs. Texas-Arlington 7 p.m. Friday, LHN, 104.9 Records: Texas 7-4, UT-Arlington 4-8 The series: Texas leads 11-1, though their last meeting was the Mavericks’ lone win — 72-61 in November 2016. Texas’ starting lineup Matt Coleman (G, 6-2, So.) — 10.5 ppg, 3.0 apg Kerwin Roach II … Read More

Bevo Beat

Murray or Tua? How our four Heisman Trophy voters cast their ballots — and why

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

December 8th, 2018

The American-Statesman has four Heisman voters. Here’s how they voted this year: Kirk Bohls: Murray wins it because Tua lost it Voter since: 1979 My ballot: 1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma; 2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama; 3. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State I tend to discount the argument that Tua Tagovailoa deserved the … Read More

Oklahoma 39, Texas 27: Our five pregame questions for Texas — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

December 1st, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday’s 39-27 loss in the Big 12 championship game. Here’s how they played out: 1. Did Texas limit Kyler Murray’s running ability? Yes. Sure, Murray has a good arm. But he does his most damage to defenses … Read More

Oklahoma 39, Texas 27: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

December 1st, 2018

How it all happened Saturday in Arlington: First quarter Texas 7, Oklahoma 3. Texas, which got the ball to start the game, marced 75 yards for the early score. It was UT’s eighth first-possession score this season and Ehlinger’s 14th rushing score of his career — five of them have … Read More

Bevo Beat

Red River redemption: This time, Texas is upended by Oklahoma 39-27 in Big 12 title game

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

December 1st, 2018

It’s all over at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Fifth-ranked Oklahoma, needing a win over Texas to (a) help ensure a College Football Playoff bid and (b) make up for their only loss of the season — the Longhorns’ 48-45 thriller at the Cotton Bowl in October — has won the … Read More

Bevo Beat

Oklahoma’s late touchdown gives Sooners a 20-14 halftime lead over Texas

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

December 1st, 2018

It’s halftime at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Fifth-ranked Oklahoma, needing a win to — in all likelihood — earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, is leading No. 14 Texas, 20-14. As expected, this is looking like it’s going to be a close one. Shootout? Maybe, but if so, … Read More

Red River roadmap: How Texas and Oklahoma each navigated their way to Arlington

Suzanne Halliburton and Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 30th, 2018

A look back at each game of the season for Texas (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) and Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1), which meet on Saturday in the Big 12 championship game: Sept. 1: An opening stumble Maryland 34, No. 23 Texas 29: Goodbye, national ranking. The Longhorns started off in a funk, … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: Red River Redo? This one’s different — Texas-Oklahoma 1 was sooo October

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 26th, 2018

So, it turns out Tom Herman during a regular-season game-week press conference is the same as Tom Herman during the week of the Big 12 championship game. He wasn’t particularly up. Or down. He put it all in perspective. This game isn’t another Red River Showdown, he says he’s told … Read More

Texas 24, Kansas 17: Our five pregame questions — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 23rd, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Friday’s 24-17 win over Kansas. Here’s how they played out: 1. How long did it take Texas to score? One drive. Eleven plays. As far as recent Texas-Kansas games are concerned, that took a long, long time. Read More

Texas 24, Kansas 17: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 23rd, 2018

How it all happened Friday in Lawrence: First quarter Texas 7, Kansas 0. After Kansas punted to Texas’ 2, Sam Ehlinger directed an efficient first drive for a touchdown. The 98-yard drive was the Longhorns’ longest of the season. Ehlinger, coming off last week’s shoulder problem, was 6 of 7 … Read More

Bevo Beat

Whew! Another tight finish, but Texas beats Kansas 24-17, earns a spot in the Big 12 title game

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 23rd, 2018

It’s over at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan. Fourteenth-ranked Texas has beaten Kansas 24-17 to earn a spot in next week’s Big 12 championship game. It wasn’t a pretty win. Yes, the final score looked comfortable. But this game was a strange one. The Longhorns looked off on offense most … Read More

Bevo Beat

Gulp! Texas is one half away from a Big 12 title game spot, but leads Kansas only 7-0

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 23rd, 2018

It’s halftime at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan. Fourteenth-ranked Texas, needing a win today to secure a spot in next week’s Big 12 championship game, is leading Kansas 7-0. In some ways, this game isn’t that close. The Longhorns’ defense has been impressive and Kansas has been unable to do … Read More

Bevo Beat

Tom Herman: No rest for the weary for Texas — if Sam Ehlinger can play, he’s going to play

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 19th, 2018

Tom Herman’s final regular-season Monday press conference was laid back, comfortable and focused. The second-year Texas coach was all smiles as he began. He opened with thoughts/concerns over the short week — getting out of DKR between midnight and 1 a.m. late Saturday night, then turning around for practice on … Read More

Texas 24, Iowa State 10: Our five pregame questions — answered

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 17th, 2018

Revisiting our five pregame questions that were facing the Longhorns ahead of Saturday night’s 24-10 win over Iowa State. Here’s how they played out: 1. Did Texas have to worry about Iowa State’s run game before halftime? No. The Cyclones had to go without David Montgomery for the first … Read More

Texas 24, Iowa State 10: The expanded boxscore

Rich Tijerina American-Statesman Staff

November 17th, 2018

How it all happened Saturday night: First quarter Texas 7, Iowa State 3. Collin Johnson, who missed last week’s game with a knee injury, had two catches for 48 yards on Texas’ opening drive. Sam Ehlinger capped it with his 10th rushing touchdown of the season. For only the third … Read More