Forty Acres Insider: December 5

Chris Del Conte head shot

Longhorn Nation,

LET'S GO! What a week it was, and I can't possibly put into words the rush of emotions that is going through all of us here on the Forty right now. It's certainly electric enough to keep that Tower lit orange for all the success we're having! There was the Big 12 Football Championship and College Football Playoff selection, a pair of Volleyball wins at The Greg that earned us a spot in an NCAA-leading 18th-straight Sweet 16, and Women's Basketball's emphatic 80-68 win over traditional powerhouse UConn with y'all raising the roof at Moody Center on Sunday.

But Sunday started with anticipation and ended in euphoria! I know y'all were watching with bated breath just as we were on Sunday, then our name popped up as the No. 3 seed among the four teams selected for the CFP … and THERE WAS MUCH REJOICING! We were gathered with the team tuning into the announcement show, and I thought the roof was going to blow off our new recruiting lounge at the Moncrief Athletics Complex as our amazing group of Longhorns erupted with the news that we were in! It was an absolutely incredible sight to see, and I couldn't be prouder of this team, these coaches, this staff and everyone that kept their eyes on the prize in the three years of building for this epic day. Especially Coach Sark — his vision, steadfast commitment, drive and determination to make everything he laid out as a plan when we hired him three years ago came to fruition. It wasn't easy, but he was unwavering in his focus and resolve in what our football program would become, and we were behind him every step of the way. We know we're just getting started, and in Coach Sark's words to his squad, "The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more."

The moment 🤘 pic.twitter.com/WlPZoJCiD6
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 3, 2023

But I'm too dang proud and fired up to not appreciate that work well done part first. It's no surprise we were invited to college football's biggest party, we earned it on the field all year long, deserved it, and dog gone it, put a huge exclamation point on our dance card on Saturday in Arlington. We took it to Oklahoma State in every phase of the game in an absolutely dominant performance to raise that Big 12 Championship trophy. It was our football finale in the Big 12, confetti was falling, Hook 'Em was making snow angels, and our Longhorns were ecstatically beaming with pride. Y'all were there belting out the Texas Fight and cheering us on to the very end and long after, too. That farewell to Big 12 Football "Eyes of Texas" led to the trophy celebration followed by a truly elated locker room scene. I couldn't be happier for our team, its "WE NOT ME" attitude, and the way they performed all year long to position us for greatness. Now we get some time to rest and recuperate as we ready for a trip to New Orleans and a matchup with No. 2-seeded Washington in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1/7:45 p.m. CT/ESPN). WE ARE IN, and I can't wait to paint the Big Easy Burnt Orange!

Sugar Bowl bound 🤘

Texas vs. Washington
Sugar Bowl | New Orleans, LA
January 1, 2024@CFBPlayoff x @SugarBowlNola pic.twitter.com/vQtNfGGnTU
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 3, 2023

In the meantime, we've got another fantastic week underway. No. 5 Women's Basketball hosts Long Beach State (7 p.m. CT/LHN) on Wednesday in The Mood. After a pair of wins last week, No. 12 Men's Basketball travels to face No. 8 Marquette and our friend and former coach Shaka Smart in a big-time early-season matchup on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT/FS1). No. 5 Volleyball seeks to continue its NCAA Tourney run while taking dead aim on defending their National Championship with a regional semifinal matchup against No. 11 Tennessee on Thursday (8 p.m. CT/ESPN2) in Palo Alto, Calif. The winner advances to face the victor of top-seeded host Stanford vs. Arizona State on Saturday (9 p.m. CT). Men's Basketball will cap the home schedule this week when it returns to the friendly confines of Moody Center on Saturday afternoon and hosts Houston Christian (2 p.m. CT/LHN). I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in their Burnt Orange-best at the games, on TV or wherever you are. We're loud and proud and can't hide that Longhorn Pride!

🤘🤘🤘 #HookEm | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/Xw0RgGceEq
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) December 4, 2023

Here we go, December is here, Holiday season is upon us, and it's a glorious time to be a Longhorn! We're so grateful for our Longhorn Family!!

Football is your 2023 Big 12 Champions!

Well folks, what an exclamation mark, cherry on top, bow on it, whatever you want to call it for our time in the Big 12. Coach Sark and our lads made a memory none of us will forget and made their mark on history by adding their season to those honored among the best in our storied history on the façade of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. For the rest of their lives, they'll be able to bring their kids and grandkids back to DKR, point up to that "23" and hold the pride in their hearts for what they accomplished. This group is the definition of a champion, and they left no doubt on that field in Arlington on Saturday with their emphatic 49-21 victory over Oklahoma State. They came out with their foot firmly on the gas, didn't let up. All you have to do is look at the drive chart in the box score – touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown on the first four drives and seven overall. Meanwhile, the defense was doing their thing and only surrendered three drives longer than 18 yards, and even on one of those they took the ball away with an interception (an incredible one at that, yeah, I'm looking at you Kitan Crawford). Then one of the two others was on the last drive of the game for the Cowboys. For that offense, wow, Quinn, have yourself a game, Mr. MOP. It felt like my man was delivering the ball to the perfect spot on almost every pass to the tune of a Big 12 Championship record-breaking 452 yards and four touchdowns. The plays being made were too many to list, but it resulted in a pair of 100-yard receiving games for call-me-Adonai and JT Sanders, and our X man pulled in 86 more, along with clutch catches from J-Whitt. Then how about that trio of backs – Cedric Baxter, Jaydon Blue and Keilan Robinson? Our great Jonathon Brooks (more on him in a moment) goes down, and those three have stepped it up big time since then topped by three rushing touchdowns in this game. And how do I talk about this – offense, defense? But we had another Big Man Touchdown by the best lineman in the land, T-Sweat! When he caught that pass and struck the Heisman pose, what a sight that was. All you could think is that man should certainly have some hardware coming his way! It was an amazing effort all around, and then what better what to close it out than by getting the waterworks going with Jonathon on the field for the final kneel down. So special. When it was all said and done our Longhorns finished the mission and are Big 12 Champions! Man, that sounds nice. Like Coach Sark said, we're not just going to glance past what an achievement that is just because we're in the playoffs, but now there's more left…stay tuned!

Monday morning highlights ☕️🎥

Big 12 Champions edition 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ptiKQpOx2r
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 4, 2023

Longhorn Legend Derrick Johnson to be enshrined in College Football Hall of Fame

Tonight's the night and we're thrilled to be in Las Vegas to celebrate our Longhorn Legend Derrick Johnson's enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2023. What a spectacular, well-deserving honor for one of our all-time best players and people. Here's a link to Derrick's press conference from earlier today. Derrick is a great Longhorn who absolutely bleeds Burnt Orange, but not only was he a sensational player during his time on the Forty, he continues to be a magnificent ambassador for our program and is a terrific father and husband, too. Just a tremendous all-around person who now can attach College Football Hall of Famer to his name. Congratulations DJ, Longhorn Nation is extremely proud of you, we've enjoyed celebrating you all year leading up to this, and will have our Horns held high in honoring you. You're the absolute best my friend!

A true Longhorn Legend.

And now...a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Congrats @superdj56 🤘 pic.twitter.com/jZrJPvYSx4
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 9, 2023

Derrick Johnson is going into the College Football Hall of Fame!

Congrats @superdj56 on being named to the 2023 @cfbhall Class 🤘 pic.twitter.com/CaZ8HvZJ9O
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 9, 2023

Men's Basketball back in action on Wednesday in Milwaukee

Our Men's Basketball team is off to a 6-1 start and climbed to No. 12 in Monday's Associated Press poll. Mid-Court Max posted a season-high 26 points, and both D-Mitch (11 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high four blocks) and Kadin Shedrick (11 points and 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles to lead Texas to a 77-58 victory over Texas State in The Mood on Thursday. RT and the guys head to Milwaukee for a huge matchup against No. 8/7 Marquette on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT/FS1) as part of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, and we'll return to The Mood on Saturday afternoon (2 p.m. CT/LHN) for a home game against Houston Christian.

📈🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Y53ghgcW7w
— Texas Men's Basketball (@TexasMBB) December 4, 2023

DM took care of business last night 💪🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Oh8OtpvKDP
— Texas Men's Basketball (@TexasMBB) December 1, 2023

Women's Basketball bests UConn and surges into top-five in the national polls!

Our ladies got it done at Moody Center with an 80-68 win over No. 11/12 UConn on Sunday! THANK YOU to the capacity crowd of 10,763 that had the place rockin' all game long. Rori Harmon, the best point guard in the nation, had 27 points and 13 assists and freshman phenom Madison Booker added 20 points. Come back and support our No. 5-ranked team on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT/LHN) when we host Long Beach State. It's Teddy Bear Toss night, so bring a teddy bear that you can help us donate to a family in need this holiday season.

took care of business 😤🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/6BFL8tsPRN
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) December 3, 2023

Volleyball set for NCAA Regional in Stanford this week!

Our No. 5 Volleyball team took care of business at home in the NCAA First and Second Rounds and advanced to our 18th-consecutive NCAA Regional Semifinal ("Sweet 16") appearance, the longest active streak in the country. The Longhorns first dispatched Texas A&M in a tough first-round match before sweeping SMU in dominant fashion. Next up for our ladies is a trip to Stanford, where they'll face No. 11 Tennessee in the NCAA Regional Semifinal on Thursday (8 p.m. CT/ESPN2). With a win over the Volunteers, Texas will then square off against either No. 2 Stanford or Arizona State on Saturday (9 p.m. CT/TV is TBD) with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Next up: the NCAA Regional 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/KSgMCWKZVv
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) December 4, 2023

Indoor Track and Field has successful season opener

Coach Flo's squad got the indoor season rolling over in The 'Ville for a one-day meet on Saturday. The young team claimed six event wins led by our quick hurdlers and short sprinters. Our team returns to the track in the middle of January when they back to Louisville, but for now all of our focus turns to next week when Julien Alfred and Leo Neugebauer patiently wait the news of The Bowerman results. Longhorn nation is rooting for you two!