The Lone Star State struggled at the FBS level in Week 3. With TCU idle, the other 11 FBS programs combined for a 4-7 record. Baylor, Rice, Texas A&M, and Texas won in Week 3, but Texas State, North Texas, Houston, SMU, Texas Tech, UTEP, and UTSA fell. The seven G5 programs in the state combined for a 1-6 record on the week. Not good. 

But there were standout performances for multiple teams, including Bijan Robinson reminding the country why he drives a Lamborghini and Baylor possibly finding its next star running back. 

1. Texas RB Bijan Robinson 

Result: 41-20 win over UTSA 
Stats: 20 carries for 183 yards, 3 TDs; 1 catch, 19 yards 

The duo of Robinson and Roschon Johnson simply overpowered and outlasted a game UTSA defense. Robinson reminded folks why he’s considered the best college football player in Texas and is a Heisman Trophy hopeful. He improved as the game went on, and even showed some long-range burst in a career-long 78-yard touchdown run. Johnson pitched in 81 yards. Texas averaged 8.3 yards a carry on 36 totes in the win over UTSA. Robinson was outstanding. 

2. Baylor RB Richard Reese 

Result: 42-7 win over Baylor 
Stats: 19 carries for 156 yards, 3 TDs; 1 catch, 17 yards 

The Bears offense remains a run-first organization in 2022, but Baylor lacked an obvious No. 1 runner entering 2022 with the losses of Abram Smith and Tresten Ebner. Taye McWilliams, who entered the year as the starter, was banged up against BYU and missed the Texas State win. Reese took advantage of the opportunity, building on a strong showing in his Week 1 debut against Albany. In the win over Texas State on Saturday, Reese averaged 8.2 yards a rush with a long run of 52. 

3. SMU WR Rashee Rice 

Result: 34-27 loss to Maryland 
Stats: 11 catches for 193 yards 

Another week, another video game performance from SMU’s No. 1 receiver. No other player caught more than four passes or accounted for over 51 receiving yards for the Mustangs in the loss against Maryland. Rice has caught 28 passes for 491 yards and three touchdowns through three games. That’s 163.7 receiving yards per game. Incredible. 

4. Texas State WR Ashtyn Hawkins 

Result: 42-7 loss to Baylor 
Stats: 13 for 114 yards, 1 TD 

Hawkins was the target on nearly every play for Texas State and quarterback Layne Hatcher, especially in the first half. Hawkins accounted for 13 catches and 114 yards. The rest of the team caught a combined 9 catches for 72 yards. The Hatcher to Hawkins connection needs a nickname because it’ll provide plenty of headaches in the Sun Belt. 

5. Rice WR Luke McCaffrey 

Result: 33-21 win over Louisiana 
Stats: 10 catches for 105 yards, 2 TDs 

The transition from quarterback to wide receiver was smooth for McCaffrey in the offseason. As Mike Bloomgren joked a few times, “it is almost like his dad played the position in the NFL.” McCaffrey accounted for one-third of Rice’s receiving yards in the upset win over Louisiana. Louisiana only recorded nine more receiving yards as a team (114) than McCaffrey did by himself (105). His emergence was key for the Owls offense with last year’s leading receiver, Jake Bailey, off to SMU. 

6. Texas DB Jahdae Barron 

Result: 41-20 win over UTSA 
Stats: 6 tackles, 44-yard INT return for touchdown 

UTSA led Texas 17-7 at one point in the second half. Even with the Longhorns surging, the Roadrunners trailed 24-20 in the third quarter with the ball in quarterback Frank Harris’ hands. The UTSA offense moved the ball early on Texas, and the Longhorns needed a play. Enter Barron. He intercepted the one poor pass by Harris on the night and raced 44-yards for the score. A four-point lead became an 11-point lead, and UTSA couldn’t get off the mat after that. 

7. Rice QB TJ McMahon  

Result: 33-21 win over Louisiana 
Stats: 25 of 36 passing for 303 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs

The bad is part of the good with McMahon, who lost the starting quarterback battle to Wiley Green in the offseason, at least in part, to his penchant for throwing interceptions. He tossed three against Louisiana, but he overcame adversity to lead the Owls to a 12-point win despite entering the game as a 12-point favorite. 

8. Texas A&M RB Devon Achane 

Result: 17-9 win over Miami 
Stats: 18 carries for 88 yards; 4 catches for 42 yards, 1 TD 

The Texas A&M offense jumped aboard the Achane for the second consecutive week. He scored both touchdowns in the loss to App State in Wee 2. He scored one of two touchdowns by the Aggies in the Week 3 win over Baylor on a 25-yard touchdown catch. He led the team in rushing and amassed 130 of the team’s 288 yards of offense. 

9. Baylor DB Al Walcott

Result: 42-7 win over Baylor  
Stats: 9 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 FF 

Baylor’s defense only allowed seven points despite Texas State reaching Bears territory seven times in Week 3. Walcott emerged as the star of the bend-but-don’t-break strategy that worked well for Baylor. He led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and caused the only Texas State turnover. 

10. Texas A&M DB Jaylon Jones 

Result: 17-9 win over Miami 
Stats: 9 tackles, 1 PBU 

The top five tacklers for Texas A&M in the win over Miami were defensive backs. Jones led the way with nine stops in his return from injury. Eight of his nine tackles were solo, and he had a pass breakup. Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was 21 of 41 for 217 yards and no interceptions against the Wrecking Crew. The longest pass the Aggies allowed was 29 yards. Jones, a product of Cibolo Steele, played at an all-conference level, which was especially important with Denver Harris suspended for violating team rules. 

11. Texas Tech Edge Tyree Wilson 

Results: 27-14 loss to NC State 
Stats: 11 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 QB hit

The Texas Tech defense deserves a tip-of-the-cap in the road loss to NC State because previous Red Raider units would’ve allowed 50 points with the way their offense played. Texas Tech kept it close, but the offense couldn’t help on Saturday. Wilson was standout for the visiting team, leading the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks.