Texas Longhorns College Football Pregame Quote, 01/08/2025

Q. I don’t know if this is the right word, but it’s kind of similar, kind of a “happy to be there” sentiment last year in the Semifinals. As someone has been in multiple playoffs, how do you perceive that this team is going to be different?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Having that experience, for sure, helps. We knew what it felt like when we lost. Get there, get a taste of it, one play away from the championship last year.

I think that experience is a big reason why they’ve done a great job with their preparation all year long, because they know how hard it was last year to get there. The pain of losing that game.

It’s about the small things, the small details. To the young guys, when they first start hearing that , they sort of tune you out. But you just keep presenting it to them: We would have done this here, run that, had our eyes here. All those little details every play.

Understanding that is the difference between winning and losing, not on any given play, but a game. That’s resonating to where we’re more dialed in to how important practice is and preparation.

Q. Talk about the pass rush and how good it’s been and how good it needs to be.

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Yeah, the guys did a really good job this year of, obviously, finishing on the quarterback. We left a few out there last week. A really good athletic guy that made us miss a lot.

And we just really need to do a good job of, not necessarily we always want to get the sacks, but he’s got to get them off the spots. Got to affect them whether it’s with hurries, with hits, getting our hands up. We’ve got to do our best to make him uncomfortable when he drops back to pass, for sure.

Q. How has he evolved maybe since last year when y’all played Will Howard and took it to overtime?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: He was a really good quarterback when we played him over the last few years. He’s got more weapons around him that he can throw to or hand the ball off to. He’s always had good O lines at K State. He’s got another good one at Ohio State.

He’s a big guy. He’s got a good feel for the offense. You can see, throughout the season, he got more comfortable within the system. We all know what Coach [Chip] Kelly does with the offense and the challenges he poses with his schemes, and I think he’s done a really outstanding job of adapting to that system.

It’s a whole new team. You guys watched the games. They were outstanding all year long.

They will run him but doesn’t run as much as some of these other teams, but they have that ability. They want to run the ball, and they want to find ways to get the ball to their skill, whether it’s on the perimeter or shots down the field.

Q. Looks like they’re throwing more to set up the run, maybe, the last couple games?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Yeah. He wants to run the ball, so we’ve obviously got to do a good job there. But I think it’s a really balanced offense. So, we’ve got our hands full.

Q. Back to those receivers. What’s the key to when you have a group of guys who’s so talented? What’s the kind of things that you tell your defense, as far as that discipline and what do you tell your DBs?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: It’s no different, it’s just that you’ve got faster, quicker guys. Got to play with great eyes. Got to play with disciplined technique. And then got to do a great job getting these dudes on the ground.

They’re going to catch the ball. They do a good job keeping the ball in front of us, get them on the ground, create some turnovers, get some stops. Anything they do get, we’ve got to make them earn it.

Q. Pete, when you watch the video of Ohio State, does 74, their left tackle (Donvan Jackson), look like a real left tackle? He started the season at left guard.

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Yeah, he’s an outstanding guard. Because of issues that they had with injuries and stuff, had to move him out there. Took him a minute to get used to it. But yeah, he’s a good player.

Q. As you study Ohio State, what is the word you would use to describe Ohio State’s offense? Like one word, what would it be?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Explosive.

Q. Tell me what they have at receiver. Is there extra pressure on your front to maybe to do their jobs maybe a little bit tougher?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: There’s not extra pressure. But yeah, every week, it starts with stopping the run.

Q. Talk about what you like about [Travis] Shaw, the D lineman you just signed from North Carolina.

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Big, athletic guy. He’s got a lot of good upsides. Some of our coaches talking to some guys that they know, he’s got a lot of room for growth and development. He’s a good dude with a good head on his shoulders, good family. Yeah.

Q. Coach, what are some of the challenges this Ohio State offense presents?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Starts with their wide receivers are really good. 4 (Jeremiah Smith) is outstanding. 2 (Emeka Egbuka) is outstanding. 17 (Tate Carnell) is a real big, dynamic guy. They’ve got good backs. The style of offense. The schemes that Coach [Chip] Kelly uses are challenging because they’ve got so many different ways to run the ball.

So, it’s going to be a game of adjustments as the game goes on. There are four teams left, and it’s a great opportunity, and we’re excited about it, and there’s nothing better than playing against the best.

Q. What about their offensive line coming from the Big Ten? Slightly different? The same?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: They’re big and athletic. Played a lot of good O lines this year, and they’re another one.

Q. How are the guys recovering? What’s it like playing 100 snaps?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Early one, we had a couple days not doing much, some recovery, some meetings. Practice has been awesome. We’re ready to roll.

Q. Ohio State is doing something unorthodox on the offensive line, shuffling three guards to the two guard positions. Does that make it more challenging because you have to prepare for more stuff? Does it make it easier?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: No. What they do is what they do. Nothing has changed. They still run their zone schemes and their gap schemes. They’ve done a good job pass protecting. So, no, not really.

Q. Coach, you went up against Will Howard before?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: Yeah, we’ve played him the last two years.

Q. Anything to respond slightly differently?

COACH KWIATKOWSKI: No, nothing different. Big guy. Good arm. He can extend plays when need be. He’s a really good player. Does a nice job.