Texas' slim CFP hopes may hinge on stopping Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed

Most of the spotlight has been on Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning in 2025, but Friday could be Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed's time to shine.

The Longhorns host the Aggies in the Lone Star Showdown on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. If the Longhorns' struggling defense can't rebound before then, Reed could make a name for himself in the prime-time game. 

Why stopping Marcel Reed should be one of Texas' top priorities in Lone Star Showdown

Texas' defense has slumped over its past three games, allowing 34.3 points per game. Before this stretch, the unit had surrendered 34 points or more once. 

The struggles may stem from the Longhorns facing mobile QBs, such as Gunner Stockton (Georgia Bulldogs), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt Commodores) and Taylen Green (Arkansas Razorbacks). All ran for a TD against Texas.  

Like the aforementioned QBs, Reed is a threat in the run game. He ranks second on the team in rushing yards (395 on 77 carries) behind running back Rueben Owens II (570 on 99 carries). 

"You could probably argue Marcel Reed is the most dynamic of all those guys," Sarkisian told the media Monday. "What [facing those QBs] prepares you for is where we broke down when they hurt us. How do we rectify that and fix that? So, we can go back to that old tape, whether it's from practice or from the game, to see where our issues occurred against those [QBs], and then we can work on those things in practice."   

The expected return of linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. should also make stopping Reed easier for the Longhorns. Following the win over Arkansas, Sarkisian said he believes the junior will play against the Longhorns' in-state rival. The LB — who leads the team in tackles (70) — missed one game after breaking his hand in a 35-10 loss to Georgia. 

However, the Longhorns will be without Ty'Anthony Smith, who ranks fifth on the team in tackles (46), for the first half of Friday's game. He was disqualified for targeting in the win over Arkansas, and his appeal has been denied. 

It remains unclear if Texas is prepared for Reed, but it must find a way to shut him down. The team's super-slim College Football Playoff hopes could hinge on that. 

Beating the undefeated Aggies (11-0, 7-0 SEC play) could give the Longhorns (8-3, 5-2) their best shot at making the 12-team bracket. Plus, they don't want Texas A&M to have bragging rights until their next meeting.