2019 Alamo Bowl: First look at Utah

Alika Jenner/Getty Images As the decade comes to a close — thankfully enough for the Texas Longhorns football program — head coach Tom Herman’s team will take on the No. 11 Utah Utes in San Antonio at the 2019 Valero Alamo Bowl.

The challenge is significant for 7-5 Texas, as Utah ranks No. 12 in offensive SP+ and No. 10 in defensive SP+ following a Pac-12 title game loss to Oregon. The 37-15 win for the Ducks provided a template for beating the Utes, as difficult as it may be to replicate.

In that game, Oregon ran for 239 yards on 41 and three touchdowns, a full 26 percent of all the rushing yardage and 43 percent of all the rushing touchdowns allowed by Morgan Scalley’s defense. The Ducks…