As he prepares for his team's first road trip of the season, Texas football coach Charlie Strong identified two essentials he seeks to fortify the contributions of freshman quarterback Shane Buechele in Saturday's game at California.
"You've got to pack your defense and your kicking game when you go on the road. That's the key," Strong said during Monday's conference call with Big 12 coaches. "We've got to keep the team focused and ready. I think we have a more mature football team right now."
No. 11 Texas (2-0) has a chance to secure its first undefeated run through its nonconference schedule since 2012 with a victory over the Golden Bears (1-1). The contest is slated to be the first road start of his college career for Buechele, an Arlington Lamar graduate who earned Big 12 newcomer of the week honors for the second time this season by throwing for 244 yards and four touchdowns in last week's 41-7 victory over UTEP.
Texas ranks fourth among Big 12 teams in total defense, allowing 326 yards and 27 points per game. Strong said he is more concerned about Bears quarterback Davis Webb, a graduate transfer from Texas Tech who has thrown for nine touchdowns and averaged 481.5 passing yards per game, than the late kickoff time in the Central Time zone.
"I don't think the time change will make that much of a difference," Strong said.
