#6 Texas (2-0) vs. Central Florida (1-0)
Time: 2:30 pm, Saturday, Sept. 15
Location: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KVET (98.1 FM, 1300 AM)

Texas heads to Florida for their first road game of the season on Saturday, but when the Longhorns step onto the field at Bright House Networks Stadium, they'll have played as many games there as the home team.

How's that? Central Florida rushed to build the new venue in just 16 months to get ready for its debut, and the Golden Knights only began practicing there this week. The Texas game will be the first game played in that new stadium, and all 45,000 seats will be filled -- the school has sold out a football game for the first time.

The Longhorns are coming off their first real test of the season, besting 19th-ranked TCU at home last week, 34-13. After falling behind 10-0 in the first half, Texas took control behind a stout defense that held the Horned Frogs to 251 total yards.

On offense, Texas has returned to the style that brought them success prior to the Vince Young era. Rather than line up in the shotgun and execute running plays with either the running back or quarterback, the Longhorns today are more likely to come out in multiple formations and throw the ball first to set up the running of Jamaal Charles.

This throw-first, run-second approach better fits Texas' current lineup, with an accurate quarterback, talented receivers, and inexperienced offensive line. So rather than the style of Vince Young, fans should think back to the Major Applewhite era for a comparison.

Central Florida is expected to have just the opposite personality on offense, relying on the rushing talents of junior tailback Kevin Smith. In the Knights' season-opening victory against North Carolina State, Smith gained 217 yards on 35 carries and scored twice, including an 80-yard scamper to open the game.

Photo by bomb the system on flickr

Game Notes

Welcome Home: Saturday will be the first truly "home" game for Central Florida in the 29-year history of the program. Previously, the Golden Knights played their home games across town in downtown Orlando's Citrus Bowl. Their new stadium is located on the north end of campus.

Nice to Meet You: This is the first meeting between the two teams. The sixth-ranked Longhorns are the highest ranked team UCF has ever hosted, although the Golden Knights did reel off an impressive 25-23 win at North Carolina State in their first game this season, marking their first victory over a Bowl Championship Series-affiliated school since 2000.

Longhorn Injuries: A Texas offensive line that is already low on experience could be without one of its starters. Tackle Adam Ulatoski is listed as doubtful after being injured in the TCU game. Starting defensive end Brian Orakpo will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. Backup quarterback Sherrod Harris (knee) is also out. Wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, is likely to play on Saturday.

More off-field troubles: Texas suspended safety Tyrell Gatewood indefinitely after he was arrested on Wednesday on two misdemeanor counts of drug possession. Gatewood, a fifth-year senior, was also arrested in 2006 on misdemeanor marijuana charges, but that charge was dropped after he passed a drug test. Freshman defensive back Ben Wells was a passenger in the car when Gatewood was arrested Wednesday. Wells was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released. Defensive end Henry Melton and linebacker Sergio Kindle are serving the last game of their three-game suspensions for DWI arrests this summer, while receiver Billy Pittman is also serving a three-game suspension for violating NCAA rules.

Opponents to Watch: Kevin Smith is the workhorse for the UCF offense. He ran for 2,112 yards in his first two seasons and was a first-team preseason Conference USA selection. He injured his shoulder late last season against Memphis and was limited in action this spring, but his season-opening performance against NC State made him the nation's first-week leader in rushing.

Bring It On: Central Florida is the defending champion of the College Cheerleading and Dance Team Nationals. It's the second national title for the squad, who also won in 2003.

Resume-Gate: Central Florida head coach George O'Leary is in his fourth year with the team. He took a team that went 0-11 in his first year (2004) and won a conference championship the following season. Before coming to UCF, O'Leary was headed to the University of Notre Dame as head coach after a successful career at Georgia Tech. Less than a week after accepting the Notre Dame position, O'Leary resigned after it was discovered that he lied on his resume. On the resume, O'Leary claimed he had earned a master's degree from New York University (he attended school there, but never graduated), and that he had earned three letters in football at the University of New Hampshire (he never played a single game there).