Burnt Orange Blitz: Matthew Golden Torches Florida in Texas Route
Damn lol I was just tryna fix my headband https://t.co/fBWV34yuq1
— Matthew Golden (@MatthewGolden_) January 15, 2026
The play was a masterpiece of timing. Quinn Ewers dropped back and uncorked a 32-yard moonball toward the pylon. Golden, despite tight coverage, tracked the ball perfectly over his shoulder and secured the catch while falling into the paint. It was the kind of elite playmaking that has the Longhorns dreaming of a deep playoff run.
Ewers and Golden: A Defensive Nightmare
Texas offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has found a winning formula. By utilizing Matthew Golden’s speed on the perimeter, the Longhorns forced Florida to choose between giving up the deep shot or getting gashed in the run game. Florida chose to play up, and Golden punished them repeatedly.
Golden wasn’t a one-hit wonder in this contest; he hauled in two touchdown receptions, showing a growing chemistry with Quinn Ewers. For Ewers, who finished the day with five passing touchdowns, having a weapon like Golden allows him to be aggressive even when the secondary provides tight windows.
“When you have guys like Matthew who can win those 50/50 balls, it makes my job easy. I just put it in his zip code and let him go be a playmaker.”
— Quinn Ewers on the touchdown connection with Golden
Florida’s Defensive Collapse
The Gators’ secondary appeared lost for much of the first half. Texas jumped out to a 35-0 lead before Florida could even catch their breath. The speed of the Texas receiving corps, led by Golden’s vertical presence, created massive passing lanes that Florida’s linebackers couldn’t close.
Texas finished with over 500 total yards of offense, a staggering number that reflects their total control of the scrimmage. While Florida attempted a minor rally in the second half, the damage was done. The Golden touchdown served as the exclamation point on a dominant first-half performance.
What This Means for Texas
With this win, Texas keeps its path to the SEC Championship clear. The emergence of Matthew Golden as a consistent multi-TD threat adds another layer to an already terrifying offense. As the Longhorns prepare for the final stretch of the season, their ability to strike quickly through the air will be the X-factor in high-stakes matchups against conference rivals.
