First look: Texas Longhorns

No. 12 UCLA Bruins (2-0) vs. Texas Longhorns (1-1)
Kickoff: 5:15 p.m. PT, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Charles Davis, Molly McGrath)
Radio: 1150 KTLK (Chris Roberts, Matt Stevens, Wayne Cook)

Coach: The defensive coordinator during Florida’s 2006 and 2008 BCS title runs, Charlie Strong coached Louisville for four seasons — finishing his tenure there with a 12-1 campaign. He is one of the few black head coaches in college football. He quickly began cleaning house at Texas, ostensibly to reshape what had become a lax program in the latter years of Mack Brown.

Strong kicked eight Longhorns off the team — including two who were charged with felony sexual assault — and suspended four more. Those still missing include offensive tackles Kennedy Estelle, who started eight games as a sophomore, and Desmond Harrison.

Key players:

QB Tyrone Swoopes, So., 6-4, 243 — 20/31, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 7 carries, 7 rushing yards
— Only ever practiced with the second-team offense until starting quarterback David Ash suffered another concussion. The former four-star dual-threat prospect looked capable, but not exceptional in his first start of his career. The team hasn’t trusted him to throw deep often.

RB Johnathan Gray, Jr., 5-11, 215 — 30 carries, 129 yards
— Was on track to be Texas’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2007 before tearing his Achilles last November. The former five-star recruit insists he hasn’t lost a step after rushing for 1,481 yards and seven scores in the last two seasons.

RB Malcolm Brown, Sr., 5-11, 222 — 27 carries, 93 yards, 2 TD
— The All-Big-12 second-teamer has struggled behind a line that entered the game last Saturday with just five combined starts.

WR John Harris, Sr., 6-3, 225 — 15 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TD
— A reserve through three seasons, Harris has turned into Texas’ No. 1 target. Former all-conference receiver Jaxon Shipley is only four catches behind, but has 108 fewer yards and no touchdowns.

LB Jordan Hicks, Sr., 6-1, 234 — 22 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass defended
— Hicks has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but looks healthy now and leads the Longhorns in tackles.

DT Malcom Brown, Jr., 6-4, 305 — 13 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry, 1 forced fumble
— One of the defensive bright spots in Texas’ 41-7 loss to BYU, Brown notched 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble against the Cougars.

Scouting report: Center Dominic Espinosa broke his ankle in Texas’ season-opening win over North Texas, robbing the Longhorns of a lineman with 40 straight starts. Texas entered Saturday’s loss to BYU with just five combined starts up front. … The Longhorns are currently 117th nationally at just 4.36 yards per offensive play. Their rushing average (3.27 yards/carry) is the main culprit, though they actually rank one spot ahead of UCLA — 108th at 3.25. … The Texas defense has yet to stop opponents in the red zone this season, allowing BYU to convert all six chances for points last weekend. It looked especially susceptible to the read-option, as Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill ran for three touchdowns in the third quarter and 99 yards overall.

The line: The Bruins are currently favored by 7.5 points.