Dec 2, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Longhorns are expecting to get a key piece of the offense back on Saturday for their game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. According to On3's Pete Nakos, running back CJ Baxter "is on track to play" for the game.

Baxter was listed as probable on the Longhorns' initial availability report on Thursday. He was expected to be a key member of the Texas rushing attack as a sophomore, but has not played since Week 3 when he was injured on his first snap against UTEP and has missed their past five games.

He carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards in their first three games, adding five receptions for 25 yards. He was their No. 2 running back as a true freshman in 2023, carrying the ball 138 yards for 659 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He missed all of the 2024 season after suffering an injury in fall camp.

Texas has struggled to run the ball this season, averaging 4.10 yards per carry with Quintrevion Wisner leading the team with 222 yards. He is the only player with more than 200 rushing yards, and quarterback Arch Manning is second on the team in rushing with 193 yards and leads them with five touchdowns.

Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC) and Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3) are set to kick off Saturday at 3:15 p.m. ET on the SEC Network from Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. Texas leads the series 3-2, but is 0-1 in Starkville.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Key Texas running back is 'on track to play' vs. Mississippi State

Reporting by JD McCarthy, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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