What if they didn’t jump offsides in the Iowa State game?
Going into the Iowa State game, Texas was still alive for the Big 12 championship game. The task was simple, win out, and the Longhorns would be back in the conference title game.
Texas blew their realistic chances at making it as they lost in Ames to Iowa State. In a game where the offense struggled mightily, the Longhorns were somehow still in the game late in the fourth quarter. Up one, the Cyclones were driving with under three minutes to go.
Thanks to great plays from Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy and defensive penalties, the Cyclones were inside the Texas 30. The defense actually did a good job forcing fourth down, making Iowa State line up for a 40+ yard field goal. Right before the kick went up, the Longhorns jumped offsides, giving Iowa State a fresh set of downs.
What if Malcolm Roach did not jump offsides? Well, there is a chance he could have missed the field goal. If he had hit the field goal, Texas would have had two minutes and change to go down the field and kick their own game-winning field goal. Texas wins and they still control their own Big 12 destiny going into a road game against Baylor.
Instead, Iowa State drains the clock and kicker Connor Assalley hits a 36 yarder to win it for the Cyclones. There is no guarantee Texas would have made the Big 12 championship, but maybe the Baylor game would have gone differently if there were still championship game hopes.