Tag: kansas state football

Social media reacts to Texas’ huge overtime win over K-State

Texas found a way to win on Saturday.

The Texas Longhorns improved to an 8-1 overall record and 5-1 conference record on Saturday. That’s all that matters, but how they got there was more than cause for concern.

The Longhorns held a 27-7 lead until the final seconds of the third quarter. Then the defense imploded.

At 27-7, defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski decided it was time to let off the gas. Kwiatkowski went from aggressive press coverage to his signature ten yards off, soft coverage. In a matter of minutes the game went from 27-7 to a 27-27 tie.

The offense did its part to get there too. While leading 27-14, Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy threw an interception on a screen pass to set up the Wildcats deep inside Longhorns territory. Murphy threw at least four or five interceptions on the day, but only two were intercepted.

On the following offensive drive, Texas running back Jonathon Brooks coughed up the football and helped Kansas State to a 27-27 tie.

Despite it all, the Longhorns found a way to win in overtime. Sarkisian deserves credit for building a lead with a clearly incapable backup quarterback and a banged up squad.

Here’s how social media took in the game.

Texas highlights from an explosive first half against Kansas State

Texas thoroughly out-coached Kansas State in the first half.

The Texas Longhorns set off fireworks in the first half. It was the best first half of the season.

The Longhorns coaching staff facilitated the first half beatdown. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski so outmatched Kansas State’s coaching staff that the Wildcats looked like they didn’t belong on the same field.

Sarkisian did what we thought he might do offensively utilizing his quarterback Maalik Murphy’s plus deep passing ability to his advantage. Murphy landed a couple of deep shots punishing the Kansas State secondary.

In the offseason, we wrote that the K-State secondary would be easy to beat this season. We weren’t expecting even the Texas backup to feast like he has today.

The Longhorns defense played much more aggressive defense like we wrote they could succeed with this week. The team utilized far more press coverage and was seen sending defensive backs into the backfield to pressure. Those pressures yielded positive results.

On particular blitz sent safety Jerrin Thompson directly into the running back. Kwiatkowski’s calls shut down the Wildcat running game and forced the team to beat them through the air. Through one half, K-State has for the most part not been able to capitalize.

The Longhorns lead 17-7 entering halftime. Here are the highlights from the first half.

Big Noon Kickoff predicts who will win Texas-Kansas State matchup

Much of their predictions centered around how well Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy plays today.

No. 7 Texas is amid an intense Big 12 battle with No. 23 Kansas State. Continue reading “Big Noon Kickoff predicts who will win Texas-Kansas State matchup”

Texas has the depth to overcome its unexpected injuries this week

Texas was built to overcome injuries.

According to a couple of reports, Texas has been bit by the injury bug. A handful of Longhorns could unexpectedly be out for Saturday’s game. Despite the news, the team is built to overcome the losses.

Heading into the season, we discussed the team’s championship depth. Talented players are being developed by the current staff despite our issues with play calling philosophy and decision making. The team can find a way to win.

The downside of frequent substitution is that lesser players take valuable playing time from starters. Fortunately for Texas, the Longhorns’ pattern of giving playing time to backups will mean that those backups are more ready to play in the place of injured starters. Now, its time for those players to step up in the absence of starters.

Make no mistake: Texas will have several key players suit up and play a huge role on Saturday. The unforeseen losses do not leave the cupboard bare. Moreover, several of the backups are capable players, too. The Texas coaching staff will look to feature their strengths against Kansas State on Saturday.

Shift in Philosophy: Texas can embrace defensive battle and win

Kansas State likes to win with physicality. Texas can play that game, too.

Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski was brought to Texas to build a championship defense. He will have an opportunity to show if his year three defense has reached that level on Saturday.

It’s Kwiatkowski’s time to shine. Quite frankly, Texas needs the impressive defensive effort his unit brought in both the Alabama matchups during his tenure. The standard for the Texas defense is what Kwiatkowski has proven capable of thus far, and his team needs a shut down effort now more than ever.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has mentioned complimentary football several times in his three seasons in Austin. He will likely need it on Saturday.

The Longhorns will need to take the points on fourth and short in the red zone. On the rare occasions that Sarkisian and company convert a fourth down within field goal range, the team often finds itself back in another fourth down scenario.

Every point will matter Saturday. Take the field goal and three points.

There’s enough on film for Kwiatkowski to find ways to slow the Kansas State offense. And there’s enough track record, though inconsistent, for Sarkisian to trust his defensive coordinator to put the team in position to win if the offense occasionally only puts up three points.

We are not suggesting that Texas should call plays conservatively outside of fourth downs. The Longhorns should attack downfield in the passing game, but they need to value every point when faced with money downs.

If Texas gets through Saturday unscathed it should be playing for a Big 12 title in Arlington. Complimentary football could be what gets the team over the top in the game.

WATCH: Texas releases hype video ahead of Kansas State matchup

Texas will need its fans to bring the energy on Saturday against Kansas State.

No. 7 Texas is preparing for a massive Big 12 showdown against No. 23 Kansas State on Saturday. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas releases hype video ahead of Kansas State matchup”

Oklahoma great Teddy Lehman says Texas’ best might not beat Kansas State

Teddy Lehman feels confident Kansas State beats Texas.

Teddy Lehman is back to his bold ways again this week. He had some interesting thoughts on the game between the No. 7 Texas Longhorns and the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats.

Lehman shared the following thoughts about the game.

“You know, K-State, if I were them, and I know they’ve got some of this stuff in their package, they’re going to be able to neutralize that defensive line a bit. With the quarterback run game, it’s way easier to gain the edge and work the edges of the defense, and kind of get away from the teeth of what Texas does there at the inside backer and interior defensive line spot.”

His initial contention is fair save for the lack of downfield passing threat the Wildcats have displayed this season. Texas could clamp down on the run and short pass and give Kansas State difficulty. Nevertheless, he continued his thoughts on the matchup.

“I can’t, if we get the best of both, I don’t see how Texas can match up to K-State.”

Lehman’s co-host and former Oklahoma lineman Gabe Ikard pushed back asserting Texas would win at its best because it has the better, more talented football team. Lehman still held firm.

You can’t fault the podcaster for going bold. If you consistently pick against Texas, at some point you’ll be right. Perhaps the Longhorns’ second Kansas opponent will come through for him.

Texas will look to avoid the upset on national television against Kansas State at 11 a.m. CT on Fox.

Score predictions for No. 7 Texas vs. No. 23 Kansas State

A few experts believe Kansas State will pull off the upset this week.

A massive Big 12 battle between No. 7 Texas and No. 23 Kansas State will take place in Austin on Saturday. Continue reading “Score predictions for No. 7 Texas vs. No. 23 Kansas State”

Examining the simple path to success for Texas against K-State

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian must call plays with a purpose Saturday.

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns can beat the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Albeit, the Longhorns have made the simple complicated in past weeks.

Texas has a problem with getting in its own way. It does so with drive killing plays or unnecessary play calls that stall good drives. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is brilliant at scheming up explosive plays, but sometimes his reliance on ingenuity gets the best of him. He fails to find the most obvious solutions.

The path to success for the Texas offense is simple and straightforward: run the ball and do just enough through the air that you can run the ball some more.

If Texas running back Jonathon Brooks runs the ball effectively, you simply cannot take the ball out of his hands. You can’t call a reverse only to keep the other team honest. You keep doing what is working. And if you have to get creative, you get creative with positive-gaining pass plays and with various blocking schemes behind which Brooks can run.

A purposeful play calling day will give the Longhorns the best chance to win on Saturday. If the objective is to win, Texas will give Kansas State a heavy dose of Jonathon Brooks. If he proves effective, the Longhorns will run Brooks at the Wildcats defense ad nauseam.

Brooks and company will look to carry the team to an 8-1 record and a place atop the Big 12 standings on Saturday.

Keys to victory for No. 7 Texas against No. 23 Kansas State

Maalik Murphy has to be much more careful with the football Saturday.

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns are on upset alert nationally ahead of a huge matchup with the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats. The team will need to play sound football to avoid a loss.

There’s reason for upset concern although we see the Longhorns winning. Texas’ six-game winning streak over K-State is in real jeopardy because of how the Wildcats are playing.

Last week, Kansas State shellacked the Houston Cougars 41-0. A week prior Texas struggled to finish the game in a 31-24 victory. We are well aware that matchups vary from week to week.

In fairness to Texas, we’re confident Kansas State loses by a comfortable margin against Alabama in Tuscaloosa rather than accomplishing what Texas did. Nevertheless the Houston result gives us pause.

Let’s look at how Texas can avoid an upset.