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The Texas Longhorns and Kansas State Wildcats both feature 6’4″ pass catchers who wear No. 13. So who has the advantage in this game?
The wide receiver matchup for the Texas Longhorns and Kansas State Wildcats features two 6’4″ pass catchers who wear No. 13. Continue reading “Lucky No. 13: The battle at wide receiver for Texas-Kansas State game”
Freshman running backs Bijan Robinson and Deuce Vaughn headline the tale of the tape for Texas-Kansas State on Saturday.
The Texas Longhorns defense will need to be on their toes when they face off against Kansas State. Continue reading “Freshman duo headline Texas Longhorns vs Kansas State RB matchup”
On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns will be led by senior Sam Ehlinger. Kansas State counters with freshman Will Howard.
Saturday’s game between the Texas Longhorns and Kansas State Wildcats will feature quarterbacks on opposite sides of the spectrum. Continue reading “Texas Longhorns vs Kansas State: QB tale of the tape”
The Texas Longhorns passing game has fallen off a bit over the last several weeks but do they have the edge over the Iowa State Cyclones?
We have taken a look at the quarterback and running back tale of the tape, now for the wide receivers. The Longhorns’ top guy is Joshua Moore. The redshirt sophomore came out hot to start the year. Over recent weeks his impact has been lessened but he still leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. For the Iowa State Cyclones, they counter with Xavier Hutchinson.
A huge portion of the passing for the Cyclones is a bit different than the Longhorns. While Texas has more receivers making an impact, Iowa State counters with a trio of tight ends with NFL aspirations. They are led by Charlie Kolar. Texas has Brennan Eagles, Jake Smith, Tarik Black, and Jordan Whittington as their secondary options.
So which team has the edge in receiving?
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| Moore | vs | Hutchinson |
| 6-1 | Ht | 6-3 |
| 169 | Wt | 207 |
| RS-Sophomore | Class | Junior |
| 22 | Rec | 41 |
| 343 | Yards | 518 |
| 15.6 | Average | 12.6 |
| 7 | TDs | 4 |
| 23 | Touches | 41 |
| 342 | Yards | 518 |
| Moore | vs | Hutchinson |
| 3.6 | Rec/Game | 4.3 |
| 47.7 | Yards/Game | 73.7 |
| 13.0 | Yards/Rec | 17.0 |
| 1.0 | TDs/Game | 0.7 |
| Brennan Eagles | vs | Charlie Kolar |
| 6-4 | Ht | 6-6 |
| 229 | Wt | 257 |
| Junior | Class | Junior |
| 19 | Rec | 25 |
| 286 | Yards | 286 |
| 15.1 | Avg | 11.4 |
| 5 | TDs | 4 |
The Texas Longhorns may have more touchdown production from their players, the Cyclones get more consistent production overall. The big key is can the Longhorns get the passing game going against Iowa State? They have averaged just 207.7 yards per game through the air in the last three games. Against West Virginia, they totaled just 184 net yards through the air. The Cyclones allow just 229 per game.
The Longhorns defense is actually the worst in the Big 12 in terms of yards per game. They allow 283.1, which is 0.5 yards per game worse than Texas Tech. If Brock Purdy is as efficient as he was against Kansas State, it could be a long afternoon for the passing defense.
The Texas Longhorns defense will be tested in the run game against Breece Hall. Can this team be the first to slow him down?
The Texas Longhorns defense and Chris Ash are really going to be tested on Friday. With game-planning for the Cyclones, comes getting ready for the top running back in the Big 12 Conference. Breece Hall has been running through every defense that he has come across this season. Iowa State has been one of the more consistent running teams in college football this year.
The Longhorns have been on the other side, outside of Sam Ehlinger’s runs this year Texas hasn’t been consistent enough. With how Tom Herman’s offenses have operated the last three seasons. The team is ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 160.5 rushing yards per game in conference play.
The Iowa State defense allows just 104 yards per game and six total touchdowns. That ranks second in the conference in both. In conference play that number drops to 102 and five. Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson will be tested, awaiting to hear if Keaontay Ingram will be available this week.
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| Robinson | vs | Hall |
| 6-0 | Ht | 6-1 |
| 222 | Wt | 215 |
| Freshman | Class | Sophomore |
| 51 | Att | 180 |
| 294 | Yards | 1,169 |
| 5.8 | YPA | 6.5 |
| 0 | TDs | 15 |
| 60 | Touches | 195 |
| 399 | Yards | 1,257 |
The Longhorns defense is allowing 130.3 yards rushing per game with 10 rushing touchdowns total. Hall has rushed for at least 100 yards and one touchdown in every game this year. In conference play, he has rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown in every game. Hall has scored at least two touchdowns in each of the last three games. Can Texas bottle up Hall and force Brock Purdy to throw the ball?
Against the Longhorns in Ames, Iowa last season, Breece Hall had 25 touches for 103 yards and no scores.
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On Friday the Texas Longhorns will host the Iowa State Cyclones. In this game it puts two of the top QBs in the conference head to head.
It will be a short week for the Iowa State Cyclones, after facing Kansas State now travel to Austin for a Friday kickoff. The Cyclones made quick work of the Wildcats of Kansas State. They built a 35-0 halftime lead to put the game away on the arm of Brock Purdy and the legs of Breece Hall. The quarterback left the game early after they extended the lead to 38-0.
The Cyclones (6-1) set up a massive matchup with the Longhorns (4-2). Given how Iowa State has looked this season, this is shaping up to be a semifinal for the Big 12 Championship game.
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On Friday at 11:00 am CST, two of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12 Conference face-off with Sam Ehlinger and Brock Purdy. When these two have gone head to head, each quarterback has come out on top once. Purdy and the Cyclones defeated the Longhorns last year in Ames, 23-21.
| Ehlinger | vs | Purdy |
| 6-3 | Ht | 6-1 |
| 225 | Wt | 212 |
| Senior | Class | Junior |
| 147 | Comp | 151 |
| 250 | Att | 237 |
| 58.8 | Comp % | 63.7 |
| 1,834 | Yards | 1,713 |
| 7.3 | YPA | 7.2 |
| 22-5 | TD-INT | 13-6 |
| Ehlinger | vs | Purdy |
| 90 | Att | 55 |
| 323 | Yards | 253 |
| 3.6 | YPA | 4.6 |
| 7 | TDs | 3 |
Ehlinger is responsible for 2,157 yards of total offense and 29 total touchdowns. Purdy is responsible for 1,966 yards of total offense and 16 touchdowns. Both are the leaders for their perspective teams.
For the Longhorns to beat the Cyclones, they likely will need a huge game from their quarterback. This offense has struggled over the last three games averaged 12 points less per game than their season average. The Iowa State defense won’t make it easy but never bet against Sam Ehlinger. Which Purdy shows up? The one against Kansas State or the one who threw five interceptions in three games?
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In the final leg of the offensive tale of the tape, we look at the Texas Longhorns and West Virginia Mountaineers WR groups.
The final leg of the offensive tale of the tape series features the wide receivers for the Texas Longhorns-West Virginia Mountaineers matchup. Both teams coming off wins over ranked opponents as they prepare for a must-win game. The WVU duo caught seven passes for 135 yards and one touchdown. The Longhorns duo accounted for four receptions, 70 yards and two touchdowns. One being the game winner.
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This year without question Joshua Moore has been the Longhorns best wide out. Many expected the top guy to be Brennan Eagles or Jake Smith. Moore has been a solid outlet for quarterback Sam Ehlinger but in three games this year he has two receptions or less. He needs a better output against West Virginia than just one reception like Moore put out against Oklahoma State. This defense will test the entire WR group.
The West Virginia wideouts are more of the complimentary role. While yes they do have two receivers with over 300 yards receiving, this team likes to run the football and play defense. Last week Texas was able to limit Chuba Hubbard to just 2.5 yards per carry. Can Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Winston Wright take advantage of PFF’s 80th ranked pass defense in terms of coverage? If they do it could be another long day for Chris Ash’s unit.
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| Joshua Moore | vs | Bryce Ford-Wheaton |
| 6-1 | Ht | 6-3 |
| 169 | Wt | 218 |
| Redshirt Sophomore | Class | Sophomore |
| 22 | Rec | 16 |
| 343 | Yards | 301 |
| 15.6 | Yards/Rec | 18.8 |
| 7 | TDs | 3 |
| 23 | Touches | 16 |
| 342 | Yards | 301 |
| Brennan Eagles | vs | Winston Wright |
| 6-4 | Ht | 5-10 |
| 229 | Wt | 180 |
| Junior | Class | Sophomore |
| 15 | Rec | 32 |
| 243 | Yards | 391 |
| 16.2 | Yards/Rec | 12.2 |
| 4 | TDs | 2 |
| 15 | Touches | 34 |
| 243 | Yards | 395 |
The wide receiver duo of Moore and Eagles gets the slight edge over Ford-Wheaton and Wright. With the lack of a consistent rushing attack the Longhorn have to rely on their passing game to do the bulk of the damage. Also factor in that Jake Smith is starting to come on after dealing with a hamstring injury that has lingered. How will they do against the number one pass defense in the league?
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With no Keaontay Ingram in this game it will be left to Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson for the Texas Longhorns. How do they look vs WVU?
One of the areas that the Texas Longhorns want to be better at is the running game. They have used a running back stable that includes Keaontay Ingram, Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson. The West Virginia Mountaineers with Leddie Brown and Alec Sinkfield. Brown is the primary ball carrier for Neal Brown’s offense.
The Longhorns top running back Ingram will not be available for this game after suffering a high ankle sprain in the game against Oklahoma State. He played a total of three snaps, Robinson has been the starter the last couple of games. Texas head coach Tom Herman stated that Bijan and Roschon will split the load at running back.
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The Mountaineers have the second-leading rusher in the conference with Brown. He averages 115.7 yards and 1.3 TDs per game. He will carry the load and he will be spelled by Alec Sinkfield. They are quite the 1-2 punch for a WVU offense that ranks third in yards rushing per game and rushing touchdowns. The Longhorns will need to slow down this rushing attack the way they did Chuba Hubbard last Saturday.
As mentioned Ingram won’t be available this week so the workload falls on Robinson and Johnson. The team hasn’t released a depth chart for this week but the last two, Bijan has been the starter. Safe to say that likely continues. Roschon will spell him as needed especially in the redzone. He and Ingram have taken most of those snaps this year. With no Ingram, Robinson could see some looks when they get close to the end zone.
| Robinson | vs | Brown |
| 6-0 | Ht | 5-11 |
| 222 | Wt | 210 |
| Freshman | Class | Junior |
| 39 | Carries | 126 |
| 181 | Yards | 694 |
| 4.6 | YPC | 5.5 |
| 0 | TDs | 8 |
| 46 | Touches | 149 |
| 248 | Yards | 860 |
| 0 | TDs | 10 |
| Johnson | vs | Sinkfield |
| 6-2 | Ht | 5-9 |
| 227 | Wt | 193 |
| Sophomore | Class | Junior |
| 42 | Carries | 62 |
| 192 | Yards | 301 |
| 4.6 | YPC | 4.9 |
| 2 | TDs | 3 |
| 44 | Touches | 69 |
| 206 | Yards | 350 |
| 3 | TDs | 3 |
The Mountaineers have the better duo of running backs from a production standpoint in this game. They also have the more experienced backs in this game. Also factor in that Roschon has carried the ball 13 times combined in the last three games. For Texas to win, Bijan and Roschon are going to have to do the heavy lifting while Keaontay recovers.
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Two teams that want to run the football in the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Which back wins in the tale of the tape?
This game features two teams in the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma State Cowboys that believe in running the football. The difference is the execution. The Cowboys feature a two-headed monster in Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown. The Longhorns were expected to roll with the three-back rotation of Keaontay Ingram, Roshon Johnson and Bijan Robinson. Unfortunately for Texas not all three have been available for each game with fumble issues, and injuries to Roschon and Bijan.
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Looking at the projected starters for this one. How do they stack up in the running game and total touches overall.
| Ingram | vs | Hubbard |
| 6-0 | Ht | 6-0 |
| 222 | Wt | 208 |
| Junior | Class | Junior |
| 51 | Carries | 94 |
| 245 | Yards | 478 |
| 4.8 | YPC | 5.1 |
| 0 | TDs | 5 |
| 62 | Touches | 97 |
| 348 | Yards | 492 |
| 1 | TDs | 5 |
| Johnson-Robinson | vs | Brown |
| 59 | Carries | 37 |
| 265 | Yards | 227 |
| 4.5 | YPC | 6.1 |
| 2 | TDs | 1 |
| 66 | Touches | 40 |
| 338 | Yards | 256 |
| 3 | TDs | 1 |
Oklahoma State has the clear advantage when it comes to the run game. Hubbard started off the season slow but he has started heating up for the Cowboys offense. Brown does his job when called upon to relieve Chuba. As a whole the OSU offense ranks 19th in yards per game at 216.3 yards per game. Texas is 42nd with 174.8 yards per game. Ehlinger accounts for 34% of their output.
Overall the edge is to Oklahoma State, the Longhorns and head coach Tom Herman want to run the ball efficiently. That might be the tallest of tasks this week against the Cowboys defense. They give up 127 yards rushing per game. Overall they have the 19th ranked defense in the country.
Those number could be inflated due to playing Kansas and West Virginia. Against the Iowa State Cyclones that defense gave up 185 yards to Breece Hall. He did have one run that went for 70 yards. Outside of that run that still accounts for 6.1 yards per carry.
For Texas to beat Oklahoma State they will need a balanced attack and that starts with the running back stepping up.
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As the kickoff for the Baylor Bears and Texas Longhorns, we examine the battle of the gunslingers as Charlie Brewer and Sam Ehlinger battle.
The bye week is now firmly in the rearview mirror. The Texas Longhorns look to get back on the field Saturday against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. This game features two Austin native quarterbacks going head to head once again. For the Longhorns it puts Austin Westlake’s Sam Ehlinger against Lake Travis’ Charlie Brewer of Baylor. Can the Longhorns ruin Brewer’s final shot at a win in his hometown?
These two quarterbacks have won one game apiece when facing off. Ehlinger didn’t play against them in 2017 so which quarterback will get the edge on Saturday?
| Ehlinger | vs | Brewer |
| 6-3 | Height | 6-1 |
| 225 | Weight | 210 |
| Senior | Class | Senior |
| 40 | Games | 37 |
| 62.9 | Career Comp % | 64.0 |
| 10,081 | Yards | 8,113 |
| 7.7 | YPA | 7.9 |
| 84 | TDs | 55 |
| 26 | INTs | 22 |
Ehlinger is looking to best Brewer once again and get the Texas Longhorns back on track. When looking at the season numbers, there really isn’t a comparison. The Bears have managed to play just two games due to three separate COVID-19 outbreaks. They beat Kansas in their Big 12 Conference opener and fell to West Virginia in overtime.
Brewer ended up leaving the game but would return after having his shoulder examined. With the two weeks off since that game, he should be good to go against a Texas team that is desperate for a win after dropping two-straight games. Ehlinger wants to win to not only stop the snide but help eliminate the outside noise.
There seems to be a fair amount of negativity surrounding this program but winning cures all. For the Longhorns they have to believe they have the better quarterback and hopefully that gives them the edge on Saturday.
