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The Texas Longhorns improve to 8-1 as they find a way to beat Kansas State.
The Texas Longhorns managed to clinch a thrilling overtime victory against the Kansas State Wildcats with a final score of 33-30. Continue reading “No. 7 Texas survives overtime thriller against No. 23 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.
Texas will look to play much better than in its 116-103 loss to K-State in Austin.
Conference title ramifications are on the line in Manhattan, Kansas. The Texas Longhorns (7-2) and Kansas State Wildcats (6-3) enter the second half of the Big 12 title race.
A win for Kansas State would put the Wildcats in a tie with Texas for first place. Should the Longhorns emerge victorious, Rodney Terry’s team would distance itself from the field and maintain its spot atop the standings.
K-State suffered its third conference loss Tuesday night against Kansas, 90-78. Jerome Tang’s team became the victim of his own fast pace as the Jayhawks scored at will.
Texas had similar success offensively when they met Saturday’s foe in Austin earlier this year. The Longhorns defense did not fare as well in the 116-103 defeat.
Here’s a look at how the two teams stack up heading into the game.
It’s hard to knit pick a 7-point win over No. 13 Kansas State on the road.
Texas won a nail-biter on Saturday night. It took some luck, as we anticipated.
Before the game, I hinted that luck could be on the way for the Longhorns because of their 3-8 record in one-score games under Steve Sarkisian. Albeit, it wasn’t only luck that won the game.
Texas made its own luck early. The Longhorns scored the game winning touchdown in the first half to lead, 31-10. Sarkisian’s team would not need another score to win.
The Longhorns did allow Kansas State to get back into the game. Undoubtedly much will be made of the Wildcat comeback. Nevertheless, Texas found a way to close it out and secure a road win over No. 13 Kansas State, 34-27.
For perspective, let’s put context on what the Longhorns accomplished in Manhattan, Kansas.
