Double Coverage 2016-09-30 by The Daily Texan

GRASPING FOR ANSWERS

PAGE 6

KEYS TO THE GAME

By Sydney Rubin @sydneyrrubin

Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff

Defense needs to come alive On Saturday against Oklahoma State and for the rest of the season, Texas’ defense needs to deliver. Texas is among a handful of teams that has’t recorded an interception yet this season. Two weekends ago against California, head coach Charlie Strong made a crucial decision to punt the ball on fourth down late in the game because he had faith in his defense. But the unit couldn’t stop the Golden Bears in the final minutes. Texas has allowed

its opponent to score at least 47 points in two of its first three games this season. The Longhorns need to take advantage of the bye week and come out with a fired up defensive squad.

Protect the line

With the absence of suspended senior offensive linemen Kent Perkins, the unit will have a large gap to fill against a monstrous Oklahoma State defensive line. When Saturday morning rolls around in Stillwater, one of the Longhorns’ biggest

Double Coverage Editor................Daniel Clay Design Editor..............................Lillian Michel Photo Editor............................Daulton Venglar Copy Editor.................................Victoria Recer Cover photo:..............................Daulton Venglar Writers Noah Brooks Claire Cruz Trenton Daeschner Steve Helwick Tyler Horka

Shane Lewis Sydney Rubin Michael Shapiro Ezra Siegel

Friday, September 30, 2016

Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff

challenges will be keeping up with the Cowboys’ strong defensive line. The Cowboys’ defense ranks 15th nationally in tackles for loss, producing nearly nine negative plays per game. After last year’s Big 12 CoDefensive Player of the Year, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, made his way to the NFL, a dropoff of production on the defensive line was expected for the Cowboys — but that never happened. Ogbah’s replacements on the line, redshirt sophomore Cole Walterscheid and redshirt sophomore Jar-

rell Owens, have been impressive for the Cowboys through four games, with each recording two sacks and contributing to the team’s 35 total tackles for loss. Oklahoma State boasts an efficient defensive line that holds its opponents to an average of 3.59 yards per carry. The Longhorns will look to their two colossal backs, junior D’Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren III, to break past the defensive line, but Strong’s offensive line needs to stand strong and allow the offense to play comfortably.

The consensus back in August was that the Longhorns would go as far as their quarterback, whoever that was, would take them. In the first game of the season Charlie Strong trotted out true freshman Shane Buechele who lit up the Irish defense. Expectations soared on the 40-acres. But against California, Buechele’s strong showing wasn’t enough. The Longhorns racked up 43 points and 568 yards of total offense, but looked helpless on defense and lost the shootout 5043. The loss left the Longhorns with a lot of questions. If Texas wants to make waves in conference play it will have to find a way to answer the Big 12 air raid attacks. More turnovers, a clock-eating run game and a punter who can flip field position might be the solution. But if the Longhorns can’t find answers soon, conference play could be a difficult time.

Courtesy of Oklahoma State Athletics

Contain Mason Rudolph

Containing the opposing quarterback has been a difficult task for the Longhorns and it won’t get any easier this week. Junior quarterback Mason Rudolph, one of the premier passers in the nation, has launched six touchdowns and two interceptions this season while averaging 324 aerial yards per game. Oklahoma State’s offensive line has allowed more sacks than any other team in the Big 12, so Texas has to take advantage and make

Rudolph uncomfortable. The Longhorns have already been smoked by two elite quarterbacks in Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer and Cal’s Davis Webb, with Rudolph and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield next on the slate. Oklahoma State’s junior receiver James Washington is the No. 1 receiver in the Big 12 through four weeks of play, accounting for 25 catches, 488 yards and three touchdowns. The Rudolph-to-Washington connection will present a huge test for Texas’ secondary.

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Friday, September 30, 2016

WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP? The entire defense

After the aerial assault California delivered on the Texas defense two weeks ago that left Longhorn defensive backs dazed and confused, head coach Charlie Strong promised things would get fixed moving forward. California quarterback Davis Webb and his top receiving target Chad Hansen lit up the Longhorns. Missed coverages, blown assignments and poor tackling doomed Texas in a 50-43 loss. Strong vowed that won’t happen again. And with last week’s bye, Strong and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford have had ample time to get things fixed. But the test this Texas defense faces on Saturday in Stillwater is no walk in the park by any means. Like California, Oklahoma State loves to throw the ball. How much the defense, and particularly the secondary, has improved in the last two weeks will be evident early on. The Cowboys have a talented quarterback in junior Mason Rudolph and plenty of receiving threats, including the nation’s fifth-leading receiver in junior James Washington. It will take a collective effort from the defense

By Trenton Daeshner @TrentDaeschner

Shane Buechele turned in a 196-yard, one-touchdown performance in a loss against California. The Longhorns may need more production from Buechele against potent Big 12 offense.

if the Longhorns hope to not fall into mediocrity. Sophomore end Breckyn Hager and freshman end Malcolm Roach have both been disruptors, and they’ll need to help get a pass rush going early against a vulnerable Oklahoma State offensive line that gives up a lot of sacks. As for the secondary, it will have its work cut out for itself again. If the Longhorns can at the very least just slow down Rudolph and Washington, then they will have a good chance of winning. But that in and of itself is a tall order for a unit that is still licking its wounds from two weeks ago.

Offensive line

The Longhorns will be without senior right guard Kent Perkins, who was suspended for one game following a DWI arrest on Sept. 23. The loss of Perkins leaves a big hole on the right side of the offensive line. Whoever Strong decides to start in place of Perkins will have big shoes to fill against a dangerous Oklahoma State defensive line that anchors the third-ranked Big 12 rushing defense. The Longhorns’ offensive line will need its strongest performance yet on Saturday.

Aussie punter settling down in second season with Texas By Michael Shapiro @mshap2

It would make sense for Michael Dickson to forget the last time he faced Oklahoma State. Tied at 27-27 late in the fourth quarter of Texas’ matchup with the Cowboys, the sophomore punter lined up to boot the ball away from his own 24-yard line. But instead of sending a punt deep into Oklahoma State territory, disaster struck Dickson. He bobbled the snap, and was greeted by two Cowboy defenders when he regained the ball. Dickson was able to get a punt away, but the net result was a six-yard loss. Oklahoma State regained possession at the Longhorns’ 18-yard and won the game 30-27 with a late field goal. “I try not to think about it, but I don’t forget about it,” Dickson said. “I get reminded every now and again. It’s disappointing that that happened, but I feel like it’s going to help me in the long run. It makes me not take anything for granted.” The botched punt provided Longhorn fans with a lasting image of Dickson, but

it has now become little more than a caricature. The Sydney, Australia native has become one of Texas’ most valued assets in 2016, providing the Longhorns with a much-needed boost on special teams. Dickson is ranked third in the nation in punting average through three games at 50.4 yards per kick. He has proved to be adept at flipping the field when Texas is pinned in its own territory, easing the job for the Longhorn defense. “If [Dickson] gets into a groove, it’s no telling how far he can kick the ball,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “It’s just been fun to watch his development over these two years… and he’s only getting better. But he can do a lot of things, and he can place the ball wherever we need it placed.” Punting never seemed like an option for Dickson growing up. He said that the idea was “a bit of joke” going through school,

DICKSON page 11

Daulton Venglar Daily Texan Staff

Shane Buechele

Buechele faced his first road test two weeks ago against California. The true freshman took a big hit in the first quarter and briefly left the game. But Buechele returned and finished the game with 196 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. Despite some mistakes, Buechele managed the offense well and

continued to prove why he’s the right man to lead Texas behind center. This week, Oklahoma State poses a stout defensive front. If the Cowboys have success early containing Texas’ run game, then Buechele will have to be able to throw the ball effectively and he’s proven through three games that he can do that at a high level.

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4-Opinion

Friday, September 30, 2016

MATCHUPS By Trenton Daeschner @TrentDaeschner

Quarterback Advantage: Tie

Running Back Advantage: Texas

Wide Receiver Advantage: Oklahoma State

Offensive Line Advantage: Texas

Defensive Line Advantage: Oklahoma State

Linebacker Advantage: Tie

Defensive Back Advantage: Texas

Special Teams Advantage: Texas

Freshman Shane Buechele got his first road test against California and played decently. With an extra week to prepare, Buechele should be ready to continue his strong start in Stillwater. Junior Mason Rudolph is talented, but he has struggled as of late. Rudolph failed to throw a touchdown pass last week against Baylor, and he’s completing under 60 percent of his passes the last three games.

The Cowboys have one of the most talented defensive fronts in the conference. Sophomore ends Jarrell Owens and Cole Walterscheid are dangerous pass rushers. Texas gave up only 111 rushing yards to California, but it never generated much of a pass rush. Sophomore end Breckyn Hager and freshman end Malcolm Roach have become impactful players.

Junior D’Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren III each had a field day against California, combining to rush for 276 yards. Oklahoma State has struggled at times to run the ball, ranking eighth in the Big 12 in rushing offense compared to Texas’ second overall ranking. Freshman Justice Hill and senior Rennie Childs lead the way on the ground.

Oklahoma State is led by seniors Jordan Burton and Devante Averette. Each rank inside the top 10 in the Big 12 in tackles. Sophomores Malik Jefferson and Anthony Wheeler have also been tackling machines for the Longhorns. Wheeler currently ranks eighth in the Big 12 in tackles.

Oklahoma State’s receiving corps features lots of depth and is led by one of the best wideouts in the nation in junior James Washington. Washington is tied for fifth in the country in receiving yards. Texas continues to showcase its talent week in and week out at wide receiver. Sophomore John Burt and senior Jacorey Warrick have been consistent threats.

As bad as the secondary was against California, the Longhorns are still only fifth in the Big 12 in passing defense. Texas has capable defensive backs, but they need to start playing a lot better. Oklahoma State is ninth in the Big 12 in passing defense. Junior cornerback Ramon Richards already has two interceptions on the season.

The Longhorns will be without senior right guard Kent Perkins, who was suspended one game after being arrested for DWI. Texas still has a viable line without Perkins, but his absence leaves big shoes to fill. Oklahoma State has given up 14 sacks through four games and has often struggled to run block. The unit is still a work in progress and faces a fair test from Texas’ defensive line this week.

Freshman safety Brandon Jones continues to make a name for himself after blocking another punt against California. Sophomore punter Michael Dickson leads the Big 12 in punt average. Like Texas, Oklahoma State has not produced much in its return game. The Cowboys also have a good punter in sophomore Zach Sinor, who ranks third in the Big 12 in punt average.

Friday, September 30, 2016

GAMES TO WATCH

Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford has been a key fixture on Charlie Strong’s staff since 2014 but has come under heat after the defense struggled against California and Notre Dame.

By Steve Helwick @naqwerty3

No. 7 Stanford vs. No. 10 Washington Friday – 8 p.m. – ESPN

Joshua Guerra Daily Texan Staff

STOCK UP STOCK DOWN

By Noah Brooks @NTBrooks1011

Stock Up: D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III

The running back duo of junior D’Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren III provided a great deal of the offensive production for the Longhorns against Cal, rushing for a combined total of 276 yards and scoring two touchdowns each. The Longhorns seemed to have figured out the dual running back gameplan, and Foreman’s and Warren’s success shows it. Their bruising style of play, combined with the short-yardage rushing efforts of senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, should help elevate Texas’ offense and relieve pressure on freshman quarterback Shane Buechele as the team heads into Big 12 competition.

Stock Down: Secondary

It was no secret that Cal possessed one of the top passing offenses in the country and that the Golden Bears would rely on the air to score, but Texas’ secondary seemed ill-prepared all throughout the game. The Longhorns gave up 396 passing yards and four touchdowns from Cal quarterback Davis Webb, who succeeded in making several long passes to his receivers down the field. Texas’ secondary is especially worrying considering that Cal’s passing game is very similar to several Big 12 teams, including Texas Tech, TCU and Oklahoma State, all of whom are ranked at the top in passing yards in the FBS.

Stock Up: Armanti Foreman and Jacorey Warrick

Junior wide receiver Armanti Foreman had a great game against Cal. He led Texas’ receivers in receiving yards and had his most receptions, four, since last year’s game against Cal. In addition to having 72 yards, Foreman hauled in a 34-yard catch. Senior wide receiver Jacorey Warrick did his part as well, catching Texas’ lone passing touchdown of the night and putting up 64 receiving yards. Both Foreman and Warrick have seen an increase in catches from years past, and while Foreman is on pace to have his best season, Warrick has already gained more yards this year than he had through his previous three campaigns on campus.

Stock Down: Vance Bedford

Texas’ defensive coordinator has received a lot of criticism after the Cal game, some rightly so. In addition to allowing close to 400 yards through the air, the Longhorns also let Cal rush for 111 yards and three touchdowns. It was also the second time this season that Texas allowed more than 500 total offensive yards. The defensive woes are nothing new, as the Longhorns ranked 111 out of 127 in rush defense and 106 in total defense last year. Bedford, with the help of head coach Charlie Strong, needs to alter some schemes and especially focus on his secondary stopping the pass and creating turnovers to keep himself off the hot seat.

The first of three top-10 matchups commences Friday night, when Stanford travels to Seattle for their first ranked test this season. Washington is living up to preseason hype and searching for its first 5-0 start since 1992. The Huskies have soared in the rankings as a result of tenacious defense, only allowing 14.5 points per game. Stanford, likewise, only yields 12 points per game, suggesting viewers are in for a defensive struggle. But the Cardinal are

equipped with the alwayselectrifying Christian McCaffrey at halfback. The junior Heisman candidate has rushed for over 120 yards in all three contests this season, but was held scoreless last week at UCLA. Washington’s defensive key to earning a statement win is to counter McCaffrey, responsible for over 50 percent of Stanford’s touches.

No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 25 Georgia Saturday – 2:30 p.m. – CBS

Down 21-3 last week, it seemed Tennessee’s 11-game losing streak to

Florida would continue for another year. But Tennessee convincingly defeated the Gators 38-28 to jump to a 4-0 record and the SEC East lead. The undefeated Volunteers established themselves as a second-half team this season, out-scoring opponents 87-24 in third and fourth quarters. Georgia remains in the polls after a dreadful 4514 loss to Ole Miss in week four. Defensive inefficiency and a lack of execution through the air embedded the Bulldogs into an inescapable 45-0 hole.

GAMES page 8

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Friday, Septem

Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff

Foreman ready to shine in Longhorn offense Junior running back D’Onta Foreman took a handoff in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns’ matchup against California in week three. The 6-foot-1 and 249-pound back wiggled through a gap and then exploded up the middle for a 47-yard touchdown to give Texas a 39-35 lead. The play marked just another highlight-reel run for Foreman, who specialized in big plays with runs of 93, 81 and 65 yards last season. Still, despite his big start to the season — Foreman has rushed for 288 yards in just two appearances — he feels he’s not getting the respect he’s owed. “I still feel like to this day I don’t get the credit I want or some people say I deserve,” Foreman said. “I might as well get a tattoo with a chip on my shoulder.” And while Foreman struggles to garner national attention — NFLDraftScout.com ranks him the No. 74 running back for the class of 2018 — the Longhorns can’t overlook their star running back. Foreman has a special knack for churning out yards. The back outplayed starting running back Johnathan Gray last season, averaging 7.2 yards per carry compared to Gray’s four yards per

By Ezra Siegel

Daily Texan Columnist @SiegelEzra

attempt. Now in the starter role, he’s picked up where he left off with 6.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns. Texas’ schedule is set to heat up. The team heads to Stillwater, Oklahoma, this weekend to play Oklahoma State, while matchups against Oklahoma and Baylor loom later in October. Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele has done an admirable job leading the Longhorns offense through three weeks. But growing pains might be ahead for the freshman as teams accumulate more game tape on him and Texas plays tougher opponents. “By no means do we have a veteran quarterback,” offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said. But instead of handing the ball off on a critical drive in the waning minutes against California, head coach Charlie Strong went a different route. Texas called three pass plays down 50–43 with 3:34 to play, netting zero yards before punting back to California, who ran out the rest of the clock. Foreman, who racked up 157 yards on 7.5 yards per carry on the game, was left to watch. “The coaches knew what they were doing and they had a plan,”

senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes. The coaches can’t forget about Foreman going forward. The back has been Texas’ most productive player over the past two seasons. And although Texas has a variety of playmakers, he needs to get the ball — especially in crucial situations. “Like I always say, it starts with the running backs,” Foreman said. “That’s just me saying that we set the tempo. That’s my position so I feel that way. Just making sure everyone’s on the right pace, make sure we don’t have those same mistakes that we had in our previous game. I feel like that’s the biggest thing right now.” Foreman currently ranks No. 5 all-time among Texas rushers in efficiency with 6.8 yards per carry. Playing for one of the nation’s most well-watched programs, he’s bound to steal the national spotlight if keeps up his current pace. But for now, the Longhorns — who know his potential better than anyone — need to feed him like he’s the best in the business. “I don’t feel like people look at me like I’m one of the best,” Foreman said. “I’ll never be complacent. I always feel like I got something to prove and I’ll play like that every game.”

mber 30, 2016

Rough outings prompt questions for defense By Tyler Horka @TexasTy95

Senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes’ errant pass drifted high and off the fingertips of freshman receiver Collin Johnson. Tipped, picked — interception. Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele put too much air under his pass to sophomore receiver John Burt down the sideline. California’s junior safety Luke Rubenzer saw it the whole way. Ground covered, picked — interception. Both turnovers led to Golden Bears touchdowns and ultimately swung the game in California’s favor. Texas forced zero turnovers in the game — a problem the Longhorns have faced in all three of their matchups this season. “When you look across this country, if you’re not getting takeaways, which we talked about we’re not getting right now, it’s tough,” defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said. “We need to find a way to up the amp, whether it’s interceptions, fumbles — whatever it may be.” Texas sits at No. 127 — dead last in the FBS — in turnovers forced. The lone takeaway came as a forced fumble against UTEP in week two.

Senior cornerback Sheroid Evans almost captured the Longhorns’ first interception of the season against California, but the sixth-year defensive back ran out of real estate. “I didn’t get that interception,” Evans said. “My foot was out of bounds, man. [The refs] could have given it to me. But I’ll get another one. I’ll make it count.” For a school that’s known by many as “DBU,” or “defensive back university,” Strong has not seen much out of his secondary. “Defensively, we’ve got to get better,” Strong said. “We can’t get the ball thrown over our head in the secondary. We’ve got to come up with plays. We’ve got to come up with turnovers. We need to make plays on defense.” Bedford, who coached with Strong at Florida and Louisville before coming to Austin with the Longhorns’ head coach in 2014, concurs with Strong in saying that the No. 1 thing the Texas defense needs to work on is interceptions. “We play a lot of zone. And when you play zone, that’s where your interceptions come from,” Bedford said. “We need to do a better job of watching the ball leave the quarterback’s hand and breaking on

the football. Those are the things we continue to work on.” The Texas defense will have plenty of opportunities to see the ball leave Oklahoma State junior quarterback Mason Rudolph’s hand Saturday. Rudolph ranks No. 12 nationally in pass attempts per game, throwing the rock an average of 39.8 times per matchup. He’s done a lot with those passes. He sits at No. 15 in the nation with 324 passing yards per game. And through all of those attempts, he’s only thrown two interceptions. The Cowboys also boast the No. 6 receiver in the nation in receiving yards per game — junior James Washington averages 122 per contest. “He’s a running back playing wide receiver,” Bedford said. “He’s big, he’s physical, he’s strong, [he gets] yards after the catch. You have to worry about him. I’ve talked to different teams that played him and a couple of teams made a mistake and just played zero coverage against the guy and he was going to town on them.” If Bedford’s defense fails to intercept Rudolph or end Oklahoma State drives early with forced fumbles, Washington and the rest of the Cowboys have the potential to go to town on the Texas defense the same way Cal did two weeks ago.

Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff

GAMES

continues from page 5 In order to contend for the SEC East, junior running back Nick Chubb must return to Heismanesque form, or the Bulldogs could find themselves in another blowout.

No. 8 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Michigan Saturday – 2:30 p.m. – ABC

After a narrow six-point victory over Georgia State, Wisconsin reversed their image by thrashing a potent Michigan State team 30-6 on the road. Freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook assumed the starting role for the first time to earn Wisconsin’s second top-10 victory of the season. The Badgers can increase that number to three after traveling to the Big House to battle the Wolverines. Michigan has been dominant this season, hoisting an average point-differential of plus-38.25, but Wisconsin will be the highest-caliber

opponent Jim Harbaugh’s squad has faced. Michigan features junior outside linebacker Jabrill Peppers, who may be spotted throughout the day on both sides of the ball and special teams.

No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 5 Clemson Saturday – 7 p.m. – ABC

Louisville began the season ranked but quickly evolved into playoff contenders following a 63-20 demolition of an esteemed Florida State team. The Cardinals next test occurs on the road, primetime in Death Valley. Louisville, the number one scoring offense — 63.5 points per game — challenges Florida State, the 2015 ACC champion for conference superiority. Louisville boasts Lamar Jackson, while Clemson boasts Deshaun Watson. This dual-threat quarterback matchup serves as one of the greatest of the season, but only one will continue to anchor an undefeated team after Saturday night.

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Friday, September 30, 2016

Senior Childs brings balance to Cowboys’ pass-heavy offense By Claire Cruz @claireecruz5

Oklahoma State’s running attack hasn’t put up big numbers over the past few seasons. In 2015, the Cowboys’ rushing offense was better than only Kansas in the Big 12 Conference and ranked No. 113 nationally after garnering just 126.8 yards per game. But senior running back Rennie Childs is working hard to help change the perception of Oklahoma State’s ground game. “I’m just a guy who loves the game and plays hard on every touch,” Childs said. “I’m always focused and try to make the most of every situation and take advantage of every carry.” The Houston native has been productive in the young season. Childs scored four touchdowns and racked up 101 yards on 10 carries in Oklahoma State’s win over Pittsburgh and added two more scores in last week’s loss to Baylor. His six touchdowns this season match his career total through his first three years with the Cowboys. Childs is a force when he gets the ball in his hands due to his strength and speed. He’s shown flashes of his potential, and his veteran experience mixed with the desire for a special senior year could spark a breakout season. “I’m more mature, my confidence has built from playing more and I’m more comfortable in knowing what to do,” Childs said. “I want to take advantage of every game, because after every one, I’m never going to play that team again. I have to go hard every time.” Childs was a standout at Cypress Ridge High School under head coach Gary Thiebaud. He rushed for 1,945 yards and 19 touchdowns his senior season and earned First Team All-District 17-5A and All-Greater Houston Second-Team honors from the Houston Chronicle. As a three-star recruit Childs received several scholarship offers, including some from schools close to home. But he fell in love with the people and facilities at Oklahoma State and knew his style of play would transition well

I’m just a guy who loves the game and plays hard on every touch. into the offensive system. “Rennie was an under the radar guy, his recruitment didn’t really heat up until pretty late and that surprised me,” Thiebaud said. “Oklahoma State showed interest early and by the time other schools came around he was pretty much already decided. He stuck with the guys who wanted him from the start.” Thiebaud called Childs a weapon with a good skillset that can really make an impact when given an opportunity. Since Oklahoma State utilizes a running back-by-committee

Courtesy of Oklahoma State Athletics

Senior running back Rennie Childs has carved out a role for himself as a running back in the Cowboys’ air raid offense.

approach, Childs shares touches with several athletes and doesn’t always get those opportunities. But he chooses to make the best of the carries he does get instead of dwelling on wanting more. Last season, Childs rushed for 54 yards on a careerhigh 21 carries to help Oklahoma State beat Texas. He said it was a good team win and hopes for similar results on Saturday. “That was great… we really rallied as a team and came out with a good win,” Childs said. “We’re going to go out like our head’s on fire and play our best and just play the way we know how to play.” Being far from home hasn’t stopped Childs’ family and friends from supporting him. He said his family attends every game in Texas and makes the trip to Boone Pickens Stadium often. Thiebaud called it special to see his former star find success at the collegiate level, even if it is with an out-of-state team. “I love to see Texas win, just maybe not this one,” Thiebaud chuckled. “It’s tremendous to watch Rennie play and that he’s going to graduate this spring. That’s the goal– to get kids to college whether they play or not and get that degree. He’s special.”

Friday, September 30, 2016

WINS IF / LOSES IF By Shane Lewis @theREALsplewis

Texas Wins If

Oklahoma State has been gashed defensively this year. The team is coming off of a performance where they were dismantled by Baylor senior quarterback Seth Russell, who threw for 387 yards Michigan, they also and four touchdowns. In the Cowboys other loss against Central surrendered similar numbers to the opposing quarterback, giving up 368 passing yards and four touchdowns. Thus, the formula seems clear for the Longhorns to pull out a win in Stillwater: take advantage of the Cowboy’s porous passing defense. Texas certainly has the talent to do this. Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele has been impressive this season, highlighted by his shredding of the Notre Dame secondary in week one. A similar performance would go a long way in defeating the Cowboys. Buechele is coming off of his worst outing of the season, in which he threw for less than 200 yards and completed only 57.6 percent of his passes. Texas will also need more production from their receiving corps if they want to be successful. In the loss to California, sophomore receiver Jerrod Heard failed to back up his two touchdown performance against UTEP, catching only two balls for ten yards. The team’s leading receiver—sophomore John Burt—also struggled, as he was held to only 36 receiving yards. The Oklahoma State defense should provide plenty of opportunities for Buechele and his receivers to get back on the right track. If the passing game is able to capitalize, then the Longhorns will be leaving Stillwater with their third win of the season.

Texas Loses If

The Longhorns suffered their first loss of the season to California because they were unable to stop the Golden Bears’ vaunted passing attack. This weekend in Stillwater, Texas will be facing another passing oriented team. Through four games, Oklahoma State ranks 10th in the country in passing yards per game. If the Longhorns do not show improvements this week in the secondary and are unable to slow down the Cowboys’ passing game, then they will suffer their second loss of the season. The Cowboys junior quarterback Mason Rudolph hasn’t put numbers as profound as California’s Davis Webb, but he has nonetheless been impressive through four weeks of football. He’s completing more than 60 percent of his passes, and has thrown six touchdowns to only two interceptions. Two weeks ago against Pittsburgh, he put forth a dominating performance, amassing 540 yards through the air. The Longhorns were gashed by Webb and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer. They have shown an inability to stop the big play through the air. Kizer threw for five touchdowns against the Longhorn’s defense, and Webb threw for four. Texas cannot expect to come out victorious against Oklahoma State if they allow Rudolph to have the same kind of success.

Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS By Shane Lewis @theREALsplewis

Baylor (4-0)

The Baylor defense stepped up and forced four turnovers against Oklahoma State, helping the Bears pull out a 35-24 victory. Senior quarterback Seth Russell had another impressive outing, throwing for four touchdowns and 387 yards. With upcoming games against Iowa State and Kansas, the Bears have a great chance to get through the first half of their schedule undefeated.

West Virginia (3-0)

For the second straight season, the Mountaineers will go into Big 12 play with an undefeated record.

The team was almost upended by BYU on Saturday, but a clutch interception in the closing minutes by senior cornerback Maurice Fleming helped preserve a 35-32 victory.

Texas (2-1)

The Longhorns are coming off of a bye after dropping a 50-43 shootout at California. The team travels to Stillwater this weekend to take on Oklahoma State.

TCU (3-1)

The Horned Frogs put forth their most complete effort of the season, stifling SMU in a 33-3 win. Junior quarterback

Kenny Hill had another 400 yard game, and has already amassed more than 1,500 passing yards. The defense has shown signs of improvement, a trend that bodes well for a team that has had its share of defensive struggles.

Oklahoma (1-2)

With two losses during nonconference play, the Sooners were all but eliminated from playoff contention. Oklahoma still has the talent to compete for a second consecutive Big 12 championship, and will look to start conference play on the right track when they face TCU this weekend.

Oklahoma State (2-2)

The Cowboys were unable to overcome costly mistakes against Baylor on Saturday and suffered their second loss of the season. The team amassed nearly 500 yards of total offense but turned the ball over four times, including a fumble on Baylor’s one yard line. The Cowboys could easily be 4-0 right now, and will still be major players in the conference.

Kansas State (2-1)

Lightning was the only thing that could stop the Wildcats on Saturday. Kansas State beat Missouri State 35-0 in a game that was

cancelled at halftime due to lightning flashes and heavy rain. Junior quarterback Jesse Ertz was nearly flawless, throwing for 94 yards on seven of eight passing, while adding 85 yards on the ground.

Texas Tech (2-1)

The Red Raiders continue to put points on the board with ease. Texas Tech toppled Louisiana Tech 59-45, and junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes recorded his third consecutive game with over 450 yards and four touchdowns. The defense however, continued to struggle, surrendering almost 600 total yards.

Iowa State (1-3)

The Cyclones notched their first win of the season this past weekend, beating San Jose State 44-10. Iowa State might not record another win for awhile, as their upcoming schedule includes a home game against Baylor and away contests at Oklahoma State and Texas.

Kansas (1-2)

The Jayhawks had a bye this past week and will travel to Texas Tech this weekend. After a win against Rhode Island to open their season, the Jayhawks have been outscored 80-28 and have turned the ball over nine times.

4-Opinion

Friday, September 30, 2016

NOAH BROOKS

DANIEL CLAY

CLAIRE CRUZ

TRENTON DAESCHNER

STEVE HELWICK

TYLER HORKA

SHANE LEWIS

SYDNEY RUBIN

Overall Record

17-13

16-14

17-13

21-9

20-10

17-13

15-15

17-13

15-15

19-11

Last Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Record

6-4

5-5

7-3

6-4

7-3

5-5

7-3

5-5

7-3

No. 22 Texas vs. Oklahoma State

Texas 33-32

Okla. State 42-35

Texas 41-38

Texas 34-31

Okla. State 56-17

Texas 38-37

Texas 35-24

Texas 28-14

Texas 34-30

Texas 34-31

No. 7 Stanford vs. No. 10 Washington

Stanford

Washington

Stanford

Washington

Stanford

North Carolina vs. No. 12 Florida State

Florida State

No. 8 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Michigan

Michigan

Wisconsin

Michigan

No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 25 Georgia

Tennessee

Georgia

Tennessee

Georgia

Tennessee

Georgia

Oklahoma vs. No. 21 TCU

Oklahoma

No. 18 Utah vs. California

California

Utah

California

Utah

California

Utah

California

No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 5 Clemson

Louisville

Missouri vs. LSU

LSU

Missouri

LSU

Missouri

LSU

Kansas State vs. West Virginia

West Virginia

MICHAEL SHAPIRO

EZRA SIEGEL

Friday, September 30, 2016

PLAYERS TO WATCH Justice Hill Running back Hill burst onto the scene for the Cowboys during their week four loss to No. 13 Baylor. The freshman served as a bright spot in the defeat, accruing a career high 122 yards on 20 attempts. Hill’s breakout performance may suggest his production will increase, but the explosive tailback will continue splitting carries with senior Rennie Childs. The primary concern regarding the freshman’s play is his ability to secure the football. Oklahoma State’s four-turnover performance, including two of Hill’s fumbles, plagued them in the 35-24 loss in the conference opener. If ball security is remedied, Hill could serve as the team’s feature back for the foreseeable future.

James Washington Wide receiver Nine receptions, 296 yards, two touchdowns. Those serve as decent statistics for any wide receiver through the first four weeks of the season, but Washington posted the incredible statline in one game against Pittsburgh. His single-game yardage mark of 296 serves as college football’s best since 2013. The junior deep-threat wideout ranks fifth in the nation with 488 yards on the season and often connects with quarterback Mason Rudolph far from the line of scrimmage. Washington averaged 20.5 yards per catch in 2015 and averages 19.5 in 2016. Facing a Texas defense that recently allowed 196 yards to California’s Chad Hansen, Washington could benefit from secondary lapses if the Longhorns fail to issue adjustments.

By Steve Helwick @naqwerty3

Chad Whitener Middle linebacker After the departure of NFL second-round pick Emmanuel Ogbah, the Cowboys required a new anchor for the defense. Whitener has stepped up in 2016, recording 22 tackles in four contests from the middle linebacker position. The 2015 First Team Big 12 Honorable Mention escalated his defense following the Texas game last year, recording a career-high 19 tackles versus Baylor. To follow-up his stellar performance to finish last season, the transfer from California awaits another breakout game as Big 12 play enters full swing.

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DICKSON continues from page 3 until he realized his talent for the position. Dickson’s first foray into the realm of punting came at Prokick Australia, an organization designed to train Australian punters for collegefootball success. Dickson shined in his time with Prokick, and was quickly sought after by Strong. By the time fall practice rolled around in 2015, Dickson was ready to be the Longhorns’ starter. “We needed a punter,” Strong said in August 2015. “We saw him on tape and once we get out on the field we’ll have a chance to see what he’s all about.” The transition hasn’t been always been smooth

for Dickson. In his first practice of 2015, Dickson did something never before seen at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium — he kicked the ball out of the stadium. “I was embarrassed in front of all my new teammates,” Dickson said. “It was pretty obvious by my facial expression afterward that it wasn’t intentional.” But three games into his sophomore season, it doesn’t look as though Dickson will be kicking any more balls onto San Jacinto Street. He will keep the football in the field of play, booming it into opponent territory. It hasn’t been an easy transition for

Ramon Richards Cornerback Injuries provided the opportunity for Richards to enter the field during his first two years in Stillwater, but the junior cornerback has cemented his place as the team’s top shutdown corner. In addition to setting a careerbest eight tackles in a game this season, Richards ranks tops on the team with two interceptions. He picked off quarterbacks of the caliber of Central Michigan’s Cooper Rush and Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman, and faces a true freshman in Shane Buechele at Boone Pickens Stadium. Buechele has only been intercepted twice this season, but Richards is renowned for causing turnovers at the most opportune times. His 59-yard pick six sealed a victory over Texas Tech last season and his interception with 15 ticks remaining ultimately concluded the Pittsburgh game.

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Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff

Michael Dickson has gone from shanking balls out of the stadium to becoming one of the best punters in the nation.

the Aussie, but the jitters are gone. Now, Dickson is focusing on improving each game, and giving Texas the best chance to win. “I was thinking too much

about technique last year and trying to think about what I meant to do,” Dickson said. “Now I’m just really focusing on getting the muscle memory in and letting my body do what it has to do.

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