DC 2018-09-28 by The Daily Texan

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Double Coverage VOL. 13 ISSUE 5 | SEP 28, 2018

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

texan

staff picks

Alex Briseño

Ross Burkhart

Kirsten Handler

Steve Helwick

Robert Larkin

Wills Layton

Kihwan Lee

Keshav Prathivadi

Donnavan Smoot

CJ Vogel

LAST W E E K’S R E C O R D

6-4

7-3

8-2

6-4

7–3

7-3

8-2

No. 18 Texas at Kansas State

Texas

Stanford

No. 7 Stanford at No. 8 Notre Dame

Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame

No. 4 Ohio State at No. 9 Penn State

Ohio State

No. 19 Oregon at No. 24 California

Oregon

No. 12 West Virginia at No. 25 Texas Tech

West Virginia

Texas Tech

South Carolina at No. 17 Kentucky

Kentucky

South Carolina

Kentucky

Florida at No. 23 Mississippi State

Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi State State State

Ohio State Penn State

Florida

Mississippi Mississippi State State

No. 20 BYU at No. 11 Washington

BYU

Arkansas at Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Iowa State at TCU

TCU

OV E R AL L R E C O R D

28-12

24-16

27-13

29-11

27-13

PRESENTS

DOUBLE COVERAGE Vol. 13, Issue 5 Friday, Sept. 28, 2018

Washington Washington Washington

Design Editor...................................Kendall Jordan Photo Editor.......................................Angela Wang Copy Editor....................................Kirsten Handler Cover Photo.......................................Elias Huerta Writers Robert Larkin Alex Briseño Wills Layton Steve Helwick

Ross Burkhart Keshav Prathivadi Donnavan Smoot

Ohio State Ohio State

Oregon

Texas Tech Texas Tech

Ohio State

Oregon

West Virginia

South Carolina

Kentucky

Florida

Mississippi State

Florida

Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington

BYU

Texas A&M Texas A&M Texas A&M

Double Coverage Editors Alex Briseño & Ross Burkhart

Ohio State

Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame

Texas A&M Texas A&M Texas A&M

Texas A&M

TCU

26-14

25-15

26-14

28-12

26-15

Editor’s Note Texas is fresh off a three-game win streak for the first time since 2014. But now, the Longhorns must capture a win against Kansas State in Manhattan for the first time since 2002. With the Red River Showdown one week away, Texas must win its first road game of the year to set up a big time matchup with No. 6 Oklahoma. ALEX BRISEÑO & ROSS BURKHART

september 28, 2018

big 12 power rankings

BY CJ VOGEL

@cjvogel3

NO.1

West Virginia Mountaineers There are new kings in the Big 12 power rankings, and they are the West Virginia Mountaineers. Led by Will Grier, the Mountaineers have risen to No. 12 in the AP Top 25 and absolutely dominated each of their three opponents. West Virginia has beat its opponents by an average of 30 points per game, and that likely won’t stop anytime soon.

NO.5

Oklahoma State Cowboys Despite the loss to Texas Tech, the Cowboys are still one of the better teams in the Big 12 and should be treated as such. The nation’s 11th-ranked offense will return next week against Kansas. The loss to Texas Tech certainly hurts, which is why the Cowboys fell out of the AP Top 25 and why they come in at No. 5 in the Big 12 power rankings.

NO.7

TCU Horned Frogs The loss to Ohio State stung, but the loss to Texas hurt, and it hurt bad. TCU looked like it was going to score with ease against the Longhorns’ defense early on, but the Horned Frogs appeared to abandon their game plan rather early in the game. TCU seemed dejected in the fourth quarter, and it now looks to rebound against Iowa State.

NO.9

Kansas Jayhawks Kansas looked like the Kansas we all know and love in last week’s loss to Baylor. The Jayhawks scored just seven points in their worst performance of the season, explaining why there was little investment into their 55-14 victory over Rutgers. Although there was success early in the season, Kansas likely won’t experience much more from this point forward.

NO.2

Oklahoma Sooners Any matchup with a triple-option offense provides a mismatch for the opposing team, and that’s exactly what Army gave Oklahoma last Saturday. Despite a low scoring output, little blame can be placed on Kyler Murray and the Sooner offense for putting 28 points on the board. The main takeaway is the OU defense visibly struggled getting off the field on key downs, something other teams could exploit in weeks to come.

NO.6

Baylor Bears There is reason for optimism in Waco — Baylor is 3–1 this season. But the Bears need to pump the breaks. Baylor has yet to defeat a team of relevance, with Kansas taking over the spot for its best victory.

NO.8

Iowa State Cyclones Put a “one” in the win column for the Cyclones. Granted, the victory did come against Akron. Nonetheless, a win is a win. Iowa State should not be taken lightly moving forward. The Cyclones’ losses to Oklahoma and Iowa were both tightly contested, which proves the Cyclones can hang with the big dogs of the Big 12.

NO.10

Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State has been blown out in each of its Power 5 matchups. A 35-6 beating at the hands of West Virginia is very uncommon for any team led by head coach Bill Snyder. The Longhorns head to Manhattan this weekend with all sorts of momentum on their side.

NO.3

Texas Longhorns Two straight wins against ranked teams gives Texas fans reason to believe the Longhorns are moving in the right direction. It’s clear Todd Orlando’s defense is the backbone of this Texas team after only allowing a combined three points in the second half of the TCU and USC games.

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NO.4

Texas Tech Red Raiders Texas Tech’s meeting in Stillwater this past week was expected to be an old-fashioned shootout, however, the Tech defense allowed just 17 points and improved to 3–1 on the season. Though it wasn’t a massive performance for the offense, the Red Raiders still rank No. 1 in the country in total yards per game.

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

BY ROBERT LARKIN @r_larkintexas

opponents to watch RUNNING B ACK

CO R N E RBACK

WIDE RECEIVER

DEFENSIVE END

Alex Barnes, No. 34

Duke Shelley, No. 8

Isaiah Zuber, No. 7

Reggie Walker, No. 51

What he lacks in quick-burst speed, junior running back Alex Barnes makes up for with incredible patience and vision. While he won’t rank among the most explosive backs encountered by the Longhorn defense this season, the Kansas native will certainly be one of the most productive. Through four games this season, Barnes has already carried the ball 63 times for 277 yards, which ranks third among all Big 12 players. The Longhorns are no stranger to Barnes’ running style, as he played a role in Kansas State’s offense, tallying 34 points against Todd Orlando’s defense last season — the second-most points any team put up against Orlando’s unit in 2017. When these two teams square off for their rematch Saturday, look for Kansas State’s head coach Bill Snyder to put the ball in Barnes’ hands early to control the tempo of the game and keep the Texas offense off the field.

Despite the Wildcats’ overall struggles on the defensive side of the ball, senior cornerback Duke Shelley has largely been a consistent presence for Kansas State defensive coordinator Blake Seiler. In four games this season, Shelley leads the Wildcats in pass breakups and ranks third on the team in total tackles with 17. This week, however, Shelly and the Kansas State defense will need to find a way to bounce back from a woeful performance against West Virginia last week where the Wildcats gave up 356 passing yards against the Mountaineers. It won’t get much easier against the Longhorns, as Texas comes loaded with two of the Big 12’s best receivers in juniors Collin Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Shelley’s ability to lock down Texas’ talented wideouts will go a long way in determining how the Wildcats defense fares on Saturday.

The Kansas State offense hesitates to attack through the air, but when it does, it’s usually through junior wide receiver Isaiah Zuber. By far the most productive receiver on the Wildcats’ roster, the junior from Stone Mountain, Georgia, has corralled 24 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns in the early part of this season and ranks fourth in the Big 12 in receiving yards. Zuber’s effectiveness for the Wildcat offense lies in his precise route running and natural ball skills that make him an easy target anywhere on the field. The junior receiver didn’t have much of an impact against the Longhorns last season in Austin, but with Kansas State making a quarterback change to junior Alex Delton this week, the reliable Zuber will likely be Delton’s primary target when he looks to throw.

So far this season, the Wildcats have struggled to get to the quarterback, recording only three sacks through four games. If they hope to change that, it’ll have to start with junior defensive end Reggie Walker. Walker finished his freshman year with 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, earning him Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year accolades. His first-year performance placed second in school history in sacks and tackles for loss among freshmen. After taking a dramatic step back last season, Walker has shown a bit more production through four games in 2018 with one sack and two tackles for loss. However, a struggling Kansas State defense expects, and needs, more disruption from their talented junior end who can be one of the best defensive linemen in the Big 12 when he’s performing at his best.

photo copyright kansas state athletics and reproduced with permission

september 28, 2018

Keys to the game:

Don’t fall into complacency

Let’s face it — Kansas State is like the salad before the main course, which is, in this case, a highly anticipated rendition of the Red River Rivalry. Although the last few weeks have yielded wins over ranked teams, and next week’s game is another opportunity for a statement game, this team cannot look past Kansas State. Last year, the Wildcats came into Austin and almost snatched a win away from the Longhorns in double overtime. The year before, Kansas State won a close game that could have been the difference in the 2016 team making a bowl game or not. Recent history indicates the game will be another close one and could end Texas’ momentum heading into OU weekend. If Texas wants to win, it will need to buckle down, move past the last few weeks and and play a strong game from start to finish. While the Wildcats have lost to two ranked team’s this season, it will be up to the Longhorns to prove the third time is not always the charm.

kansas state B Y W I L L S L AY T O N @willsdebeast

As much as it might feel like Texas is “back,” the Longhorns still need to get their first road win of the season. The past three wins have been nice, but they have all been at home. Since the Maryland loss on the road, Texas has had the luxury of playing at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, but that won’t be the case this week. The team will have to travel to Manhattan, Kansas, to pull off a second-consecutive Big 12 conference win. Here are your keys to the game:

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Let the strong QB play continue

In an article earlier this season, sophomore Sam Ehlinger’s issues in crunch time were well documented. Since that article, Ehlinger has proceeded to set records, lead a potent offense and help win two huge games back to back. Ehlinger has done what no Longhorn quarterback — not Vince Young nor Colt McCoy — has ever done before. Against TCU, Ehlinger became the first Texas quarterback to throw for at least two touchdowns and run for a touchdown in three straight games. If Ehlinger can continue to produce at a historic rate for the offense, Texas will be hard to stop moving forward into the middle third of the season.

Continue DBU’s return

The secondary absolutely dominated against TCU, picking off sophomore Shawn Robinson twice late in the game to swing momentum in the Longhorns’ direction. In addition to the interceptions, junior safety Brandon Jones recovered a fumble given up by Robinson. Perhaps the defensive star was freshman Caden Sterns, who has captivated the hearts of the Longhorn faithful this season. Against TCU, Sterns nearly returned an interception for a touchdown, collecting two picks to add to his season total of three. The Longhorns can make a lot of noise on the national scale over the next few weeks and will need everyone to step up in order to perform up to the standards of a top-20 team. If the secondary can play like it did against TCU and beat up on the Wildcats, Texas should continue to improve its ranking.

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brooke crim | the daily texan s Senior defensive tackle Chris Nelson purs a TCU ballcarier during Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; win at Darre Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sept.

staff

sues ell K . 22.

T E X A S

F E A T U R E

Chris Nelson N O . 9 7 , D E F E N S I V E TA C K L E

BY ROSS BURKHART

making His own path

@ross_burkhart

hree days after senior defensive tackle Chris Nelson was named a team captain by head coach Tom Herman, he answered questions during a media availability session on the ninth floor of Belmont Hall in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. After Nelson finished answering a question, one media member thanked him while walking away. “Thanks, Poona,” the reporter said, mistakenly referring to former defensive lineman Longhorn Poona Ford. Nelson laughed and said, “I get that all the time.” It was an insignificant error, but it spoke loudly about Nelson’s role this season as someone out to prove he could fill the hole left by Ford, who left for the NFL during the offseason. This season, he’s answered the call. Through four games, Nelson has revealed himself to be one of the defense’s most valuable players and the primary option at the defensive tackle position for the first time in his career. One person Herman contacted after naming the team’s five captains was Tommy Lewis, Nelson’s high school coach in Florida. “I think Chris was very early on a standout, and that kind of makes his journey at Texas even a little bit more remarkable,” Lewis said. “Because another thing that happens to a lot of kids that are talented and not used to being a backup is that they have a tendency to get discouraged and sometimes even quit before they’re giving themselves a chance.” Lewis said that Nelson was always the

anthony mireles | the daily texan file Texas defensive tackle Chris Nelson lines up before the snap during a game against Texas Tech at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 24, 2017.

star for his high school, Victory Christian. He never had to share his spot as the main run stopper and even sometimes served as the team’s running back and tight end despite weighing “close to 300 pounds,” Lewis mentioned. Nelson, now serving as a fifth-year senior, has shared duties with a string of other talented defensive tackles at Texas such as former Longhorns Desmond Jackson, Malcolm Brown and Hassan Ridgeway, in addition to Ford. “I learned a lot from all the guys,” Nelson

said. “Desmond, Malcolm and Ridgeway, they taught me the ropes when I was coming in here. When I got redshirted, I still had to travel and those guys taught me as if I was playing in the game.” Nelson, who, like many players recruited under former Texas coach Charlie Strong, initially had apprehension about whether the Longhorns were still the right fit after Herman was brought in to replace Strong in November 2017, according to Lewis. “I do know that there was, for a brief moment — like I’m sure a lot of his teammates

did as well — thoughts of transferring,” Lewis said. “I’m sure he had questions for himself. ‘Hey, am I going to do well under this new leadership? Am I going to be able to continue to pursue my dreams of being a starter at Texas?’” So far, Nelson has shown he’s fully capable of being a starter for the Longhorns, recording 13 total tackles and four for a loss of yards. Moving forward, he’s not looking for his performances to have any sort of drop-off. “It’s been pretty good, to be honest with you,” Nelson said. “I just want to build off it. Me helping my team out in a great win just makes me happy. All I can do is get in and watch more film and go harder.” Nelson isn’t the only one that’s been pleased with his recent performances, either. The mastermind behind Texas’ defense is defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who is a large part of the reason Texas has rebounded in recent weeks from a disappointing season-opening loss against Maryland. Although Nelson has been playing at a high level, Orlando isn’t ready to say whether or not the defensive tackle has matched the level of play shown by Ford last season. “It’s close,” Orlando said. “I think Poona made some plays that were kind of twitchier that he could make in the backfield, but Chris is playing really, really well.” Nelson has started strong, but now, Orlando is more interested to see what he can do during the rest of the season. “One thing I will say about Poona is I thought he got better as the season went along,” Orlando said. “I think Nelly is playing at a high level, we’ll see if he continues. But it’s close.”

DOUBLE COVERAGE

Heisman watch B Y D O N N A VA N S M O O T

@Dsmoot3D

albert lee

| the daily texan staff

Conference play is officially underway, and some of college football’s brightest stars were on full display this past weekend. Here’s how the frontrunners are stacking up in the Heisman race: #13 Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback, No. 1 Alabama

Tagovailoa once again showed his greatness this past weekend. The sophomore quarterback has taken the Crimson Tide — a team that has traditionally won with good defense and a strong running game — and turned them into one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Alabama’s defense came up with an interception on Texas A&M’s first drive and set Tagovailoa up with great field position. Then, on a simple drop back, Tagovailoa aired it out and connected with sophomore wide receiver Devonta Smith for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The throw was indicative of the explosiveness Tagovailoa has brought to this Crimson Tide offense.

#7 Will Grier, quarterback, No. 12 West Virginia

Grier and the Mountaineers dominated Kansas State this past weekend in a 35-6 win. The victory came off of an unscheduled bye week after their game against NC State was canceled because of Hurricane Florence. Even with a week off, Grier was able to stay very close to the top of the Heisman debate. Grier picked up right where he left off on Saturday. He threw for 356 yards and five touchdowns, a statline likely to recur multiple times this season. The combination of points and ranking will keep Grier in the discussion all year long. However, he’s going to need a signature moment if he wants to take home any hardware.

#10 Ed Oliver, defensive tackle, Houston

Oliver is the most recent player to be used in the argument that the Heisman doesn’t go to the best player each year. Oliver’s production as an interior lineman can’t be put on the stat sheet but can be seen on tape. He provides great push on the line to disrupt the opponents’ rushing. He doesn’t always get the sack, but many times the sack occurs because of

his initial pressure. Although he’s best regarded as a dark horse in this year’s race, Oliver’s sheer dominance against opposing offensive lines will keep him in the conversation.

#1 Kyler Murray, quarterback, No. 6 Oklahoma

For the first time this season, Murray had to play under pressure. The Sooners were on pace to have another potent offensive performance after two touchdowns during the first quarter against Army. The second half was a different story, though. Murray and the offense were shut out completely, taking the game to overtime as the Black Knights made things interesting late in the game. In overtime, Murray ran a play-action fake and hit CeeDee Lamb in the endzone for what would be the game-winning touchdown. Murray ended with four total touchdowns but only 165 yards through the air. It wasn’t his best performance of the season, but the Sooners escaped with a win, leaving his potential Heisman status as strong.

#10 Justin Herbert, quarterback, No. 19 Oregon

Herbert went on an emotional rollercoaster last Saturday night. Oregon played Pac-12 Conference rival Stanford in a matchup of two ranked foes. The Ducks led, 24-7, late in the third quarter until the Cardinal made a late push, eventually winning in overtime. Herbert has quietly put together a convincing argument through the first four weeks of the season. He’s thrown for either 300 yards or four touchdowns in each game this season. He has the disadvantage of playing on the west coast, where late games aren’t watched by nearly as many fans as primetime games are. As a result, Herbert will have to play at an astronomical level for the remainder of the season to raise his stock enough for a chance to take home the trophy.

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Longhorn lookback Texas trailed TCU in the second half. Then Collin Johnson changed the game.

BY ALEX BRISEÑ0 @AlexxBriseno

With the final minute of the third quarter winding down, Texas found itself trailing then-No. 17 TCU. Then junior wide receiver Collin Johnson happened. Sam Ehlinger took the snap with 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter, trailing 16-10. The sophomore quarterback dropped back to the 40 before heaving the ball toward Johnson, who was striding toward the end zone. The throw appeared to be too long after the ball left Ehlinger fingertips, but the 6-foot-6-inch receiver dove after the ball, which landed between two TCU defenders and right into Johnson’s hands for a touchdown. “I ran my post route, came out of my break and I saw the ball in the air and it was kind of far out in front of me,” Johnson said. “So I just did whatever I could to catch the ball

and make a play for the team.” Johnson’s touchdown comes after Devin Duvernay and Joshua Moore’s diving catches earlier this season. Coming into the season, Texas’ receivers were widely known as the most talented offensive unit. Through four games, they have rightfully maintained that title. “(I’m) definitely spoiled, but I think that’s how it should be at the University of Texas,” Ehlinger said. “I think you should have guys like that to be able to go get the football. They’ve done an excellent job, and it’s a great advantage in the passing game knowing that one-on-one matchups aren’t covered for us.” Last year, fans and media alike curiously wondered why Johnson sometimes struggled to get

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elias huerta | the daily texan staff Junior wide receiver Collin Johnson celebrates during Texas’ 31-16 win over then-No. 17 TCU at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium last Saturday. Johnson finished with 124 yards on seven receptions.

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lookback continues from page

involved in the game. While it seems Johnson demanding the ball more often is a quick solution, it’s never that simple. The combination of his massive stature and NFL-bound talent demand special attention from every defense the Longhorns play, usually translating to Texas’ opponents putting two defenders on No. 9. “I don’t get to call the defenses, and so if they want to devote two people to covering him, then that makes getting the ball to him a little bit more difficult,” head coach Tom Herman said. “But the quarterback has done a nice job of recognizing when we get one-on-one coverage and getting the ball to him. And he’s done a nice job of making sure that when his number does get called he’s making those plays.” One player has single-handedly helped Collin Johnson put together a breakout game: Lil’Jordan

Humphrey. The 6-foot-4-inch receiver currently leads the team with 352 reception yards on the season. Humphrey’s explosiveness forces defenses to pick their poison, giving Johnson more opportunities down the field. With Humphrey also demanding attention from defenses, Johnson was able to finish with 124 yards on seven receptions in Texas’ 31-16 upset victory over the Horned Frogs on Saturday. One week earlier, Johnson hauled in six catches for 79 yards. “He’s had a good couple of weeks, no doubt about that,” Herman said. “He’s one of the best one-on-one, 50/50-ball guys I’ve ever been around, I would certainly imagine probably in the country right now.” Texas now prepares to take on Kansas State. After Bill Snyder’s squad gave up 35 points to West Virginia, look for Johnson, Humphrey and Ehlinger to continue their dominant ways for a third-consecutive week.

Games to watch

B Y S T E V E H E LW I C K @s_helwick

vs.

Saturday, 11 a.m., ESPN2 Points will not be at a premium in Lubbock on Saturday morning. Will Grier, who has thrown for 14 touchdown passes in three games, will look to connect early and often with his favorite target, David Sills V, in order to keep the Mountaineers’ unblemished record alive. But Texas Tech’s high-powered offense knows a

thing or two about stifling undefeated teams, as the Red Raiders rolled through Oklahoma State on the road, 41-17, in Week Three. Freshman Alan Bowman is the next gunslinger in line to carry on the Red Raiders’ lineage of star air raid passers. He enters this Big 12 battle of premier quarterbacks with 1,557 passing yards, good enough for second in the FBS.

vs.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC Over 100,000 fans decked in white will manufacture one of the most riveting atmospheres in college football this Saturday night. In a fight between the top two scoring offenses, Penn State hosts its annual “White Out” against the reigning Big Ten champions. The last time these two programs collided in Happy Valley, Penn State emerged from a 14-point deficit to upset Ohio

State on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. But the Buckeyes exacted their revenge last October, clawing back from a 21-3 deficit to stun the Nittany Lions. This Big Ten East heavyweight fight features two of the top quarterbacks in the sport. Penn State senior Trace McSorley is on a quest for his first playoff bid, while Ohio State freshman Dwayne Haskins fits the role of a promising Heisman candidate through four games.

vs.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m., NBC The odds were stacked against the Cardinal, but Stanford still boasts a perfect 4–0 record. David Shaw’s program required a dramatic comeback and a few key fumble recoveries to erase a 17-point deficit against Oregon and transform it into a 38-31 win in overtime. Running back Bryce Love and the Cardinal aim

to win their fourth-straight against their rival from South Bend. It’ll be a different look for Notre Dame, as Brian Kelly changed the starting quarterback from Brandon Wimbush to Ian Book last weekend. The victor will travel on a definitive track to the playoff — a feat neither team has achieved since the BCS era concluded.

vs.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m., FOX After upsetting Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium, it’s time to see if Kalani Sitake’s Cougars are for real after a disappointing 4–9 run in 2017. Running back Squally Canada pierced through Wisconsin’s talented defense with 118 yards and two touchdowns, but now it’s time

to see if he can replicate these numbers against the Huskies. With Jake Browning anchoring the offense for the fourth-straight year, Washington still looks poised to contend for a Pac-12 title. The Huskies rebounded from a heartbreaking loss to Auburn in Week One, but the team is still searching for its first ranked win of the year.

vs.

Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN After taking a 62-7 shellacking from a seemingly indestructible Alabama team, Ole Miss looks to register its first SEC victory on the road in Death Valley. Tiger Stadium creates a difficult atmosphere, but the Rebel offense has looked solid this year under Hawaiian starting quarterback Jordan Ta’amu. Which Ole

Miss will we see? The one that breezed past now-No. 25 Texas Tech or the one that lost by 55 to the Crimson Tide? That’ll be up to the defensive-oriented Tigers. LSU, one of 21 unbeaten college football teams, features plenty of NFL talent on the unit including inside linebacker Devin White (38 tackles) and cornerback Greedy Williams (two interceptions).

september 28, 2018

texas B Y K E S H A V P R AT H I VA D I

With the Longhorns coming off back-to-back wins over ranked teams for the first time since 2008, it’s hard to argue the No. 18 Longhorns haven’t taken a step forward a third of the way through the 2018 season. Now, Texas will hit the road for Manhattan, Kansas, where it hasn’t won since 2002, to face Kansas State. Behind sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger and an opportunistic defense, the Longhorns will look to head into the Red River Showdown with momentum. Here’s how Texas could walk out of Bill Snyder Family Stadium with a win Saturday:

@kpthefirst

wins if... … it gets pressure quarterback.

the

Despite not recording a sack last week, Texas kept putting pressure on TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson. The sophomore threw two interceptions and lost a fumble thanks to the Longhorns’ pressure that was present nearly all game. Kansas State’s two quarterbacks pose more threat with their arms than their legs, and if Texas can force throws from the pocket, it could pay off with a few more turnovers for an already hungry defense.

… it commits to the run.

In several short yardage situations against TCU, the Longhorns opted for more draw plays which took longer to develop. As a result, Texas was stuffed on a majority of plays and didn’t convert a single third down until the third quarter. If the Longhorns can run behind, rather than across, their offensive line in similar situations, we could see Ehlinger or even graduate transfer running back Tre Watson run through some Wildcat defenders.

… it keeps feeding its receivers.

Texas turned last Saturday’s contest in its favor, courtesy of a dazzling catch by junior wide receiver Collin Johnson. In the past two weeks, Ehlinger hasn’t been afraid to throw the ball downfield, and it has paid off. Texas receivers have proven they can make a play, and if Ehlinger gives them an opportunity to do just that, Texas can take over the game and wear down a Kansas State defense that already cedes over 400 yards per game.

brooke crim

| the daily texan staff

loses if... … it lets the Wildcats loose.

In last year’s 40-34 double overtime loss to Texas, quarterback Alex Delton stepped in midgame and gashed the Longhorns for 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. This year is no different, as the junior is now flanked by sophomore quarterback Skylar Thompson who would rather scramble than make a pass. If Delton or Thompson find a way to escape the Longhorns’ pressure, things could go poorly for Texas. anthony mireles

| the daily texan staff

… it can’t respond.

One of the few reasons Texas is in the place it is right now is because it has responded positively to difficult situations. The Longhorns have outscored their previous two opponents 42-3 in the second half. However, Texas has recently proven to be a different, more timid animal on the road. If the Longhorns can’t respond to a mistake of their own, they’ll have to wait another two years for a shot at leaving Manhattan with a win.

… it gets ahead of itself.

We get it. Fans are closer to officially saying Texas is “back,” but Kansas State can’t be swept under the rug. The Wildcats are known for playing up to the competition, especially at home, and will do just that on Saturday. Even with Texas opening as almost nine-point favorites, looking past the Wildcats’ dual-threat passing and speedy receivers could squash the momentum Texas has spent three weeks building.

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