Double Coverage 11-20-2018 by The Daily Texan

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Double Coverage VOL. 13 ISSUE 12 | NOV 20, 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

6–4

8–2

9–1

7–3

5–5

8–2

5–5

7–3

No. 11 Texas at Kansas

Texas

No. 6 Oklahoma at No. 12 West Virginia

Oklahoma

No. 16 Washington at No. 7 Washington State

Washington

Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington State State State State State State State State

No. 4 Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State

Ohio State

Michigan

Ohio State

Michigan

No. 19 Syracuse at Boston College

Boston College

Syracuse

Boston College

Syracuse

Boston College

No. 14 Utah State at No. 21 Boise State

Utah State

Boise State Boise State Utah State

Baylor vs Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Georgia Tech at No. 5 Georgia

Georgia

Houston at Memphis

Houston

Memphis

Houston

Arizona State at Arizona

Arizona State

OV E R AL L R E C OR D

74–36

71–39

78–32

71–39

PRESENTS

DOUBLE COVERAGE Vol. 13, Issue 12 Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018

Texas Tech Texas Tech Texas Tech

Double Coverage Editors Alex Briseño & Ross Burkhart Design Editor...................................Kendall Jordan Photo Editor.......................................Angela Wang Copy Editor....................................Kirsten Handler Cover Photo........................................Katie Bauer

Texas Tech

Texas Tech Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Georgia

Memphis

Houston

Arizona State

Arizona

Arizona State

72–38

69–41

75–35

76–34

75–35

Editor’s Note Thanks to a commanding win over the Cyclones and a little help from Oklahoma State, the Longhorns are just 60 minutes of football in Lawrence away from appearing in the Big 12 Championship. To go where no Texas team has gone since 2009 though, the Longhorns will have to avenge its 2016 loss to the Jayhawks. ALEX BRISEÑO & ROSS BURKHART

Writers Robert Larkin Wills Layton Steve Helwick

Utah State Boise State Utah State Boise State Boise State Utah State

Keshav Prathivadi Donnavan Smoot CJ Vogel

november 20, 2018

big 12 power rankings

BY CJ VOGEL

@cjvogel3

NO.1

Oklahoma Sooners Those Jayhawks are a pesky group, apparently. Oklahoma does not look like a team that has changed at all defensively since firing defensive coordinator Mike Stoops. Instead, the Sooners allowed last-place Kansas to hang a 40-spot on them, including 23 points in the final quarter. The offense is still going to produce the same numbers, but for now, it seems as though the Sooner defense could not prevent a junior varsity team from finding the end zone a couple times.

NO.2

Texas Longhorns Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium did not stop believing Saturday night as the Longhorns defeated Iowa State for their third victory at home over a ranked opponent this season. Although burnt orange is Texas’ trademark color, the orange of Oklahoma State was cheered on prior to kickoff as well. With the Pokes’ victory over West Virginia, Texas can now clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship with a victory over Kansas on Friday.

NO.3

West Virginia Mountaineers

NO.4

Iowa State Cyclones

A late afternoon game at Oklahoma State going the Cowboys way? That story sounds familiar. Will Grier and West Virginia experienced the magic of Boone Pickens Stadium firsthand on Saturday when a late touchdown greatly damaged the Mountaineers’ chances for a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Iowa State had a fighter’s chance at a spot in the conference title game, but that ended with the fighting from star running back David Montgomery against Baylor last week. Montgomery was suspended for the first half against Texas in a must-win game, and as a result, the Cyclones’ offense mustered just three points in the first three quarters.

NO.5

Oklahoma State Cowboys The Cowboys have done it again. Oklahoma State gets its third victory of the season against an opponent in the AP Top 25 with a magical 45-41 victory over West Virginia. The win in Stillwater also means Mike Gundy’s mullet will be a talking point once again come bowl season, and who doesn’t love that? Taylor Cornelius totaled 444 yards and six touchdowns on the afternoon, once again proving he is a real threat.

NO.7

TCU Horned Frogs Saturday’s game for TCU looked like a prime performance from a Gary Patterson defense. Allowing just nine points to Baylor was easily the lowest the Horned Frogs have given up this season in Big 12 play. As bad of a season this has been for TCU, its season can be salvaged with a .500 finish if the Horned Frogs can pick up a victory over Oklahoma State in the final week of the season.

NO.9

Texas Tech Red Raiders The wheels have just fallen off the train for the Red Raiders this season. Texas Tech has now lost four straight games and has suffered many more defeats than indicated by the standings. It seems like every year there are reports saying Kliff Kingsbury may be done, but the ending to this season may actually be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

NO.6

Kansas State Wildcats After a few weeks in the cellar of Big 12 power rankings, Kansas State rises to the No. 6 spot. The Wildcats held one of the most potent offenses in college football to just six points and ended up winning their fifth game of the season in the process. This year may not have been the greatest season Manhattan has ever witnessed, but there have been more than a few glimpses of hope for a successful turnaround next year.

NO.8

Baylor Bears Perhaps the ugliest game of the year for the Baylor Bears ended with just nine points scored against TCU. Quarterback Charlie Brewer struggled once again, completing less than 50 percent of his passes on the afternoon. The Baylor offense also converted on just two of 13 chances on third down. Regardless, from where Baylor was a year ago, this is a much sweeter season for the fans in Waco.

NO.10

Kansas Jayhawks Kansas turned heads last Saturday when it put up 40 points on the top team in the Big 12. With the loss, Kansas falls to 1–7 in the conference before hosting No. 11 Texas for the final game of the regular season. Kansas is now ineligible for a bowl appearance for the 10th straight season. Perhaps a Les Miles hiring can help turn around the Jayhawks’ program, but for now, there’s no light in sight.

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

Heisman watch

albert lee

| the daily texan staff

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

@Dsmoot3D

#13 Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback, No. 1 Alabama

high-octane offense, and the second is filled with calmness and care-free laughs on the bench. Nevertheless, the end goal of victory was achieved in great fashion. As the season comes to a close, Tagovailoa’s spot at the top isn’t in imminent danger of being snatched, but there is still room for arguments to be made for other players.

Tagovailoa should’ve had one of his easiest games of the season this weekend. Alabama was playing The Citadel, an FCS team, at home. Instead, he and the Crimson Tide found themselves in a 10-10 game at the half. Whatever funk the Tide were in during the first half of play, Tagovailoa brought them out of it in the second half. He finished with over 350 total yards that led to four touchdowns as Alabama eventually rolled to a 50-17 final. Usually, the halves are reversed — the first half would be the one with the explosive plays and

#1 Kyler Murray, quarterback, No. 6 Oklahoma As great as Tagovailoa has been this year, every week Murray seems to do something that we’ve never seen before. As the unquestioned leader of the Sooners’ juggernaut of an offense, he is the focal point for the unit at a much higher rate than other top offenses in the country. He also has to overcome a near nonexistent defense. On Saturday, Murray got into a shootout with the 3–8

Kansas Jayhawks, eventually outscoring them 55-40. In the win, Murray had two touchdowns through the air and three more on the ground. Murray has consistently been second in the Heisman race this entire season. However, he should be seen as a legitimate 11th-hour threat for the Heisman. Most candidates have their “Heisman moment” in a marquee matchup. But somehow, Kyler Murray can turn any play into a Heisman moment. If Murray is able to get a few first place votes, it shouldn’t shock anyone.

is a must-win if West Virginia wants to get to the Big 12 Championship. Grier and the Mountaineers had a 31-14 lead in the third quarter and blew it. Grier had a good game, but he also made costly mistakes. He threw for 364 yards and two touchdowns but also had a fumble that sparked the comeback for the Cowboys. Grier now has to play flawless football next week when he goes against Murray and the Oklahoma Sooners. His team’s successes, as well as his own interests, are on the line going into the final week of the season.

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

#16 Gardner Minshew, quarterback, No. 7 Washington State

Grier had a tough night on Saturday. His Mountaineers fell to Oklahoma State, 45-41, meaning next week’s matchup against Oklahoma

Heisman candidates at the beginning of the year rarely match the ones at the

HEISMAN

page

Keys to the game: Kansas B Y W I L L S L AY T O N @willsdebeast

One more win and the Longhorns will make an appearance in the Big 12 Championship thanks to Oklahoma State’s upset over West Virginia. The Longhorns will face either Oklahoma or West Virginia should they defeat Kansas. While Texas boasts much more talent on its roster, the Longhorns have bad memories in Lawrence. Two years ago, the Longhorns lost in overtime on the road to Kansas, effectively ending the Charlie Strong Era. In order for Texas to not commit the sins of teams prior, it will need to do several things. Here are your keys to the game:

Stop Pooka Williams Jr.

Kansas does not have very many talented players at skill positions. However, Pooka Williams Jr. has become a star for the Jayhawks, with his play being a huge reason for Kansas winning three games. The Texas defense played rather shakily over a stretch of several weeks before their solid performance against Iowa State last Saturday in which they only allowed 10 points. But unlike the Cyclones, who lost running back David Montgomery for the first 30 minutes of play, Kansas will have access to its explosive runner right out of the gate. If the Longhorns want to avoid the upset, they need

to do everything they can to shore up the run defense and force the Jayhawks into a one-dimensional offense. If the team can do that, the Longhorns will be making a trip to Arlington.

Sit Sam Ehlinger

Over the course of the season, sophomore Sam Ehlinger has blossomed before fans’ eyes. After a freshman season filled with mistakes, Ehlinger has become an incredible centerpiece to the offense and has led the Longhorns on several game-winning drives. However, after Ehlinger suffered an AC contusion

KEYS

page

november 20, 2018

texas

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

wins if... … it stays true to itself.

Texas has taken on an identity that isn’t true to itself when it takes a significant lead. For the first time this season, Texas didn’t shy away from doing what it does best, especially after quarterback Sam Ehlinger went down with an injury. Having the same trust in quarterback Shane Buechele to make the plays Ehlinger has made all season loomed large, and Texas kept its identity in the 2410 victory. Doing that against Kansas likely means a ticket to Arlington as well.

… it rides its defense.

Saturday’s performance against Iowa State was the defense’s finest of the season. As the offense put up the numbers it needed and got timely scores, Texas’ defense made quarterback Brock Purdy look like a true freshman and halted an otherwise red-hot Cyclone offense. The most important part about it? Turnovers. A crucial strip-sack at the end of

katie bauer | the daily texan staff The Texas defense takes down Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler during Texas’ 24-10 victory at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium last Saturday.

the game put a bow on the Longhorns’ victory. If Texas can lean on its defense like it did Saturday while providing the same offensive production, Friday’s showdown in Lawrence shouldn’t be too close.

loses if... … it can’t stop the offense.

While Kansas may be the doormat of the Big 12, it’s still in the Big 12. And in this conference, there’s always offense. The Jayn hawks showed that by hanging 55 on Rute gers and 40 last week on Oklahoma. While o these performances haven’t come against the . best of defensive units, it should be a warne ing sign to a defense that has struggled to a contain offenses this season. The Jayhawks are also bringing a strong rushing unit, averaging nearly 160 yards on the ground per game. r … disaster occurs. ’ It’s happened before, and it can definitely nhappen again. Kansas shocked TCU in Lawrrence last month for its first conference win -since, well … beating Charlie Strong’s Longshorns two years ago. If Kansas was to get its lsecond win against Texas in over 70 years, it’d require a calculated effort on the Longrhorns’ end to drop this contest. And another nintangible to add to the madness: the hiring

ryan lam | the daily texan staff Texas wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey hauls in a catch during Texas’ 14-point victory. Humphrey recorded seven catches for 86 yards to push him over the 1,000 yard mark for the year.

of former LSU head coach Les Miles. The Jayhawks are playing to both impress Miles and send their seniors out with a win. Texas has been able to hold its own without its star quarterback and wide receiver, but if the stars do align, it could be a Black Friday for the Longhorns.

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

keys

continues from page

after an especially vicious hit to his throwing shoulder, Tom Herman should consider starting backup Shane Buechele if Ehlinger is less than 100 percent by Friday. Buechele came into the Baylor game early on, and although he was initially rusty, he did just enough to lead the Longhorns to victory. Then, he entered the Iowa State game, finishing a perfect 10-for-10 in the passing game. If given the opportunity to practice all week as the starter, and with a strong run game to lean on, Buechele should be more than ready to lead the team to a win over Kansas.

Improve play along the offensive line Iowa State had its way with the Texas offensive line last week, picking up several tackles for loss and many inopportune

sacks of both Ehlinger and Buechele. The members up front will have to do better to beat the Jayhawks on the Black Friday matchup in Lawrence. Despite the fact Kansas does not have an elite pass rush, the quarterback will still need time in the pocket, and the running backs will still need running lanes opened up. The Longhorns play best when running backs Tre Watson and Keaontay Ingram are playing well, with last week’s game against the Cyclones being a prime example. The key to their success was opening lanes up the middle. And while the line struggled with pass protection, Texas displayed a strong run game. If the Longhorns want to take advantage of controlling their own destiny, the offensive line will need to improve, protecting whoever is behind the center and allowing the offense to move freely on the road.

heisman continues from page

end. Gardner Minshew is a perfect example of that. This past week, Minshew showed off his abilities in a 69-28 rout of Arizona. He had an astonishing 473 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He is one of the best pure passers in the country, and now he’s finally showing the country what Washington State fans have been witnessing all season. The graduate transfer has played exceptionally for the Cougars this year, leading them to the top of the Pac-12 and to their first 10-win season since 2003. Minshew has crept up the Heisman ladder late but can still make a definite impact come December.

Games to watch no.6 Oklahoma Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN If Texas takes care of business at Kansas on Friday morning, this matchup becomes a Big 12 elimination game. After West Virginia blew a 17-point halftime lead and lost a thriller to Oklahoma State, Will Grier and the Mountaineers return to Morgantown in hopes

no.16 washington Saturday, 7:30 p.m., FOX How do you like them apples? You may prefer them in the Pacific Northwest, in the small town of Pullman, Washington. That is where Mike Leach and Washington State plan to extend their seven-game win streak and defeat archrival Washington for the first time since 2012. Quarterback Gardner Minshew, the FBS

no.4 michigan Saturday, 11 a.m., FOX Scarlet and gray, and maize and blue are separated by complete disdain. Ohio State and Michigan fans share equal hatred for their rival, but the programs haven’t been as equal on the gridiron. The Buckeyes triumphed in 13 of the last 14, including each of the last six in the annual November showdown. Despite the run

no.8 lsu

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Saturday, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network If you love blowouts, perhaps subject yourself to the Iron Bowl. The real competition in the SEC will transpire west of the Texas-Louisiana border in College Station. Texas A&M has fallen to the Tigers in seven straight years, but with

no.14 Utah State Saturday, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Who said Rivalry Week was solely dedicated to traditional rivalries? Boise State and Utah State have won a combined 16-straight games, but one of the Mountain West powers will finally succumb to defeat on the blue turf Saturday night. This is not only a Mountain West

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

no.12 West virginia

of winning their biggest conference game since joining the league in 2012. Oklahoma has its eyes set on its fourth consecutive Big 12 title and 12th of the millennium. The Sooners only have one loss on the season, so a dominant offensive performance by Kyler Murray and Co. could push Oklahoma to its third playoff in four years.

no.7 washington state

passing yards leader, led the Cougars’ offense to 55 first-half points and five touchdowns against Arizona last Saturday. A similar performance would ensure Washington State participates in its first ever Pac-12 title game, but Jake Browning and the Huskies have their opponents’ number. With a win, Washington lands a Pac-12 title game spot and a chance at a third New Year’s Six bowl in three seasons.

no.10 ohio state

of success, Michigan is currently ranked higher thanks to a 10-game win streak and a relentless defense led by inside linebacker Devin Bush. The Wolverines will look to execute the job Maryland failed to finish in a 52-51 loss to Ohio State last Saturday. If they’re successful, Jim Harbaugh and the College Football Playoff may finally meet for the first time.

texas a&m

Jimbo Fisher and the 12th Man backing them, the Aggies’ well-balanced attack could give LSU fits. The Tigers demolished Georgia and remain the highest-ranked two-loss team, and a convincing road win — combined with loads of chaos — could sneak the Tigers into the top five.

no.22 boise state

Championship clincher for the winner, but the victor also stays alive for potential New Year’s Six consideration, should UCF slip in its final two games. The always-consistent Boise State boasts the conference’s all-time leading passer in Brett Rypien, who looks to ride off into the sunset on Senior Day with his third ranked win for the Broncos.

november 20, 2018

Opponents to watch

BY ROBERT LARKIN @r_larkintexas

RUN NING B ACK

QUART E R BACK

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

LINEBAC KER

No. 1 Pooka Williams Jr.

No. 7 Peyton Bender

No. 96 Daniel Wise

No. 29 Joe Dineen Jr.

Not much has gone right for the Jayhawks during another tumultuous season for the program. But one of the biggest developments in an otherwise dreadful year has been the emergence of running back Pooka Williams Jr. The freshman from New Orleans has become a workhorse in the Jayhawk backfield and one of the best running backs in the Big 12. In the 10 games he’s played in, Williams Jr. has rushed for 1,022 yards and six touchdowns. His rushing yard total ranks second in the Big 12 behind Kansas State’s Alex Barnes. And while Williams Jr. was one of college football’s best kept secrets for much of the season, that may be over. Last weekend against No. 6 Oklahoma, he rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-40 loss that took place in front of a national television audience.

In his second season at starting quarterback, Peyton Bender has improved dramatically. A year after throwing for 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, the former junior college standout has thrown for 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also already surpassed his total in passing yards from last season with 1,735 yards through the air this year. Bender has become more efficient with the football, but he’s still a step behind compared to the other Big 12 quarterbacks the Longhorns have faced. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native stands as seventh in passing yards per game among quarterbacks in the Big 12. If the Jayhawks hope to topple the Longhorns in Lawrence this weekend, Bender will need to put together a stronger performance than he’s been accustomed to this season.

The Kansas defense has experienced its fair share of struggles this year — the unit ranks eighth among all Big 12 teams in yards allowed. But there is indeed defensive talent on this roster, and one of the most accomplished players on it is Daniel Wise. His junior season last year was one of the best among all Big 12 defensive lineman, recording 53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. And his performance garnered praise, including an appearance on the coaches’ First Team All-Big 12 list. The Hebron High School product’s senior year hasn’t matched that production, but he still has been a strong performer. Wise has 29 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks through 11 games. Against the Longhorns, the senior will need to find a way to continue his disruptive performance if Kansas wants to pull off the upset.

Joe Dineen Jr. has not only been the leader of the Jayhawk defense, but also one of the most productive linebackers in all of college football. The Lawrence, Kansas, native has compiled an unbelievable 133 total tackles this season, which currently leads the Big 12. And that figure also places Dineen in the top 10 for total tackles among all FBS defenders. The senior has also registered three sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception and 10 tackles for loss. Over the past four games, Dineen has been especially impressive. He’s led all defenders in total tackles in three of those four games and collected 50 tackles in that span. His most recent performance against Oklahoma included 14 tackles, which ties his second highest total all season. With his last college game taking place against the Longhorns on Friday, Dineen will look to have one final outstanding performance.

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