The Texas Longhorns have struggled towards the Oklahoma State Cowboys for the previous decade. They blew a double-digit lead final 12 months in Steve Sarkisian’s first sport within the collection.
Texas discovered itself up 17-3 late within the first half and in place to place the sport out of attain. Then Jason Taylor II picked off Casey Thompson and took the ball 85 yards to the top zone.
Texas scored out of halftime to make the sport 24-13. Afterward they didn’t rating once more. Mike Gundy’s Cowboys tallied the ultimate 19 factors defeating the Longhorns 32-24 in Austin.
This 12 months’s workforce is on a revenge tour that has seen Texas flip the script in every of this season’s rematches. Final season Texas misplaced to Oklahoma by 7 factors, Iowa State by 23 and West Virginia by 8. The Longhorns have mixed to beat these groups by a margin of 70 factors.
Let’s have a look at what might swing this 12 months’s matchup with Oklahoma State of their favor.
Move safety
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Texas isn’t surrendering sacks to opponents. That’s due partly to Quinn Ewers eliminating the soccer. Albeit, the offensive line deserves the majority of the credit score. The Longhorns are stopping groups from attending to the quarterback and opening up the offense to extra explosion.
Higher quarterback play
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities
Casey Thompson made nice performs at Texas, however his interception turned the Oklahoma State sport final season. Some criticized Quinn Ewers’ efficiency Saturday, however the freshman quarterback protected the soccer. Ewers accomplished 65 p.c of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions. If that’s a foul day for the sign caller, Texas is in good fingers. He’ll face the No. 126 move protection within the FBS this week in Oklahoma State. The Ohio State switch ought to have a greater displaying than he did towards the No. 17 move protection within the nation, Iowa State.
Confidence
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Final season, Texas blew a double-digit result in an Oklahoma workforce they dominated within the first half. They had been unable to struggle off doubt that crept in and finally couldn’t maintain on the next week towards Oklahoma State. This 12 months Oklahoma State is in an analogous predicament. The Cowboys overpowered the TCU Horned Frogs on the street for a lot of the sport earlier than blowing a two-touchdown lead. With Oklahoma State on the lookout for solutions after a draining loss, Texas must leverage its confidence benefit to win on the street.
Gary Patterson’s success vs Mike Gundy
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities
TCU’s success towards Oklahoma State began earlier than final season. A method or one other, Gary Patterson’s squad discovered a technique to make life troublesome for the Cowboys in recent times. This ballgame can be shut sufficient that teaching might decide the result. Having two defensive minds breaking down an elite offensive assault might put Texas excessive.
Dependable protection
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Whereas Oklahoma State has one of many worst move defenses within the FBS, the Longhorns have the No. 65 move protection this season. Iowa State, Texas Tech and Kansas State are the one higher passing defenses within the Huge 12 convention statistically. The expansion the group has made in Pete Kwiatkowski’s second season is making a huge effect.
Management
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities
One in every of Steve Sarkisian’s measurements of tradition concerned participant management and accountability. The 2022 Longhorns have that in spades, with a number of upperclassmen pushing the workforce to enhance. Staff management might want to put together youthful gamers for the battle they’ll face in Stillwater. Ought to they get a lead, Roschon Johnson and firm can be counted on to shut out the sport.
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