Texas football face Kansas State in matchup that is critical for both teams

By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer

AUSTIN, Texas — In a season full of crucial football games, this Saturday’s dustup between up-and-down Texas and No. 20 Kansas State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has become the most important of the campaign for the Longhorns.

How well the Texas players understand that will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

After they lost two of the past three outings, and [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]an open week to lick their collective wounds, the Longhorns will need to ramp up their intensity and focus. That won’t be easy because the Wildcats are playing their best football of the season and are always a tough opponent for the Longhorns, even in down years.

“I think our guys have been very much locked in on this week and this week only,” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “Kansas State being in the position that they are and us putting ourselves in the position that we have has made this a really, really big game for both teams.”

Yes, the Longhorns (5-3 overall, 3-2 in Big 12 play) are still in the hunt for a spot in the Big 12 championship game, and everyone understands that UT’s staff builds its program around “going 1-0” each snap, each game, each week.

But Herman also acknowledged Thursday that he and his players are aware of the ramifications of Saturday’s game and how important it is to play well and consistently.

“We know that we’ve dug ourselves a hole when it comes to playing for our conference’s championship but that we still have an opportunity to do something about it,” Herman said. “All that becomes a bit irrelevant if we don’t take care of our business.”

One game at a time, and there is no question that Kansas State has the same mindset. With three wins in a row, including two weeks ago against then-No. 5 Oklahoma, the Wildcats are on the rise. There were some hard feelings around Manhattan, Kansas this week when Texas was listed as a seven-point favorite after all that Kansas State has done recently.

Kansas State (6-2 overall, 3-2 in Big 12 play) beat rival Kansas, 38-19, last week on the road. Thanks to their win streak, the Wildcats already are bowl-eligible under first-year coach Chris Klieman.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Klieman said about reaching six wins. “We have a lot of games left, and we’re not going to worry about the results. We’re just going to attack this week with Texas. We’re going to have another tough game on the road.”

The Wildcats have 25 rushing touchdowns — including 11 over just the past two weeks — after tallying only 20 rushing scores a year ago.

The K-State defense enters the week ranked highly in many statistical categories, including third down defense (second; 25.0 percent), first downs allowed (12th; 128), passing yards allowed (18th; 186.3), scoring defense (26th; 20.4) and pass efficiency defense (27th; 117.5).

The Wildcats have given up just four passing touchdowns through eight games this season, which is tied for the fewest nationally this season with Ohio State, Kentucky and Penn State.

Texas is 9-10 all-time against the Wildcats. The Longhorns defeated K-State, 19-14, last year in Manhattan. Kansas State is one of only two Big 12 schools with a winning record against Texas, but the Longhorns hold a 7-3 advantage on games played in Austin.
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