Texas players to watch, key matchup against Baylor

Te Steve Habel
Senior Contributing Writer

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns will try to bounce back from a heart-breaking, last-second loss at Iowa State last week when it travels up I-35 to play No. 14 Baylor Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. CST.

The Longhorns (6-4 overall, 4-3 in Big 12 play) are still in the running for berth in the Big 12 championship game but has to beat Baylor (9-1 overall, 6-1 in Big 12 games) to keep those slim hopes alive.

Baylor also will [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]try to rebound from a last-minute loss to Oklahoma last week in which it had a 28-3 lead in the first quarter but went scoreless in the second half to watch its dream of an undefeated season die at the hands of the Sooners. As if the Bears needed any further incentive Saturday, Baylor will clinch a spot on in the Big 12 championship game with a win over Texas.

Here are a few of the players and matchups we are watching in the game that will go a long way in determining UT’s bowl placement and bragging rights in the Lone Star state:

Players to watch
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger: The focal point of the Texas offense this season, Ehlinger has regressed in recent weeks as defenses have forced him to move deeper into his passing reads, and he has simply tried to do too much. Expect Ehlinger to be at his best this week, as he has been very strong against ranked teams in his career. Since the start of the 2018 season, Ehlinger has led the Longhorns against 10 ranked opponents, against whom Texas is 6-4. In those 10 games, he has completed 218-of-327 passes (66.7 percent) for 2,675 yards, 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also has rushed for 417 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Running back Keaontay Ingram: The Longhorns’ run game laid a huge egg last week in Ames, Iowa, with Ingram, UT’s erstwhile “starting” running back, picking up just nine yards on eight carries. Just like against Iowa State, the Longhorns’ formula for victory at Baylor must include stout production in the running game, and Ingram is a big part of that. He has carried the ball 122 times for 642 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and six touchdowns this season and also has caught 25 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He has to have a big game for Texas to have success against the Bears.

Defensive end Malcolm Roach: Texas will need to find some way to pressure Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer, and Roach will be a big part of that from his spot rushing on the edge. Roach was one of a handful of players who jumped offside last week on an Iowa State field goal attempt that allowed the Cyclones to run off all the clock before kicking the game-winner on the final snap, and Roach was emotional about that mistake when addressing it this week with the media. Roach, who has logged 28 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry this season, will be looking for a little payback against the Bears.

Kicker Cameron Dicker: We expect this game to go down to the final minute, and the Longhorns are in good hands, eh … feet, with Dicker the Kicker, who already has booted two game-winners this season and three in his career. Dicker has made 30 of his 41 career field goal attempts and is 12-for-16 (75 percent) on field goal tries in 2019. How about a 47-yarder from Dicker with under 30 seconds to play to give Texas a 38-37 win over Baylor?

Key matchup
UT’s offensive live against Baylor’s front six — you have seen this a lot here this year, but if the O-line can control the Bears’ rush and blitzes, and find holes for Ingram, Roschon Johnson and Ehlinger, then the Longhorns can win this game. Getting right guard Junior Angilau back from a knee injury that kept him out last week will help push this matchup in the Longhorns’ favor.

Wild card
How will Baylor respond to its first loss of the season? The Bears dominated Oklahoma for the first half and then fell off the table after halftime. Which team shows up against the Longhorns? Who should be playing with their collective hair on fire in search of a strong finish to the season? If the Baylor team from last week’s first half shows up Saturday and stays a while. Texas could be in a world of hurt.
[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [habeabk] [/s2If]