The resurgent Texas Longhorns resume their quest for a spot in the national playoff when they return from a week off to visit the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday in Stillwater. Texas (6-1 overall, 4-0 Big 12) has not tasted defeat since an Sportsbook-week loss at Maryland and begins Week 9 ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25. The Cowboys (4-3 overall, 1-3 Big 12) have lost two straight and three of four to fall out of contention for a conference title, but are off a bye week themselves and have won 13 of their last 15 home games in October. Despite the uncertain status of Texas starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger, the Longhorns opened as 3-point road favorites in this matchup.
- Oklahoma State is 1-8 in its last 9 home games against Texas and 6-14 in the last 20 meetings overall.
- The UNDER is 10-1 in Texas’ last 11 road games and 19-6 in Texas’ last 25 games overall.
- The OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings at Oklahoma State.
Texas vs Oklahoma State Game Center
WHO WILL PLAY QUARTERBACK FOR THE LONGHORNS?
The biggest variable in this game is clearly the uncertain status of Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger. The sophomore didn’t even finish the Sportsbook series in Texas’ last game against Baylor, forced to leave with a Grade 1 AC sprain in his shoulder. Although reports this past weekend indicated that Ehlinger has begun throwing again, the Longhorns are expected to take a conservative approach with their young star pivot, knowing they’ll need him down the stretch for games against West Virginia, Iowa State and Texas Tech.
If Ehlinger doesn’t return to action this week, junior Shane Buechele will likely get the call at quarterback for the Longhorns. Buechele does have significant experience, starting for Texas in his freshman season two years ago when he set several Texas passing records for a first-year quarterback. He also managed to lead the Longhorns past Baylor after Ehlinger was injured, throwing for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 23-17 ’Horns victory. “Shane Buechele is the most engaged … most prepared … most positive-coaching backup quarterback I’ve ever been around in my life,” Texas coach Tom Herman gushed to reporters after the game.
Still, Buechele is no Ehlinger, who accounted for five touchdowns earlier this month in a big win over Oklahoma and has not thrown an interception in his last 168 attempts, a school record. With Oklahoma State having the potential to pressure Buechele into mistakes with a strong pass rush, Texas might rely more heavily on its ground attack here if Ehlinger isn’t under center.
COWBOYS HOPE BYE CURES THEIR PROBLEMS
The bye couldn’t have come at a better time for the Cowboys, who stumbled into the break with three losses in their last four games. Don’t blame the schedule for Oklahoma State’s recent struggles, either. The Cowboys were favored by double digits in three of those four contests, then were 8-point road chalk in a 31-12 loss at Kansas State two weeks ago.
The biggest culprit has been the Oklahoma State defense, which was gashed for 148 points in those four games and now ranks near the bottom third of college football in points allowed, total yards allowed and passing yards allowed (ranking 99th in the latter). But fifth-year senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius couldn’t have been feeling too good about himself going into the bye, either. Fans and media alike have been urging Cowboys coach Mike Gundy to change quarterbacks after Cornelius completed 48.6 percent of his passes for 184 yards, zero touchdowns and a pick vs Kansas State. Even though Oklahoma State ranks 13th in the nation in passing yards per game and 16th in points scored, it could be just a matter of time before highly touted freshman Spencer Sanders sees some snaps at quarterback.
I’M BETTING THE ’HORNS TO HOOK ’EM
Whether or not Ehlinger plays on Saturday (I’m not expecting him to), I’m happy to lay the field goal with Texas. After years of failing to live up to expectations, the Longhorns now go into every game expecting to win and are finding ways to do it. Even in down years for the Texas program, the ’Horns have had their way with Oklahoma State in Stillwater, winning eight of their last nine visits. Look for Texas to find a way yet again, especially against a Cowboys team that can’t be bringing much confidence to the field Saturday night.
