Texas Football: Longhorns' 33-30 OT Win Against Kansas State - Staff Takeaways

Texas narrowly escapes with a win against Kansas State in overtime, thanks to a strong defensive performance and key turnovers.

In a thrilling matchup between Kansas State and Texas, the question arises: was Kansas State coach Chris Klieman's decision to go for the win on fourth-and-goal from the 4 instead of playing it safe with a short field goal the right call? It's a debatable topic, especially considering the struggles of the kicker throughout the game. However, regardless of the answer, the Longhorns ultimately emerged victorious, taking another step towards their goal of reaching the Big 12 championship game and potentially securing a spot in the College Football Playoff.

When analyzing Texas' overtime win, several key takeaways come to light. Despite Texas holding a significant statistical advantage, three turnovers, a blocked punt, 10 penalties, and a turnover on downs in the red zone allowed Kansas State to stay in the game. Mistakes like these can prove costly against quality opponents, and the Longhorns were fortunate to overcome them.

One standout aspect of the game was the performance of Texas' edge rushers. Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke were instrumental in the Longhorns' victory, recording three sacks between them. Burke's strip sack inside the Kansas State 5-yard line set up a quick touchdown run by Jonathon Brooks. However, the pass rush lost its effectiveness in the second half, allowing Kansas State's Will Howard to throw for three touchdowns and 249 of his 327 total passing yards.

The win against Kansas State showcased the strength of Texas' defense. The Longhorns finished the game with three sacks, eight tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and an interception. This defensive prowess played a crucial role in securing the victory.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian demonstrated his confidence in his young quarterback by allowing Maalik Murphy to showcase his skills early in the game. In just his second start, Murphy threw for 152 yards on 7-of-11 passing in the first quarter alone, helping Texas jump to a quick 10-0 lead. However, as the game progressed, Murphy's limitations and lack of experience became apparent. He threw for only 96 yards and two interceptions for the remainder of the game, finishing with a stat line of 19-of-37 for 248 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. In his previous start against BYU, Murphy had a similar performance, displaying inconsistency with 16-of-25 completions for 170 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble. It's clear that Murphy's performance has been a rollercoaster ride so far.

Notably, all three of Adonai Mitchell's touchdown catches as a Longhorn have been thrown by Maalik Murphy. Additionally, the University of Texas's "minister of culture," Matthew McConaughey, celebrated his 54th birthday at DKR Stadium. The game drew a crowd of 101,670 spectators. It's worth mentioning that seven of the last eight matchups between Texas and Kansas State have been closely contested, with several games going into overtime, all resulting in victories for Texas.

Looking ahead, Texas faces another challenging stretch as they navigate their Big 12 schedule. Their next game will be at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, with the exact date and time to be announced. Over the next few weeks, the Longhorns will face TCU, Iowa State, and Texas Tech, with the latter game taking place on the day after Thanksgiving.

As Texas continues their journey towards the Big 12 championship game, they have encountered two formidable opponents in back-to-back weeks, both of which competed in last year's conference championship. Their upcoming games against TCU, Iowa State, and Texas Tech will be crucial in determining their fate in the conference.