TEXAS A&M-LSU
The Aggies pay a visit to Bayou Bengal country.
Records: Texas 6-5, 5-3 Big 12; Texas Tech 5-6, 2-6. Series history: Texas leads 50-16. Key players: Texas — QB Sam Ehlinger, RB Daniel Young, CB Davante Davis; Texas Tech — QB Nic Shimonek, RB Justin Stockton, LB Justus Parker
Who has the edge
Offense — Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are 10th in passing (326.3) and 18th in total yards (475) but managed only 327 yards against TCU, including 153 passing. Their only points came on a field goal on their first drive of the game. Ehlinger came in to throw for 136 yards and two TDs last week, sparking the Longhorns’ win at West Virginia. He also rushed for 68 yards.
Defense — Texas. The Longhorns knocked West Virginia QB Will Grier out of the game on a play that originally was ruled a touchdown, then reversed to a fumble and touchback. They held West Virginia to 295 yards. Texas is No. 8 in run defense (109.6) and S DeShon Elliott is second nationally with six interceptions. Texas Tech is No. 107 in total defense (438). Special teams — Texas. The Longhorns didn’t attempt a field goal last week. Texas Tech K Clayton Hatfield went 1-for-3 against TCU, missing a 20-yard attempt badly in the third quarter. He’s 2-of-5 on the season. Texas P Michael Dickson is averaging 48
yards per punt. Tech P Dominic Panazzolo is at 41.5 yards per punt.
Notable: The Red Raiders won 48-45 two years ago in Austin. They led 24-10 in the third before the Longhorns rallied for a 38-34 advantage in the fourth. The Raiders pulled it out with two rushing TDs in the final 6:18. Texas won 45-37 last year in Lubbock, with RB D’Onta Foreman — now with the Texans — rushing for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
About Texas: After falling short the past two seasons, the Longhorns are bowl eligible for the first time in three years after a 28-14 win at West Virginia, with early projections keeping them in state for the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium or Alamo Bowl. They can close the season on a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2009 with a win, but they’re only 1-6 in their past seven seniorday games. About Texas Tech: The Red Raiders lost for the fifth time in six games last week, falling 27-3 to TCU. The loss marked the first time they failed to score an offensive touchdown since a 66-6 loss to Oklahoma State in 2011. The three points were the fewest for a Tech team since a 12-3 loss at TCU in 2006. Shimonek, who has thrown for 3,451 yards and 28 TDs this season, failed to throw a TD pass, finishing 17-of-33 for 137 yards with one INT and three sacks. Stockton rushed for 124 yards, giving him 649 yards and four TDs on 107 rushes.