Cyclones showdown has huge implications
AUSTIN — Sam Ehlinger doesn’t regret what he declared on that stage inside the MercedesBenz Superdome 23 months ago.
The Texas quarterback was coming off a Sugar Bowl upset of No. 5 Georgia, and the adrenaline was flowing.
So, the game’s MVP, the Austinite who never dreamed of playing anywhere else, smirked and uncorked a “We’re baaaack!” and reveled in the chaotic bliss of that moment.
Turns out, Ehlinger’s declaration was premature, at least in the sense of Texas recapturing the glory of the Mack Brown years. The Longhorns were back only to being a frustration factory.
Now, almost two years and seven losses later, Ehlinger is trying to pen a sanguine epilogue to a career that has featured remarkable highs and brutal lows.
“I don’t regret it, because I learned from it,” Ehlinger said. “You know, it’s one of those things that I’ll look back and be like, that was pretty funny.
“Would I do it again? Probably not.”
Ehlinger still has a chance to deliver a title to Texas in what is expected to be his final college campaign. (Thencaaapproved a blanket waiver for all fall sports athletes to retain a year of eligibility even if they exceed redshirt minimums.)
Friday’s game between No. 17 Texas (5-2, 4-2 Big 12) and No. 13 Iowa State (6-2, 5-1) at Darrell K. Royal-texas Memorial Stadium has massive implications. The Cyclones would clinch a berth in the Big 12 championship game with a win; Texas needs to win all three of its remaining games to earn that right.
This is the most challenging matchup remaining on the Longhorns’ regular-season schedule, which concludes with a trip to Kansas State (4-4, 4-3) on Dec. 5 and a Dec. 12 road game against winless Kansas (0-7, 0-6).
Ehlinger and his teammates should at least be rested and healthy after a long layoff. The postponement of last weekend’s Kansas contest created a 20-day gap between games for Texas, winners of three straight after consecutive losses to TCU and Oklahoma.
Tight end Jared Wiley (shoulder), wide receiver Joshua Moore (shoulder) and wideout Jordan Whittington (hip) are all expected to play, giving Ehlinger three more weapons to target in the passing game. Tight end Cade
Brewer (shoulder) should also return and solidify a group that was depleted just a week ago.
“Extremely unique couple of weeks for us,” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “Nobody in this program has ever gone 20 straight days in the regular season without playing a game, so a lot of opportunities built in there to get guys rested, to get guys healthy and to hopefully get an extra day or two of preparation time for another top 25 opponent that is playing as good of football as anybody in our conference on both sides of the football right now.”
Ehlinger has to win this duel against Iowa State junior Brock Purdy.
To do that, Texas’ offensive line has to fend off a fierce Cyclones pass rush led by ends Will Mcdonald (9.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) and Jaquan Bailey (12.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks). And Ehlinger has to avoid costly errors against an opportunistic defense — linebacker Mike Rose has four of the team’s eight interceptions against Big 12 foes.
“It’s certainly fitting,” Ehlinger said of the high stakes hovering over what’s likely his final home game. “I think over the last four years, we’ve been through just about everything. The highs, the lows, adversity, close games, not close games, just really every possible scenario. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
A win Friday means Ehlinger can still craft that ideal ending — celebrating a Big 12 title in Arlington — he’s been chasing for years. It would also keep the heat off Herman, with whom the quarterback will be inextricably linked, for better or worse.
He’ll need to hit on the deep balls that, of late, have tended to sail too far or fall too short. He’ll need to use those powerful legs to escape, to buy more time, to make the amazing happen when a play implodes. And he’ll need to deliver a vintage ehlinger performance against a motivated Iowa State teamthat ranks No. 2 among Big 12 teams in both total defense and scoring defense.
Texas won’t be “back,” if Ehlinger does all that. But at least it’ll still have a pulse and a shot to do something special.
“I think my mentality when I was at Westlake was I wanted to come in and leave the University of Texas football program better than it was when I got here,” Ehlinger said. “And whatever that may look like, whether that be in the locker room, on the field, off the field, that was just kind of my mentality. So, still got work to do, and still have a great opportunity in front of us.”