TEXAS-OKLA. ST.
Longhorns look for rebound after Red River rivalry setback.
Records: No. 10 Oklahoma State 5-1, 2-1 Big 12; Texas 3-3, 2-1. Series history: Texas leads 24-7. Key players: Texas — QB Sam Ehlinger, WR Reggie HemphillMapps, LB Malik Jefferson; Oklahoma State — QB Mason Rudolph, RB Justice Hill, WR James Washington.
Who has the edge
Offense — Oklahoma State. Rudolph is having a year. He’s the second-leading passer in FBS football with 2,368 yards, and his favorite target, Washington, is second in receiving yards (882). The Cowboys are first in total offense (611) and passing (411.2), and second in scoring (48.8). Ehlinger’s emergence helps the Horns’ running game, but their backs still are mostly MIA. Kyle Porter (Katy), Chris Warren III and Toniel Carter (Langham Creek) combined for 17 yards on 14 carries last week. Defense — Even. The Longhorns held Oklahoma well below its season averages in total yards and points but still spotted their Red River rivals a 20-0 lead, then gave up the big, back-breaking play right after Ehlinger’s heroics gave them an improbable lead. The Cowboys corralled Baylor’s offense, holding the Bears, who had fared better in their the previous two outings, to only 387 yards while forcing three turnovers. Special teams — Texas. The Longhorns hold a slight edge because they have P Michael Dickson on their side. He’s third in the country with 48.5 yards per punt. He averaged 55 yards against Oklahoma, with four punts of 50-plus yards. K Joshua Rowland converted his only FG attempt against the Sooners but is only 5-of-10 this season. Cowboys K Matt Ammendola is 9-of-13. Notable: The Longhorns won 12 consecutive meetings from 1998 to 2009, but the Cowboys have claimed five of the past seven, including 30-27 two years ago in Austin and 49-31 last season in Stillwater, Okla. The Horns
led 25-23 with 6:31 left in the second quarter but scored only six points in the second half. They rushed for 329 yards in that game, a number that will be hard to match. Rudolph threw for 392 yards and three TDs and rushed for a score.
About Texas: The Longhorns may have found their quarterback, but they’re still having a hard time finding wins, falling to .500 on the season with a 29-24 loss to Oklahoma. Ehlinger rushed for 106 yards and the go-ahead TD with 8:01 left but didn’t receive much help from a ground game that managed only 33 yards without him. DB DeShon Elliott added a forced fumble to his FBSleading five INTs, but now he gets Rudolph one week after facing Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield.
About Oklahoma State: The Cowboys rolled over winless Baylor 59-16. They nearly lapped Baylor in total yards, piling up 747 behind huge games from Rudolph (459 yards, three TDs passing) and Washington, who hauled in six passes for 235 yards and one score. LB Justin Phillips led the defense against Baylor, forcing two fumbles and recording a sack.
WHEN: 11 A.M. SATURDAY. WHERE: ROYAL-MEMORIAL STADIUM, AUSTIN. TV: ABC. RADIO: 790 AM.