GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Texas offensive line versus Oklahoma State’s pass rush. The Cowboys’ Jordan Brailford is tied for seventh in the nation with eight sacks and leads an Oklahoma State pass rush that can be, at the least, disruptive and, at times, dominating, Whether Ehlinger or Buechele is at quarterback for Texas, the Longhorns will likely not run from that position as much as in earlier games, making the pass protection that much more important.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Collin Johnson has the size (6-foot-6, 215 pounds), athleticism and speed that the NFL loves, but he needs to be more aggressive. Texas coach Tom Herman has ordered his quarterbacks to go to the go-route to Johnson anytime and every time he draws single coverage, and that strategy worked for a 22-yard TD in the loss to Maryland. He now has 42 catches for 533 yards and five TDs in the first seven games.
ROSTER REPORT:
–QB Sam Ehlinger is on schedule to play, and likely start, on Saturday against Oklahoma State as he recovers from a Grade 1 shoulder sprain suffered early in the win over Baylor on Oct. 13.
–Ehlinger has now attempted 168 consecutive passes without an interception, surpassing Major Applewhite’s school record of 156. He was added to the watch list for the 2018 Manning Award last Thursday.
–LB Jeffrey McCullough is expected to practice this week after a one-car accident last week left him with a sore neck. McCulloch’s vehicle hydroplaned off the road during a rain storm
–DB Josh Thompson hyper-extended his knee last week in practice and has been on the shelf but is expected to practice beginning Tuesday.
–The Longhorns moved up one spot to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 poll and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. They haven’t been ranked this high in either poll since Sept. 19, 2010 when they were ranked No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 4 in the Coaches poll.
–Texas is one of just three teams (LSU, Notre Dame) with at least three wins over ranked teams (No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 17 TCU, No. 22 USC).
–Texas coach Tom Herman has been named to the 2018 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, which recognizes the country’s top college football coaches for their contributions both on and off the field. The watch list includes 20 coaches.
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