GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Texas defense versus the Kansas rushing attack. Jayhawks freshman running back Pooka Williams Jr. produced 312 all-purpose yards last week against Oklahoma, in the process setting a new Kansas single-game freshman rushing record with 252 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Williams became KU’s first player to produce a 1,000-yard rushing season since James Sims in 2013 and has amassed 1,022 yards rushing. Conversely, Texas allowed Iowa State just 62 total yards on the ground in its win last week, so it should be up to the task.
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 any time and every time he draws single coverage, and that strategy worked for a 22-yard TD in the loss to Maryland. He now has 53 catches for 730 yards and five TDs combined in the first 11 games.
ROSTER REPORT:
–QB Sam Ehlinger has attempted 295 consecutive passes without an interception, surpassing Major Applewhite’s school record of 156 in 1999 and the Big 12 mark of 273 as set by former West Virginia quarterback Gino Smith. He is on the watch list for the 2018 Manning Award.
–QB Shane Buechele, the Longhorns’ backup, played the entire second half against Iowa State, going 10-for-10 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown.
–WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who had a team-high seven catches for 86 yards against Iowa State, is the ninth player in school history with a 1,000-yard receiving season.