GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The Texas passing attack against Iowa State’s bend-but-don’t-break defense. The Cyclones are the Big 12’s best defense for a reason — they don’t give up a lot of big plays. Iowa State debuted its version of the “lightning” defense last year against Texas and kept the game to a manageable level, losing 17-7. The Longhorns have to stay patient against Iowa State to have success — take the four-yard run, get the quarterback outside of the pocket, throw passes to the checkdown receiver — basically take what the Cyclones will give then and be happy with a low-scoring game.
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 50 catches for 675 yards and five TDs combined in the first 10 games.
ROSTER REPORT:
–QB Sam Ehlinger has attempted 280 consecutive passes without an interception, surpassing Major Applewhite’s school record of 156 in 1999 and the Big 12 mark of 273 set by former West Virginia quarterback Gino Smith. He is on the watch list for the 2018 Manning Award.
–CB Davante Davis had an MRI on his knee and ankle after he suffered a bone bruise on his knee and strain of a muscle in his ankle in the win over Texas Tech. He’s expected to be ready to play Saturday.
–WR Collin Johnson missed the Texas Tech game with a knee injury. “Collin is scheduled for an injection in that knee (Monday),” Herman said. “Hopefully within the next 24 hours the swelling goes down, and he starts to feel better, and we can increase his activity as the week progresses.”
–S Caden Sterns, who suffered a head injury against the Red Raiders, will lift weights Monday and practice without contact on Tuesday in the hope that he will be ready for Saturday’s game.
–RB Keaontay Ingram aggravated a hip pointer but should be back at practice on Tuesday or Wednesday.
–Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte announced that the Longhorns will play a home-and-home series with SEC power Georgia in 2028 and 2029. Texas is scheduled to host the Bulldogs on Sept. 2, 2028, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and will travel to Sanford Stadium in Athens to play Georgia on Sept. 1, 2029.