Physicality will define Texas vs. Kansas State, a contest the Longhorns have won six straight times
During his Monday press conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian‘s word of the day was physicality. He repeated it nearly 10 times, emphasizing that his No. 7-ranked team needed to play with that trait on Saturday versus No. 25 Kansas State.
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“I think this game is about toughness,” Sarkisian said. “Just look back to the last two years the way these games have gone. Two years ago, we were playing with half of a quarterback, played wildcat, didn’t throw a whole lot of passes and ran the ball. They were running the ball with Deuce (Vaughn). Last year with Bijan (Robinson) and Roschon (Johnson), it was a real tough, hard-nosed, physical game there as well.”
“I don’t see this game being a whole lot different. Two teams that believe in running the ball. Two teams that pride themselves on being physical, being tough, and being disciplined.”
The Wildcats come to Austin with a 6-2 overall record, a 4-1 mark in Big 12 play (same as Texas), and a successful two quarterback system featuring Will Howard and Avery Johnson. Even without Vaughn at K-State’s disposal, Texas is preparing to face a team like so many other Wildcat teams before them — one that plays tough, physical football along the line of scrimmage.
“It’s just a matchup of who wants it more,” linebacker David Gbenda said. “That’s what the competition is. You really see who’s really about it and who’s really not. I’m really excited to see the physicality aspect of this game.”
Added defensive back and Jim Thorpe semifinalist Jahdae Barron, “it’s going to be a physical game, and we know they’re going to give us their best shot. We’ve got to make sure we give them our best shot too.”
Sark’s word of the day trickled down to even more players.
“They’re tough and physical,” linebacker Jaylan Ford said. “They’ve been able to dominate teams in the past.”
Who wins the basic battle most football games are decided on has often won the game in this contest. For the last six games between Texas and Kansas State, the Longhorns have won in the trenches and on the scoreboard.
2017
First-year head coach Tom Herman put the ball in true freshman Sam Ehlinger‘s hands 70 times versus the No. 18 Wildcats. Ehlinger was 30-for-50 through the air for 380 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He added 20 carries for 107 yards, including an overtime trucking of a K-State defender to set up a score.
The Longhorns outgained the Wildcats 546 to 394, and outrushed KSU 166 to 140 in a 40-34 overtime win.
2018
Thanks to a 90-yard punt return score by D’Shawn Jamison, plus an Ehlinger to Collin Johnson touchdown pass, a safety, and a Cameron Dicker field goal, Texas held on to defeat the Wildcats in Bill Snyder Family Stadium during Bill Snyder‘s final season leading the program in Manhattan, Kan.
Ehlinger was 29-for-36 with one touchdown, while Keaontay Ingram rushed for 68 yards on 10 carries. In a slog of a game, Texas again outgained K-State and outrushed the Wildcats 115 to 107.
2019
Kansas State quickly jumped to a 14-0 lead within the first 10 minutes of action, and looked to be on its way to an easy victory over a very inconsistent Texas team. But the Longhorns rattled off 27 points in the last three quarters, with the final three coming as time expired to top Chris Klieman during his first season leading KSU.
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Texas limited K-State to 51 rushing yards on 26 carries, soundly outrushing the ‘Cats yet again by a total of 214 to 51. Texas outgained KSU by 173 yards. Ingram had 16 carries for 139 yards and two scores.
2020
Both teams had been eliminated from Big 12 titles contention at this point, and several Longhorns elected to declare for the draft before the season ended. This gave Bijan Robinson an opportunity to have a national coming-out party, and he took full advantage.
Robinson rushed nine times for 172 yards and three scores. Not to be outdone, Roschon Johnson added 14 carries for 139 yards and three touchdowns. Texas gained 608 yards versus the Wildcats, with 334 of them coming on the ground. The Longhorns dominated KSU 69-31.
2021
Sarkisian’s first chance at KSU came at the end of his debut season in Austin with the Longhorns in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Desperately trying to turn things around, as he mentioned earlier, there weren’t a lot of offensive options for Texas.
While Will Howard scored on a 71-yard scamper, Texas’ defense shut out KSU in the second half and rode six second-half points via two Dicker field goals and Johnson in the wildcat to a 22-17 victory. Texas outgained KSU 381 to 293, but for the first time in this streak was outrushed by Klieman’s team 228-209.
2022
Texas defeated No. 13 Kansas State, the eventual Big 12 champions, on the road in early November last year thanks to a heroic effort by Robinson. The 2022 Doak Walker Award winner rushed 30 times for 209 yards and a score, while Johnson added a touchdown on the ground as well. Texas outrushed KSU 269 to 139 despite being outgained by two yards. The Longhorns won a34-27 thriller thanks to Keondre Coburn‘s late sack-fumble.
As the details of Texas’ six-game winning streak suggests, the battle for the game is often determined by the battle in the trenches. That’s just how Sarkisian wants it to be for his team, especially this Saturday.
“We’ve got to get back to playing our brand of football, and that’s a physical brand of football, being detailed oriented, and execute,” Sarkisian said.
