The importance of the Kansas State game
It’ll likely take the Texas Longhorns’ best all-around effort of the year to win in Manhattan on Saturday night.
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Quinn Ewers will have to step up and improve from his last two performances, both of which have left a lot to be desired. And in Kansas State, he will see one of the league’s top three defenses (alongside those of Iowa State and Baylor).
On the other side of the ball, the Texas D will have to get off the field and not let an improving K-State offense control the ball via the run and controlled passing game.
It’s not an impossible task. Just an improbable one.
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It’s hard for some to accept that the Wildcats are playing a better, more complete brand of ball than the Longhorns.
But that’s where we’re at.
Kansas State has an identity on both offense and defense, one that is reasonably consistent.
One could argue that Texas has an identity on offense and defense, too. But the Horns have been far too inconsistent by comparison.
Therefore, the likelihood of Texas piecing together a complete performance in Manhattan seems unlikely.
Yet, here we are.
According to folks in Vegas, Texas is a ever-so slight favorite.
Are people placing too much emphasis on what could have happened against Alabama? Or do the single-score away-game losses make the prognosticators think the Longhorns are due to win a tight one?
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I don’t know the answer.
Last year, I felt the season was slipping away after the Oklahoma State loss. I felt that it was possible the Horns would crater down the stretch, even though I couldn’t predict the home loss to Kansas.
This year, I don’t feel similarly.
I see a more mercurial team, one that still seems to have some fight left in them even if they’ve been knocked down a few times.
Perhaps this game tells us a little more about exactly where this Texas program is.
Remember, Steve Sarkisian essentially ripped this program down to its studs. Only a handful of seniors and upperclassmen truly remain.
It’s easy to look at recruiting rankings and wonder why a team like Kansas State can have a better record than the Horns. But recruiting rankings don’t account for development over time and experience. Nor do they account for scheme-fit.
All of those factors seem to favor K-State this year.
But the two teams will play the game on Saturday. And there’s a reason for that. Anything can happen, no matter which way you think Saturday will play out beforehand.
