Big 12 Football: Week 9 Power Rankings

6.  Texas Longhorns (Record: 4-4)

Down. Goes. Baylor.

The Texas Longhorns were underdogs headed into Saturday’s matchup against the undefeated Baylor Bears, however, as we all know, upsets in college football are guaranteed at some point or another.

Facing extreme scrutiny, and with job security red hot, Charlie Strong had to find a way to win, and he delivered. The first drive by Baylor resulted in a 50 yard touchdown run by Bears’ quarterback Seth Russell. Many thought that if Texas couldn’t contain Russell, it could be a very long day. However, Texas brought pressure, and even limited Baylor to a single field goal in the fourth quarter. The Longhorns’ biggest accomplishment in the fourth quarter was taking 2 minutes and 24 seconds off the clock on a touchdown drive, leaving just :46 seconds for Baylor to score. With an aggressive pass rush, including a sack for loss by Malik Jefferson, capped by an incomplete pass to KD Cannon as time expired, the Longhorns prevailed to win, 35-34.

Texas’s defense will have to contain Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes this weekend in a similar way that TCU did. But for a defense that’s ranked No. 111 in the nation in total defense, allowing 461.9 yards-per-game, compared to the nation’s second highest rated offense in Texas Tech, that might be easier said than done.

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