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Big 12 Football Power Rankings 2017: Week 2 edition

By Phil Poling

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 17 : Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Pitt 45-38. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 17 : Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Pitt 45-38. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns sings The Eyes of Texas following a loss to the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns sings The Eyes of Texas following a loss to the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Opening weekend didn’t go as planned for new Texas head coach Tom Herman and the Longhorns. They scored 41 points thanks to some special teams help, but gave up 51 to the visiting Maryland Terrapins.

Texas’ run game was ineffective against the Terps, totaling only 98 yards as a team. Quarterback Shane Buechele had a team-high 15 rushing attempts, but only managed 21 yards. He completed 34 of his 52 pass attempts for 375 yards and two scores, but also tossed an interception.

The Longhorns’ defense couldn’t string many stops together Saturday, but they were playing a Big 10 program while their peers in the Big 12 played non-Power Five teams. If it weren’t for that simple fact, Texas would be in the basement with Baylor. Luckily, scheduling is keeping them from their — for now.

The opening score of the game came from the Texas defense, Holton Hill intercepting a pass and returning it 31 yards. The Terrapins would score four straight touchdowns after that, including a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. Holton Hill would score again for Texas, this time returning his own field goal block for six. Texas had an opportunity to stop Maryland late, but let a true freshman reserve quarterback lead a touchdown drive to put the Longhorns away.

Texas will try and right the ship this weekend against San Jose State in Tom Herman’s second home game.

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