Texas Football: 3 takeaways from clutch win at Iowa State

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns watches players warm up before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns watches players warm up before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

3. Tom Herman has Texas back

Heading into a contest in Stillwater with Oklahoma State, most felt like Texas was back to being a national title contender. However, the Longhorns slipped up that night, falling 38-35 to the Cowboys and let that defeat linger, resulting in a 42-41 setback to West Virginia  week later.

With their backs against the proverbial wall, though, Tom Herman’s crew has stepped up, defeating Texas Tech in a wild one last week, 41-34, and dominating a red-hot Iowa State in all facets of the game Saturday night. Now, with a win over Kansas and a little help, Texas could be competing for the league title in December.

Herman, in his second season as head coach after a 22-4 record over two years at Houston, has surpassed the win total set last year at 7-6. That included a win in the Texas Bowl, but just a tie for fourth in the Big 12. The Longhorns will be doing much better than that this time around.

When Sam Ehlinger went down with an injury and didn’t return, Shane Buechele, who lost the job to Ehlinger, stepped right in. He finished 10-for-10 with 89 yards and a touchdown, as the team ran for almost 200 yards.