Texas Football: Can Longhorns stop Oklahoma State’s streak in Week 4?

Texas football has lost five in a row in what has become quite the heated rivalry in the last decade. Will Texas finally beat the Cowboys in Austin?

The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns open their Big 12 seasons in a game that has become quite the rivalry.

In fact, the Cowboys have owned this game over the last 10 years. The ‘Pokes have won seven of the last 10 and five in a row at Darrell K. Royal in Austin. The ‘Horns haven’t beaten the Cowboys in Austin since 2008. That’s insane to think about. The Longhorns look to end the home losing streak against the ‘Pokes and continue their march to Dallas and the Big 12 title game.

Although this is a conference opener for the Longhorns, this is a must-win. Not only would a conference loss put them behind the eight ball in the Big 12 race, it would all but eliminate them from playoff contention. Texas is desperate to be considered one of the nation’s elite once again. That only happens if you stay in the playoff conversation.

Oklahoma State, on the other hand, comes to Austin with an explosive offense — that might not be a strong enough word. There’s an argument to be made that Spencer Sanders, Tylan Wallace and Chuba Hubbard are the best trio in college football. Texas had their issues with LSU’s tempo offense, so this one promises to be a barn-burner.

Here’s how to watch:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Austin, Texas
Venue: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

This might be one of those whoever has the ball last games. Defensively, Texas might have more talent, but Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers had no problem throwing and running all over the Longhorns in their 45-38 win. Burrow threw eight incomplete passes en route to a 471-yard, four-touchdown performance.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys come in averaging over 500 yards of offense and almost 50 points per game.

The Cowboys are balanced on offense as well. They want to get it done on the ground with Hubbard and redshirt freshman dual-threat quarterback Sanders leading a two-headed monster of a run game. If you key too much on the two of them and leave Wallace in man coverage, you will get burned.

Texas is all about Sam Ehlinger. Keaontay Ingram should be healthy and contribute some yards on the ground, but this is all about Sam. He’s going to run a lot, and he’s going to try to find big-bodied receivers Colin Johnson and Brennan Eagles down the field while speedster Devin Duvernay runs wild in the slot.

If either defense can contribute a stop or a turnover that would be great, but there won’t be much defense played here. The team that might show something on defense is Texas. They do have Caden Sterns and an interception by him might be the one play the Longhorns need to steal a home victory.

Prediction

This matchup has all the potential to be the game of the weekend, and not just in college football. There won’t be many punts, field goals or three-and-outs. If you like that sort of thing, check your local listing for whoever the Cal Bears are playing or DVR Northwestern/Michigan State and re-watch that game. Sanders and Ehlinger are going to have big games, and that might open things up for the running backs. This is an important game for the Longhorns and they need it bad; this is why I’m picking the Longhorns.

Final Score: Texas 49, Oklahoma State 41