A game head coach Steve Sarkisian has been searching for since landing in Austin back in 2021, Texas has had five years to prepare for its next conference championship game, this time facing the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Texas has yet to face head coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys this season, and Sarkisian is 0–2 against Oklahoma State. Last year’s defeat featured one of sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers’ worst games in college football, completing just 39% of his passes while throwing three interceptions in a seven point loss.
The matchup means everything for a Longhorns team right on the cusp of greatness. Sarkisian will have to be on his A-game on Saturday against the Cowboys, and there are a few essential keys to victory for the Longhorns.
Physicality on the defensive line of scrimmage
Oklahoma State features arguably the best running back in the country in sophomore Ollie Gordon II. Gordon leads the nation in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage, but Oklahoma State uses him sparingly, ending the regular season with the fourth least rush attempts per game in the Big 12. Gordon, alongside smaller senior slot receiver Brennan Presley, who stands at 5-foot-8-inches, makes up the bulk of the touches for the Cowboys. Luckily for the Longhorns, however, the players matching up against Gordon and Presley are some of the best on the defense. Texas’ defensive line and run stuff is one of the best in the country thanks to senior and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year T’Vondre Sweat and junior Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy II. Both need to be able to dominate up front, forcing Oklahoma State to keep the ball away from their best weapon. Lining up across Presley is senior nickel cornerback Jahdae Barron, who has been one of the best in that role in the Big 12. The corner is three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than Presley, making him an ideal player to matchup against the elusive Presley. If Texas can take away the stars of Oklahoma State’s offense, then it will be set up for success.
Start the game with a boom
Oklahoma State lost three games this year with a combined score of 37-112. What sticks out in all three losses is the first quarter. In their two blowout losses versus South Alabama and UCF, the Cowboys were outscored by a combined 24 points in the first quarter of action. Though some games, like its Houston matchup, had them come from behind after a first quarter deficit, the Cowboys have struggled most when starting poorly. The Longhorns have excelled early in their recent matchups, shooting out to at least a 10-point lead in three of their last five, including last week’s game against Texas Tech. Big plays are the recipe for success, as Oklahoma State gives up an average of 251 passing yards and two touchdowns a game, bottom three in both categories for the Big 12. Look out for Texas junior wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who leads the Longhorns in receiving touchdowns and averages over 15 yards per reception, and sophomore running back Jaydon Blue, who averages nearly seven yards per touch and ran for a 69 yard touchdown last week against Texas Tech.
Slow it down
If Texas can succeed in the first two tasks, then the final element is simple. Slow the game down and force Oklahoma State to come back. Teams that play from behind are often forced to pass more because of time restraints, thus taking the ball out of Gordon’s hands. Oklahoma State did have a comeback win against BYU to secure its Big 12 Championship spot last week, but the Longhorns are more than happy to let senior quarterback Alan Bowman sit back in the pocket. Bowman is second to last in completion percentage. He also has the worst passer rating and the second most interceptions in the Big 12. The Cowboys are used to throwing the ball a lot, but with the pass rush of the Longhorns, Bowman will be in trouble if asked to drop back over 40 times on Saturday. With a Texas rushing attack that has averaged over 200 yards on the ground in the last five weeks, the Longhorns can afford to run the ball and work the clock en route to a Big 12 Championship title.
