Make no mistake about it, Iowa State came into Saturday's game in Austin on a roll. With a new quarterback leading the way, the Cyclones have knocked down every opponent they have seen since late September, including a flat out beat-down of West Virginia.
Until tonight.
From the very first moment of the game, Tom Herman's Texas Longhorns dominated the Cyclones in about every way one team can dominate another.
When the Longhorns wanted to run the ball, the Longhorns ran the ball. When the Longhorns wanted to throw the ball, they threw the ball with success. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, Todd Orlando's bunch became the first team to make Iowa State freshman Brock Purdy look like an overwhelmed teenager, while not allowing the Cyclone's offense into the end zone all night until the last few minutes of the game.
By a long distance, the Longhorns played their best and most complete 60 minutes of football of the year. In the process, the Longhorns are in a position to earn a spot in the conference title game by merely going to Lawrence, Kansas next week and emerging with a win.
It's as simple as that. Win and Texas is in.
(Other thoughts on the game)
* Before I talk about anything else, let's give a healthy amount of praise to the Texas seniors in this game because it seemed like they were constantly making plays, from Anthony Wheeler to Gary Johnson to Kris Boyd to Davante Davis to Chris Nelson to Breckyn Hager to Charles Omenihu to Tre Watson to Andrew Beck to Jerrod Heard. Almost every senior deserves a game ball.
* I suppose in order for Sam Ehlinger to be Sam Ehlinger, you have to somewhat live with the fact that he's going throw his body around without fear, but the shot he took at the end of the second quarter while trying to get a first down/reach the end zone while the Longhorns were already up two scores was a reminder that the kind of reckless abandon he plays with comes with a price. Luckily for the Longhorns, this turned into the kind of game where Herman could sit Ehlinger down in the second half when his throwing shoulder wasn't at 100 percent and still cruise to a win. It's a damn shame that he got knocked out of the game because he had one hell of a first half and was probably robbed of another elite-level night.
* Attaboy, Shane Buechele. All the kid did in replacing Ehlinger was go a perfect 10 of 10 for 89 yards and a touchdown. The Notre Dame game in 2016 will always be a marker moment, but this was probably his most important performance of his career. It was kind of his Chance Mock vs. Texas Tech in 2003 moment. Good for him.
* Against the best defense in the Big 12, Ehlinger and Buchele combined to complete 22 of 25 passes for 226 yards, three total touchdowns and zero turnovers. That'll do.
* Texas was incredibly physical on offense throughout the night. That unit played with the kind of attitude you'd like to bottle up and sell if possible.The coaches had these kids ready to play.
* Todd Orlando has had some rough nights this season, but his group was sensational tonight. It seemed like Orlando and Co. confused the hell out of Purdy with pressure coming from every direction. The game-plan called for non-stop pressure and it worked better than anything anyone else has tried to throw at the youngster. Orlando continues to be a coordinator that chews up freshmen quarterbacks for a living.
* In terms of getting pressure on the opposing quarterback, the Longhorns were more successful tonight than they have been at any point all season ... by a country mile.
* Hakeem Butler had a good night for the Cyclones, but he wasn't a game-changer for much of the night, so I'd call that a win for the defense. If you'd told me coming into the game that he'd be limited to less than 100 yards receiving and no touchdowns, I'd have guessed Texas would win by multiple touchdowns.
* As soon as Lil' Jordan Humphrey caught the pass from Shane Buechele in the third quarter that went for a touchdown, I knew he was going to throw that Iowa State defensive back to the ground and score. He's just in an animal mode in the homestretch of the season. We might be looking at the third best wide receiver in the history of the Texas program. It's hard not to wonder whether he just played the last home game of his career.
* Caden Sterns played his best game since September, but goodness gracious, B.J. Foster was a barbarian out on the field tonight. The future is bright in the Texas secondary. Believe that.
* I thought Anthony Wheeler played the best game of his season tonight.
* How important to the offense can freshman Keontay Ingram be? On UT's second touchdown drive of the night, Ingram accounted for 61 yards and the touchdown. He's good.
* Breckyn Hager getting that big sack in the second quarter was a great send-off moment for the senior.
* Attaboy, Chris Brown. More than just his first career interception, I thought he played well for four quarters.
* Texas got a stop on the opening drive of the game, the first time since the Kansas State game in September that it had kept the opposing team from scoring on its opening drive..
Until tonight.
From the very first moment of the game, Tom Herman's Texas Longhorns dominated the Cyclones in about every way one team can dominate another.
When the Longhorns wanted to run the ball, the Longhorns ran the ball. When the Longhorns wanted to throw the ball, they threw the ball with success. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, Todd Orlando's bunch became the first team to make Iowa State freshman Brock Purdy look like an overwhelmed teenager, while not allowing the Cyclone's offense into the end zone all night until the last few minutes of the game.
By a long distance, the Longhorns played their best and most complete 60 minutes of football of the year. In the process, the Longhorns are in a position to earn a spot in the conference title game by merely going to Lawrence, Kansas next week and emerging with a win.
It's as simple as that. Win and Texas is in.
(Other thoughts on the game)
* Before I talk about anything else, let's give a healthy amount of praise to the Texas seniors in this game because it seemed like they were constantly making plays, from Anthony Wheeler to Gary Johnson to Kris Boyd to Davante Davis to Chris Nelson to Breckyn Hager to Charles Omenihu to Tre Watson to Andrew Beck to Jerrod Heard. Almost every senior deserves a game ball.
* I suppose in order for Sam Ehlinger to be Sam Ehlinger, you have to somewhat live with the fact that he's going throw his body around without fear, but the shot he took at the end of the second quarter while trying to get a first down/reach the end zone while the Longhorns were already up two scores was a reminder that the kind of reckless abandon he plays with comes with a price. Luckily for the Longhorns, this turned into the kind of game where Herman could sit Ehlinger down in the second half when his throwing shoulder wasn't at 100 percent and still cruise to a win. It's a damn shame that he got knocked out of the game because he had one hell of a first half and was probably robbed of another elite-level night.
* Attaboy, Shane Buechele. All the kid did in replacing Ehlinger was go a perfect 10 of 10 for 89 yards and a touchdown. The Notre Dame game in 2016 will always be a marker moment, but this was probably his most important performance of his career. It was kind of his Chance Mock vs. Texas Tech in 2003 moment. Good for him.
* Against the best defense in the Big 12, Ehlinger and Buchele combined to complete 22 of 25 passes for 226 yards, three total touchdowns and zero turnovers. That'll do.
* Texas was incredibly physical on offense throughout the night. That unit played with the kind of attitude you'd like to bottle up and sell if possible.The coaches had these kids ready to play.
* Todd Orlando has had some rough nights this season, but his group was sensational tonight. It seemed like Orlando and Co. confused the hell out of Purdy with pressure coming from every direction. The game-plan called for non-stop pressure and it worked better than anything anyone else has tried to throw at the youngster. Orlando continues to be a coordinator that chews up freshmen quarterbacks for a living.
* In terms of getting pressure on the opposing quarterback, the Longhorns were more successful tonight than they have been at any point all season ... by a country mile.
* Hakeem Butler had a good night for the Cyclones, but he wasn't a game-changer for much of the night, so I'd call that a win for the defense. If you'd told me coming into the game that he'd be limited to less than 100 yards receiving and no touchdowns, I'd have guessed Texas would win by multiple touchdowns.
* As soon as Lil' Jordan Humphrey caught the pass from Shane Buechele in the third quarter that went for a touchdown, I knew he was going to throw that Iowa State defensive back to the ground and score. He's just in an animal mode in the homestretch of the season. We might be looking at the third best wide receiver in the history of the Texas program. It's hard not to wonder whether he just played the last home game of his career.
* Caden Sterns played his best game since September, but goodness gracious, B.J. Foster was a barbarian out on the field tonight. The future is bright in the Texas secondary. Believe that.
* I thought Anthony Wheeler played the best game of his season tonight.
* How important to the offense can freshman Keontay Ingram be? On UT's second touchdown drive of the night, Ingram accounted for 61 yards and the touchdown. He's good.
* Breckyn Hager getting that big sack in the second quarter was a great send-off moment for the senior.
* Attaboy, Chris Brown. More than just his first career interception, I thought he played well for four quarters.
* Texas got a stop on the opening drive of the game, the first time since the Kansas State game in September that it had kept the opposing team from scoring on its opening drive..
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