Flashback:  Fifteen years since Texas was 9-1 heading into final two Conference games  

The last time the Texas Longhorns were 9-1 with two regular season games remaining was 2008. That year the preseason AP Poll ranked Texas No. 11 and USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 10.  The Longhorns finished the season with a 13-1 record.  Coach Mack Brown led the team to a 12-1 record with a single loss to Texas Tech, but it was punctuated by the No.3 Longhorns defeating No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.  Texas finished the season ranked 4^th in the AP Poll, 3^rd in the Coaches Poll and 3^rd in the BCS Standings.  The following season Texas went undefeated until the National Championship Game in which quarterback Colt McCoy was injured during their loss to Alabama.  

Fifteen years ago, the season-leading rusher for the Texas Longhorns was Colt McCoy with 561 total yards (4.1 yards per carry) followed closely behind by Vondrell McGee (376, 4.3 ypc) and Chris Ogbonnaya (373, 5.0 ypc).  Conversely, this year’s leading rusher is sophomore Jonathon Brooks, who although he suffered a season-ending injury last week, already accumulated 1139 yards and averaged 6.1 ypc. Brooks is followed by true freshman CJ Baxter (390, 4.5 ypc) and sophomore Jaydon Blue (167, 5.8 ypc).   

The receiving corps from 2008 was led by Quan Cosby (1,123 total yards) and Jordan Shipley (1,060 total yards) who averaged 12.2 yards/reception and 11.9 yards/reception, respectively.  With games still to be played, the 2023 crew is led by juniors Xavier Worthy (757 total yards), Adonai Mitchell (637 total yards) and Ja’Tavion Sanders (425 total yards).  Their production through ten games has translated into 12.83, 15.93 and 16.35 yards/reception, respectively.   

It doesn’t take data relative to 2008 to prove that #7 Texas struggles in the Red Zone but zooming out, the program is not significantly lagging in average total offensive yards per game.  Moreover, the Longhorn’s defense is holding opponents to slightly less overall yardage and nearly identical average points per game.  This year’s team has 11 interceptions thus far, whereas the 2008 team notched six total. Special teams are contributing too this season, optimizing kick and punt returns to more than an average of 17 yards/return.  

As Texas travels to near-freezing Ames, Iowa, they will face the Big 12’s #1 overall defense, although the Longhorns are on their heels in second.  Moreover, Texas ranks 3^rd in overall offense in the conference and Iowa State is #13 of the 14-team league.  The Longhorns are favored by 9 points and on paper should defeat the Cyclones, but the team’s dependable offensive weapon in Brooks is out and quarterback Quinn Ewers is likely still healing from an injury sustained weeks ago. Iowa State has defeated Texas three out of the last four meetings, and in the series between the two over the last 13 years Texas holds an 8-5 advantage.