The Texas Longhorns (3-2, 2-2) travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma this week to face the #6 Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0, 3-0). The HornSports staff gives their predictions on the outcome of Saturday’s game, which has developed into a must-win for Tom Herman, his players and his staff.
Devon Messinger
Entering the game, there will be dozens of storylines whirling around. But, the Longhorns will have to tone out the noise and focus on the task at hand.
The three-headed monster of Spencer Sanders, Chubba Hubbard, and Tylan Wallace will look to thrash the Longhorns in a revenge game. Unfortunately for Texas, Joseph Ossai was injured in the game against Baylor and may be on a limited snap count. In addition, Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger also looked banged up against the Bears. If Texas gets blown out by the Cowboys, things could get ugly.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Texas 27
Jameson McCausland
I have a hard time seeing Texas winning this game. The Longhorns have been too slow out of the gate offensively in recent weeks, and Oklahoma State can put up points in a hurry. Texas was in 12 personnel almost the entire game against Baylor and if they come out with the similar strategy against the Cowboys, they will get blown out. The only path to victory for Texas would be spreading Oklahoma State out and leaning heavily on the passing game, but Tom Herman does not seem to want to do that until his team is down in the 4th quarter and desperate. The better team and coach will win on Saturday.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma State 34, Texas 21
TFloss32
I’m sure I’m like many of my co-workers at HS struggling to write a prediction for this game. It’s all you can do to not take your eyes of the slow-motion train wreck that is Texas football and recruiting. There’s so much to process and absolutely none of it bodes well for a team going against an undefeated Oklahoma State. It’s difficult to find anything to hang your hat on other than Herman’s squads playing well in the underdog role, but that’s not nearly enough to make one think the Longhorns have a shot to get out of Stillwater with the W. The glaring disadvantages in this match-up, other than all of the off-the-field drama, is this team being woefully unprepared and uninspired on the road for years and a regressing offense that will be battling it out with the best defense they’ve seen this season. Oklahoma State may not beat Texas soundly, but I expect them to be in control for the majority of the game. Could this be the end of the Herman era?
Score Prediction: OK State 38, Texas 24
Tristan Larsen
Texas is 3-2 on the season. They’re 0-2 when the defense allows over 200 rushing yards, and 3-0 when it they don’t allow more than 200 rushing yards. Oklahoma State is leading the Big-12 in rushing per game as they average more than 200 yards per game on the ground. Texas vs Oklahoma state is the battle of Texas High School quarterbacks as Sam Ehlinger from Westlake takes on Spencer Sanders of Denton Ryan. Yet on Saturday, it may become the Chuba Hubbard show. Last season, Hubbard finished eighth in the Heisman voting but had one of his worse days against the Texas defense. Despite scoring two touchdowns and having over 120 yards he did it all on a meager 3.3 yards per carry. If Texas has another performance like that that’s the key for an upset win. Unfortunately for Texas, Oklahoma State currently has four players , including Sanders, who average more than four yards per carry. Expect Oklahoma State to control the clock with long, momentum swinging drives that tire out the Texas defense. Even though the Longhorns have a fairly solid run defense group and can force untimely fumbles, if ran repeatedly they might eventually break.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Texas 27
Aaron Carrara
The Longhorns have lost four of the last five against Mike Gundy and their last two in Stillwater. Throw in the fact that Texas will be facing an Oklahoma State team that has a good defense and things get more challenging for Tom Herman and company. Texas has the talent to win in Stillwater, but they don’t have the coaching, discipline or will as a team to do so – or at least we haven’t witnessed it halfway through this season. Texas QB Sam Ehlinger has essentially put the team on his back every game. If the Longhorns are going to pull of a road upset over a ranked OSU team, he will have to do more of that on Saturday. This was a game that I looked at on the preseason schedule and said that Texas wouldn’t win. Tom Herman is 8-9 against Top-25 teams during his tenure at Texas. While I think they play the Pokes close, they don’t have what it takes to beat a really good football team right now.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Texas 24
