Texas vs. Kansas Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Big 12 game in Austin, Texas in our Texas vs. Kansas preview and prediction.
Broadcast info
Date: November 11th, 2017 | 5:00 p.m. CT | Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: Longhorn Network | Lowell Galindo, Ahmad Brooks, Kris Budden
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network | Craig Way (play-by-play), Roger Wallace (analyst), and Quan Cosby (sideline)
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network | Brian Hanni (Play-by-play), David Lawrence (Analyst), Josh Klingler (Sideline)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM.com Ch. 968
Fun fact: Kansas beat Texas … in football … last season … 24-21.
Key Players
Kansas Jayhawks
Carter Stanley, quarterback
Stanley threw for over 400 yards two weeks ago against Kansas State, but he was limited last week against Baylor, going 17/33 for 155 yards and an interception. He’ll get the start again this week (at least according to KU’s depth chart). Texas’ defense has been playing outstanding, but they actually play the run better than the pass. Also, with Holton Hill suspended for UT, that creates a big hole in the UT secondary that Stanley will try to take advantage of.
Steven Sims, wide receiver
On that same note, it has to be Sims who is able to abuse the UT secondary that is down Hill. I didn’t bother listing a KU defender here because the UT offense is brutal and ultimately KU has to put together some semblance of an offense to win this game. The defense can’t stay on the field all afternoon. So the connection from Stanley to Sims has to be on to try and pull off an upset like last season.
Texas Longhorns
Daniel Young, running back
Young has quietly started to get more carries in recent weeks. In the UT depth chart, it lists Kyle Porter OR Chris Warren III OR Toneil Carter OR Daniel Young. Young received the most carries on the team last week with 12 and had seven the week before against Baylor. Let’s see if Herman keeps giving him the rock against a Kansas rush defense that is allowing 180 yards per game.
Holton Hill is still listed on the depth chart, but obviously he’s not playing, since he was suspended for the rest of the season. Thompson is a true freshman 4-star player who had offers from all over the country. He’s played sparingly this season as Hill was playing really well this season. Thompson has 11 tackles on the season and did not play last week against TCU. Now he has to step up, but he gets eased in as much as possible with KU.
Key Storylines
Revenge factor
While Tom Herman and his staff were not here last year for the 24-21 debacle in Lawrence that essentially got Charlie Strong fired, there’s no doubt that the majority of the Texas players that were there have this game circled. Will UT just look to pound KU into oblivion? If things get out of hand, do the Longhorns just try to run up the score? I don’t think they would, and frankly, I’m not sure they have the offense to run up the score on anyone. Then again, if there is a team they could do it against, it’s Clint Bowen’s defense that has struggled mightily throughout conference play.
Kansas’ offensive line
The Jayhawks offensive line is very, very young. They play four sophomores and one freshman along the front. Texas’ front seven has been outstanding, ranking second in the Big 12 with 21 sacks. How are the Jayhawks going to slow down Malik Jefferson and Breckyn Hager from getting into the KU backfield? They’ll either have to leave a running back or tight end in to block. If not, it is likely to be a very long afternoon for Carter Stanley.
Kansas defensive line
For weeks, I’ve been waiting, and begging, for this Kansas defensive line to break out. The unit has severely underachieved this season. The expectations were high for Dorance Armstrong, who was the Big 12’s selection for 2017 defensive player of the year. He doesn’t have a sack in his past four games. In fact, he has one all season, compared to 10 last year. Daniel Wise has picked up some of the slack, with 5.5 sacks in 9 games, good for third in the Big 12. But the strength that this KU defensive line was supposed to provide, hasn’t been there as a unit. Texas is vulnerable on the offensive line and we’ll see if the Jayhawks can take advantage.
Prediction
Texas 40, Kansas 7
The Longhorns will get their revenge on Saturday at home. This Texas defense is playing some of the best D in the country in recent weeks. Texas is allowing just 17.6 points per game over the last eight, which includes three overtime games (two double overtime). If KU thought they had trouble scoring against Baylor, just wait to see what hits them this weekend. Also, KU is the worst 3rd-down conversion team in the Big 12, while Texas’ defense rank sixth nationally in third-down defense(.265). God speed, Mr. Stanley. Texas’ offense isn’t any good, but the KU defense will just wear down based on how little time their offense is going to be on the field.
