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AROUND THE LEAGUE
-WEEK EIGHT-
-WEEK EIGHT-
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WEEK NINE
-RIVALRY GAME-
#3 TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (5-0, 3-0)
VS.
#14 TEXAS LONGHORNS (5-2, 3-1)
On the short list of 2015 Heisman candidates, senior quarterback Michael Brewer is a name that keeps showing up. On Saturday he continued to prove his worth, leading the undefeated Red Raiders into hostile territory, and accounting for nearly 400 of the team's 450 total offensive yards, and four of the team's five touchdowns as Texas Tech ascended to #1 in the newest polls with a 35-32 victory over #14 Texas.
Coming into the game, the Longhorns knew they would need to contain Brewer if they wanted to give Texas Tech their first loss. Instead, they found out just how good he is. Brewer (pictured above) finished the day completing 27 of 38 (71%) passes for 327 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, and also led the rushing effort with 65 yards and another score off 15 carries. His go-to man was senior Jakeem Grant, who had seven catches for 83 yards and a touchdown, and currently ranks 2nd in the nation with 879 yards and eight TDs on the year. Junior Dominique Wheeler was also a big part of the team's success, catching six balls for 66 yards and a score. On the ground, senior runningback DeAndre Washington didn't see many looks, but he made the most of them, rushing for 44 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the 4th quarter off seven carries for an average of 6.2 yards per touch, and also recording two receptions for 12 yards and a score. Texas Tech trailed 14-0 midway through the second quarter before outscoring the Longhorns 28-3 to take the lead. Texas came storming back in the fourth, scoring 15 unanswered points to take a 32-25 lead, but Washington's rushing touchdown with three minutes left to play sealed their fate. The Red Raiders also received big contributions from a few key defensive players. Junior Michael Starts (DE) led the team with 10 tackles and had 2.5 sacks, while third-year sophomore Pat Henderson (CB) had six tackles and two game-changing interceptions in the endzone to kill scoring drives. With USC and Iowa losing in week nine, Texas Tech is now in the unfamiliar position of #1 in the new polls. They'll look to keep their cinderella season going next week when they hit the road to play West Virginia (3-4, 1-3), but all eyes are on their season finale game against #10 Baylor (6-0, 4-0), a game that could have national title implications if the two teams can remain unbeaten.
As for the Longhorns, sophomore QB Daniel Pratt completed 66% of his passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, but also threw two crucial interceptions in the redzone that essentially took points off the board. Pratt also rushed for 61 yards and another score off 18 carries. His biggest target through the air was junior Cayleb Jones, who had six catches for 121 yards. As for the ground game, junior runningback Jonathan Gray racked up 106 yards and two touchdowns off 20 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per touch. As a whole, the offense had a productive day, but the defense couldn't contain Texas Tech's fearsome aerial attack. Despite recording three sacks and an interception, the Longhorns allowed 450 total offensive yards, and touchdowns in all five of the Red Raiders' redzone trips as the team's four-game winning streak came to an end.
Feeling the sting of their first home loss of the season, the #19 Longhorns will hit the road next week to face off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-3, 2-2). Senior quarterback Wes Lunt leads the nation's 9th ranked passing attack, and has accounted for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, but their 99th ranked rush defense will have their hands full trying to contain Texas' run-heavy offensive attack.
#3 Texas Tech Red Raiders at #14 Texas Longhorns Oct 24, 2015 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #14 Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0, 4-0) 0 14 7 14 35 #3 Texas Longhorns (5-3, 3-2) 7 10 0 15 32 Team Stats Comparison TTU TEX Total Offense 450 416 Rushing Yards 123 215 Passing Yards 327 201 First Downs 22 24 Punt Return Yards 0 13 Kick Return Yards 108 162 Total Yards 558 591 Turnovers 1 2 3rd Down Converstion 3-9 (33%) 4-12 (33%) 4th Down Conversion 0-0 (0%) 3-3 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 1-1 (100%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 5-5-0 (100%) 5-3-0 (60%) Penalties 7-58 8-75 Posession Time 29:40 30:20
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WEEK TEN
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#19 TEXAS LONGHORNS (5-3, 3-2)
VS.
OKLAHOMA ST. COWBOYS (4-3, 2-2)
RECORD DAY FOR OFFENSE IN ROUT OF OKLAHOMA ST.
TEXAS SET A NEW RECORD FOR MOST POINTS SCORED IN THE APPLEWHITE ERA IN THEIR 69-28 WIN
Bound and determined to prove their worth after dropping a home game to unbeaten Texas Tech last week, the #19 Longhorns made the short trip north to Stillwater, Oklahoma for a Halloween matchup. For Texas, it was all treats and no tricks as the offense scored ten touchdowns in a 69-28 rout of the Cowboys. Their 69 points are the most scored by the team since Major Applewhite took over as head coach in 2012, but even more impressive was their record-setting 763 total offensive yards, crushing the old school record of 692 yards set in 1998 in a win over Rice. Daniel Pratt looked like the best player in the nation, completing 13 of 16 passes for a mind-blowing 442 yards and three touchdowns, and also rushing for 99 yards and another two scores off 12 carries, which included a 51-yard scamper to the endzone in the third quarter. Backup Connor Brewer also got in on the action, and although he completed just one pass, it went 47 yards for a touchdown. Leading the receiving corps was junior Cayleb Jones, who had five catches for 220 yards to average 44 yards per catch, while sophomore Seth Williams caught five balls for 126 yards and three touchdowns. As for the ground game, Jonathan Gray led the charge with 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns off 14 carries for an average of seven yards per touch, and backup runningback Daje Johnson added 55 yards and two scores off 12 carries. Defensively, Texas recorded three sacks, and allowed just three successful conversions on twelve 3rd down attempts. Rejuvenated from their blowout road victory, the Longhorns will return home next week to play host to #3 Baylor (7-0, 5-0), who now have the inside track on the Big XII west title after Texas Tech fell to West Virginia 48-21 this week. Alongside #1 Ohio State, the Bears are one of just two unbeaten teams left in the nation, thanks in large part to their 6th ranked rushing attack. The offense is headlined by the trio of senior Zack Oliver (QB), junior Jeremy Hill (HB), and senior B.J. Allen (HB), who have combined for 1,692 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. But Texas' trio of Gray, Johnson, and Pratt has been even better, racking up 2,223 yards and 25 touchdowns for an average of 5.6 yards per touch. The only question is which terrific trio will prevail next Saturday?
#19 Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma State Cowboys Oct 31, 2015 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #19 Texas Longhorns (6-3, 4-2) 21 13 21 14 69 Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-4, 2-3) 7 7 7 7 28 Team Stats Comparison TEX OKST Total Offense 763 371 Rushing Yards 274 180 Passing Yards 489 191 First Downs 23 19 Punt Return Yards 34 8 Kick Return Yards 74 239 Total Yards 871 618 Turnovers 0 0 3rd Down Converstion 6-9 (66%) 3-12 (25%) 4th Down Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 5-5-0 (100%) 2-2-0 (100%) Penalties 8-56 12-77 Posession Time 31:22 28:38
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WEEK ELEVEN
-RIVALRY GAME-
#3 BAYLOR BEARS (7-0, 5-0)
VS.
#16 TEXAS LONGHORNS (6-3, 4-2)
Seven minutes into the first quarter, senior quarterback Zack Oliver found Kiante' Griffin for a 15-yard TD pass to give Baylor a 7-0 lead, and for the remainder of the game they would never relinquish that lead, racking up over 600 total offensive yards in an impressive 48-38 victory. And with the top two teams losing to unranked conference foes this week, the Bears are expected to reach the top of the polls on Sunday as the only team in the nation without a loss.
Baylor's dominant rushing attack was well known coming into this Thursday night game, but it has overshadowed a passing game that has played very well this season. Senior quarterback Zack Oliver continued to showcase that, completing 20 of 34 passes for 395 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, and also rushing for 76 yards off 14 carries. Through eight games, Oliver has completed 59% of his passes for 2,098 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions, while adding an additional 589 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. His go-to man was senior Corey Coleman, who had six catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Kiante' Griffin led the team with seven receptions for 131 yards and two scores. As for the ground game, junior runningback Jeremy Hill led the charge with 99 yards off 15 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per touch, and backup B.J. Allen added 42 yards and a touchdown off just five carries. Baylor's defense wasn't exactly spectacular, but they didn't have to be with the offense firing on all cylinders. The Bears recorded three sacks and forced a fumble, but also allowed over 400 total offensive yards. With just three games left to play to cap off an undefeated season, Baylor will return home to host Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the next two weeks before travelling across the state to face off against #7 Texas Tech in their regular season finale.
On the other side of the ball, another solid outing by the offense was offset by the team's porous defense as the Longhorns lost to Baylor for the first time since 2011. Under center, Daniel Pratt completed 13 of 24 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 50 yards off 14 carries. Speaking of the ground game, Jonathan Gray continued his Heisman campaign by rushing for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns off 20 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per touch, while backup Daje Johnson added eight carries for 45 yards. Gray also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Defensively, Texas recorded two sacks and forced two turnovers, but also allowed 614 total offensive yards, allowing the Bears to pass and run the ball at will. The Longhorns currently rank 79th in the NCAA, allowing an average of 405 yards per game.
With two straight losses at home, the mystique of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is quickly fading, but the team is hoping to finish strong in 2015. After a bye week, the Longhorns will finish the regular season with games against #16 Clemson (7-2, 5-2) and #12 TCU (7-3, 5-3). The odds-on favorite to win the Big XII east for a third consecutive year, Clemson is led by their 11th ranked defense, and a balanced offensive attack that ranks a respectable 22nd in the league. The Tigers will also be out for revenge after losing to Texas in the Big XII title game two years in a row.
#3 Baylor Bears at #16 Texas Longhorns Nov 5, 2015 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #3 Baylor Bears (8-0, 6-0) 21 7 3 17 48 #16 Texas Longhorns (6-4, 4-3) 7 7 10 14 38 Team Stats Comparison BAY TEX Total Offense 614 405 Rushing Yards 219 230 Passing Yards 395 175 First Downs 28 18 Punt Return Yards 18 2 Kick Return Yards 142 228 Total Yards 774 635 Turnovers 2 1 3rd Down Converstion 5-10 (50%) 5-13 (38%) 4th Down Conversion 1-1 (100%) 1-1 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 6-3-1 (66%) 2-2-0 (100%) Penalties 1-5 5-38 Posession Time 28:23 31:37
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AROUND THE LEAGUE
-WEEK TWELVE-
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WEEK THIRTEEN
#14 CLEMSON TIGERS (8-2, 6-2)
VS.
#19 TEXAS LONGHORNS (6-4, 4-3)
In a tale of two teams headed in opposite direction, the 19th ranked Longhorns lost their third straight game at home this season, falling to #14 Clemson by 21 points. Meanwhile, the Tigers clinched their third straight Big XII east title with a 7-2 conference record, and got their revenge after back-to-back losses against Texas in the conference championship game the past two seasons. Despite being outgained in total yardage, the Tigers easily won the game thanks to a defense that recorded three interceptions, and returned two of them for touchdowns in a commanding 38-17 victory on Saturday.
Clemson's defense got all of the attention following the game, but their offense certainly contributed to the win as well. Junior quarterback Chad Kelly completed 18 of 30 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His go-to man was junior Adam Bailey, who had 11 catches for 138 yards. As for the ground game, runningbacks Tyler Levine and Zac Brooks led the effort, combining for 108 yards and two touchdowns off 18 carries for an average of six yards per touch. But it was senior defensive players B.J. Goodson (MLB) and Ronald Geohaghan (FS) who received the most press as each player recorded an interception and returned it for a touchdown. Goodson recorded seven tackles and went 36 yards for a score with just five seconds left on the clock in the first half to extend Clemson's lead to 21-10, while Geohaghan went 77 yards in the fourth quarter to effectively seal the win. Senior cornerback Cortez Davis also recorded a pick, and had eight tackles as well. Despite allowing 413 total offensive yards, the Tigers stepped up where it mattered the most, limiting the Longhorns to just 17 points in five redzone trips, and allowing only five successful conversion on thirteen 3rd down attempts. With a third straight trip to the Big XII title game already clinched, Clemson will be looking for state bragging rights when they hit the road to face off against SEC rival South Carolina (5-5, 4-4) in their regular season finale next week.
On the other side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Daniel Pratt had a rough day under center to say the least, completing 16 of 30 passes for 187 yards and throwing three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Pratt also rushed for 82 yards and a score off 15 carries. Leading the way in the receiving corps was junior Cayleb Jones, who had eleven catches for 111 yards. Jones is quietly having one of the most productive years for a wide receiver at Texas since the change at head coach in 2012, and needs just 96 yards in the regular season finale to set a new record for most receiving yards in a single season in the Applewhite era. On the ground, Jonathan Gray led the team with 101 yards off 21 carries, and backup runningback Daje Johnson added five carries for eleven yards and a touchdown. Texas' defense recorded two sacks, one interception, and allowed just two successful conversions on eight 3rd down attempts, but they also allowed 387 total offensive yards and 24 points in four redzone trips for Clemson's offense. Also, the team lost starting offensive guard Curtis Riser for the rest of the year with a broken tailbone, putting him on the bench alongside starting left tackle Kennedy Estelle. Second-year freshman Andrew Chapman will take his place in the starting lineup.
It's clear now that the mystique of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is a distant memory for this season, and the team has dropped out of the top 25 for the first time in 2015 after their third loss in the last four weeks, so nothing is guaranteed when the Longhorns host #8 TCU (8-3, 5-3) in their regular season finale next week. Just like Texas, the Horned Frogs rely on their outstanding running game to lead the offense. Senior runningback Aaron Green is 2nd in the nation with 1,509 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns for an average of 7.1 yards per carry this season, and is the current favorite to take home the Heisman trophy at the end of the year. TCU also ranks 27th in total defense and has a +8 turnover differential, which is a far cry from Texas' 76th defensive ranking.
#14 Clemson Tigers at #19 Texas Longhorns Nov 21, 2015 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #14 Clemson Tigers (9-2, 7-2) 7 14 10 7 38 #19 Texas Longhorns (6-5, 4-4) 7 3 7 0 17 Team Stats Comparison CLEM TEX Total Offense 387 413 Rushing Yards 145 226 Passing Yards 242 187 First Downs 20 29 Punt Return Yards 14 19 Kick Return Yards 74 181 Total Yards 475 613 Turnovers 1 3 3rd Down Converstion 2-8 (25%) 5-13 (38%) 4th Down Conversion 0-0 (0%) 2-2 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 4-3-1 (100%) 5-2-1 (60%) Penalties 11-74 12-96 Posession Time 26:16 33:44
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WEEK FOURTEEN
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#8 TCU HORNED FROGS (8-3, 5-3)
VS.
TEXAS LONGHORNS (6-5, 4-4)
After being embarrassed by Clemson last week, the Longhorns were in danger of finishing the season 6-6, which would have been a new low for head coach Major Applewhite in his four seasons with the team. But Texas played with heart in their regular season finale, rushing for 363 yards and jumping out to a 24-0 lead before fending off a valiant TCU comeback to upset the 8th ranked team in the country, and finish the regular season with a 7-5 (5-4) record.
Behind the strength of their running game, the unranked Longhorns found themselves with a 24-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but that lead quickly disappeared as the Horned Frogs rattled off 28 unanswered points to take the lead late in the third quarter, threatening to humiliate Texas one last time this season. But the team didn't quit, and the offense put up a 50-yard field goal and a nine-yard run by Pratt to retake the lead while their defense held TCU scoreless for the final 20 minutes to give the Longhorns a 33-28 victory, and put them back into the top 25 after falling out for the first time this season following their loss to Clemson last week. Daniel Pratt completed 12 of 22 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, but most importantly rushed for 105 yards and a score off 12 carries. In his first year as starter, Pratt completed 54% of his passes for 2,198 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, and also rushed for 927 yards and eight more scores. As for the team's runningbacks, Jonathan Gray had 117 yards and two scores off 20 carries, Daje Johnson added seven carries for 69 yards, and third-string runningback Ken Fogle even got in on the action, rushing for 62 yards off 11 carries. Defensively, Texas recorded two interceptions, and held the Horned Frogs to just two successful conversions on six 3rd down tries.
As for TCU, a promising season ended with a 3-3 record in their last six games as they dropped games to in-state conference foes Texas Tech, Baylor, and Texas to end the year. Junior quarterback Tyler Matthews completed 13 of 21 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. His go-to man was junior tight end Griffin Gilbert, who had four catches for 106 yards, while senior Ladarius Brown caught four balls for 74 yards and a score. On the ground, senior runningback Aaron Green rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns off 15 carries, but his reps were limited after the team fell behind by four scores in the first half, forcing them to change their offensive gameplan. TCU's defense forced one turnover, but also allowed 475 total offensive yards, and 30 points in six redzone trips.
Now the only thing left to do is sit back and wait for conference championship weekend to wrap up, and see where Texas is headed in the postseason. The current bowl projections have Texas facing off against former conference foe Nebraska (7-5, 5-4) in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
#8 TCU Horned Frogs at Texas Longhorns Nov 28, 2015 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #8 TCU Horned Frogs (8-4, 5-4) 0 14 14 0 28 Texas Longhorns (7-5, 5-4) 10 14 3 6 33 Team Stats Comparison TCU TEX Total Offense 394 475 Rushing Yards 163 363 Passing Yards 231 112 First Downs 15 29 Punt Return Yards 10 16 Kick Return Yards 145 76 Total Yards 549 567 Turnovers 2 1 3rd Down Converstion 2-6 (33%) 5-11 (45%) 4th Down Conversion 0-0 (0%) 2-2 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-1 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 4-3-0 (75%) 6-4-1 (83%) Penalties 4-24 2-15 Posession Time 22:34 37:26
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AROUND THE LEAGUE
-WEEK FIFTEEN-
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CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
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2015 AWARDS CEREMONY
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MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS
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NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (6-6, 4-5)
VS.
#20 TEXAS LONGHORNS (7-5, 5-4)
Under tremendous pressure to salvage a lackluster season, and not only beat but clearly dominate an inferior opponent in their bowl game, the Longhorns delivered on all fronts on New Year's Eve. Led by their first-year starter at quarterback, #20 Texas easily contained Northwestern's offense while putting up nearly 450 yards of total offense themselves in a decisive 33-13 victory.
Vince Young 2.0? Hopes will certainly be high for Pratt next year after his closing performance in 2015, as he completed 15 of 29 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, and also led the rushing effort with 74 yards and a score off 16 carries for an average of 4.6 yards per touch. His go-to man through the air was junior Cayleb Jones, who had three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, while junior tight end Raishaun Blanco caught four balls for 46 yards and a score. On the ground, Jonathan Gray and backup Daje Johnson split time in the backfield, combining for 114 yards off 23 carries. Defensively, Texas had a great day, and more specifically their junior defensive ends imposed their will. Hassan Ridgeway recorded six tackles and two sacks, and Torshiro Davis led the team with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. Northwestern was held to 273 yards of total offense, averaged just three yards per rushing attempt, and were held to 13 points in three redzone trips.
On the other side of the ball, junior quarterback Jeremy Moore struggled with his accuracy under center, completing just 37% of his 32 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. He also gained just seven rushing yards off 11 carries. Leading the receiving corps was senior tight end Mark Szott, who had five catches for 82 yards. Senior runningback Jordan Perkins, undoubtedly the best player on the offense, was held to 65 yards off 17 carries. Northwestern's defense recorded two sacks, and held Texas to a field goal in four of their six redzone trips, but they could not force any game-changing turnovers, and also allowed nearly 450 yards of total offense in the loss.
For the fourth consecutive year under head coach Major Applewhite, the Longhorns have finished with eight or more wins and made a bowl appearance. But small victories like that aren't enough to satisfy the appetites of a fan base that will only accept the best from their team. Now Texas will head into the offseason, where they are hoping to retain their under-classmen, and come back better and strong than ever in 2016.
Northwestern Wildcats at #20 Texas Longhorns Dec 31, 2015 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE Northwestern Wildcats (6-7, 4-5) 0 13 0 0 13 #20 Texas Longhorns (8-5, 5-4) 6 10 7 10 33 Team Stats Comparison NW TEX Total Offense 273 442 Rushing Yards 109 204 Passing Yards 164 238 First Downs 17 21 Punt Return Yards 18 17 Kick Return Yards 91 78 Total Yards 382 537 Turnovers 1 0 3rd Down Converstion 7-17 (41%) 3-12 (25%) 4th Down Conversion 1-2 (50%) 1-1 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 3-1-2 (100%) 6-2-4 (100%) Penalties 4-40 9-85 Posession Time 27:38 32:22 Comment
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BOWL GAMES OF INTEREST
2016 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Jan 7, 2016 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #2 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-2, 9-1) 3 14 7 0 24 #1 Miami (FL) Hurricanes (13-1, 9-1) 7 3 3 15 28 Team Stats Comparison IOWA MIA Total Offense 222 338 Rushing Yards 94 228 Passing Yards 128 110 First Downs 14 19 Punt Return Yards 56 49 Kick Return Yards 90 139 Total Yards 368 526 Turnovers 1 1 3rd Down Converstion 2-12 (16%) 5-19 (26%) 4th Down Conversion 1-1 (100%) 5-5 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 1-1 (100%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 4-2-1 (75%) 6-3-2 (83%) Penalties 8-75 5-35 Posession Time 27:05 32:55 Comment
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Fun fact: The Big XII went 6-2 in the bowls. You can find all of the Big XII bowl results in the bowl games of interest above.Comment
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