gmr548

This really is a must win for Texas. I think there’s a decent shot they can still get in the CCG at 7-2 if they lose one of the last three games, but they really have to have this for both tiebreakers and their own psyche. KSU is probably the most dangerous offense Texas will face this year despite Alabama and OU having more talent on the perimeter. They have a veteran OL with a high NFL draft pick on the interior, a pair of talented backs - if anyone can run conventionally on Texas it will be KSU - and utilize the QB run game liberally. Texas has to successfully defend the QB run game while still keeping a lid on explosive pass plays. They haven’t cracked that code under PK. KSU is more pedestrian on defense and I’m more worried about the Texas offense beating itself with a backup QB than anything KSU brings to the table. Texas takes care of the ball and calls a sound game there will be opportunities to score. If Sark can scheme up some early points on the opening script that will go a long way toward building confidence and keeping the crowd involved. The offense can’t start slow or disappear for an entire quarter as they love to do so often. To be clear, I think Texas can win this game. I’m picking KSU because I think they have a bit more margin for error - Texas has to play as clean a game as it’s played all year on both sides of the ball - but it’s more like a 60/40 tilt. I just think there’s a pretty good chance Texas falters on one side of the ball given the circumstances. KSU: 31 Texas: 24 KSU 4 punts for 169 yards.

Heh. I declined to bring that up because reading coverage is not my forte and I am not 100% sure who botched that. I think it might be the boundary safety but the disconnect between what the DBs and LBs are doing makes it hard for me to tell.

I mean, I don’t subscribe to this, but are you really unable to discern the difference in circumstances between the two games or are you just being purposefully obtuse?

He is who he is at this point. Pretty good pass protector, useless run blocker. He does a very poor job keeping his feet moving and is generally catching opposing DL as opposed to delivering a blow. There’s not going to be a switch that flips in a fourth year player to change that. It was Hutson that graded out the worst last year. Majors and Conner were both noticeably better. Conner is only the worst this year because Hutson hasn’t been on the field much. On the one hand, that speaks well of DJ Campbell’s growing into a starting job. When he came in last year and was blowing assignments left and right you understood why Hutson was playing, warts and all. On the other hand, it does not speak well of the options behind Conner right now that they are not entertaining other options.

For what’s it’s worth, Holmes didn’t play much after this, kind of implying it was an error on his part.

They definitely aren’t. They are a pretty good team who seems to have gotten things right and look more like what was expected of them preseason after changing up the QB dynamic. I don’t think their defense is anything to write home about but their offense will present a lot of problems for Texas with the QB run game. I’d feel better if Ewers were healthy but alas, here we are. It wouldn’t surprise me if Texas win but they are going to have to play and call a cleaner game than they have since Alabama. Good thing Texas isn’t starting an extremely inexperienced backup who put the ball in danger several times in his first start, right? I don’t know if they do that in the same way Tech or Houston or whoever does, but look at their schedule. Going back to the preseason the expectation is that this would be a very important game for determining how the top of the conference standings shake out. I’m sure their staff has had it circled. It also stood out for the Texas side but I don’t know that there is a lot left to roll out in terms of new wrinkles between having already played Alabama and OU and losing Ewers.

Sure thing, that can be done. Tom Herman was 14-4 and 9-3 in conference, including a CCG appearance and NY6 win, from week 2 of 2018 until the OU game in 2019. Mack was 12-5 from the last aggy game through game 1 in 2013. See what arbitrary cutoffs can do? You’re talking like I or anyone else is unhappy with the result date this year. Feel free to point out where that’s been said. What being 7-1 doesn’t change is being able to see issues on display. You choosing to be willfully ignorant doesn’t make someone who isn’t overly negative.

lol pimphand’ed

This board was up in arms about Big 12 refs trying to carry OU to a win over Kansas. Is this the talking point now? It can be hard to keep up

He absolutely called the game like a scrimmage in the second half. I’m not necessarily knocking that but it was plain as day.

It’s a cherry picked stat starting with WVU last year, after Texas had taken two losses on the year, one of which was absolutely a headset loss. Sark’s done a nice job rebuilding the roster and assembling a staff that has shown some ability to develop talent. Coaching has cost Texas multiple games under Sark and there’s no sign that pattern will change. Acknowledging that isn’t wanting him or Texas to fail, and the weird bootlicking shitick doesn’t make it any more likely that it will improve.

I think I reverse-Mack cursed Mack Brown

OU was the game of the year. This and every game after it, if Texas wins, have the stakes that they do because Texas fumbled the bag in Dallas and is now without any margin for error. -5 was the number I saw. I figured it would be better 3 and 7. I think it’s too generous given the QB situation. Feels like more has to go right for Texas than for KSU. Sark and PK are going to have to coach really well this week. I’m skeptical but prepared to give credit if Texas comes out and gets a nice win.

Don't be ridiculous. OSU will have the game won and invent a new way to lose, never before seen in the history of the sport.

FSU isn’t likely to lose any given game individually but the odds of them taking a loss over the next five games with what will probably include a couple tough games somewhere in there (because college football) are pretty decent. Because basic probability. Still, the CFP isn’t worth worrying about. It’s pretty clear this isn’t a top four team. If they back in that’s great but winning the first conference title in 14 years on the way out the door is its own reward.

Underwhelming as he’s been, Hayden Conner has been better than Cole Hutson. Y’all have some short memories when it comes to OL play.

Eh. You could say the same for Texas over OU and that’s going to be a mainstream position. I’d lean (slightly) ND over Texas on a neutral field. That theory will likely never be tested so it’s all academic

Another week of "I have to pick 25!?" I reluctantly ranked Oklahoma State because I am relatively high on KSU and Kansas, and they beat both of those teams, but I am not sure they're that good. The USA loss is really bad but I acknowledge they were in a different QB situation then. Realized last week I had Penn State a few spots too high and adjusted accordingly. Texas is hard to rank with the Ewers injury but I do think they are probably a better team than OU despite the loss, which makes it all the more frustrating. I don't actually think this is the #8 team in the country sans Ewers but given it's not a season ending injury and his return is TBD I am not knocking them for that. Would probably reside in the Oregon State-Tulane neighborhood if I did. Thought about including Tennessee, Kansas, Air Force, and Arizona (nice win over Oregon State) but they just barely missed the cut. Clemson falls out of the poll. 1.) Ohio State 2.) Georgia 3.) Washington 4.) Oregon 5.) Florida State 6.) Michigan 7.) Notre Dame 8.) Texas 9.) Alabama 10.) Penn State 11.) Oklahoma 12.) Ole Miss 13.) LSU 14.) Missouri 15.) Kansas State 16.) Oregon State 17.) Louisville 18.) Utah 19.) USC 20.) UCLA 21.) Tulane 22.) North Carolina 23.) Miami 24.) Oklahoma State 25.) Duke

There are a couple entries that got a little closer on the score line (though I was surprised to see that I was on the more optimistic end) but I am going to pat myself on the back for hitting on the pass attempts and generally getting the game script right.

If achieving anything on the field at Texas is a prerequisite for speaking critically on Texas football then you should probably stop posting.

This is a very weird line to throw at an OU fan after the RRS.

I think the calls from today are being blown way out of proportion but if you can’t see the fundamental situational difference between the decision at the end of the OU game and the fake FG vs Houston or the FGs that were passed on today, then I don’t know what to tell you.

That sucks. Texas needs the home field advantage and 11am knee caps that.

Texas lost to OU because Quinn Ewers made a dumb throw on the second play of the game, Kitan Crawford ran into a punter, Texas couldn’t push OU a yard in four plays from the one, Sark didn’t go for it on 4th and 4 against a broken defense, and PK called the defense horribly in two minute drills. If OU had Texas’s signs nailed Texas wouldn’t have put up over 500 yards of offense.

The only part of that which isn't necessarily true at this very moment is the recruiting bit, but it doesn't change that they have a pretty high floor by virtue of a home field advantage in SoCal at least comparable to what UT has in Texas. Certainly more than A&M does.