The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
Football hits the road, plays at Oklahoma State Saturday
11.10.2014 | Football
Longhorns-Cowboys game will start at 6:30 p.m. in Stilllwater and air nationally on FOX.
Longhorns Gameweek | Texas-Oklahoma State Game Notes (PDF) | Tickets
The Football team will end a string of three of four on the road Saturday when it plays Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The Longhorns have won back-to-back games after downing No. 24/25 West Virginia, 33-16, Saturday in Austin. They moved into a tie for fourth in the Big 12 standings and sit within one victory of bowl eligibility. The Cowboys had a bye last week after dropping three straight games, though all were to top 25 teams. Saturday will be Senior Night for OSU. The Texas-Oklahoma State game will begin at 6:30 p.m. Central and be shown nationally on FOX from Boone Pickens Stadium. Longhorn Network airs a pregame show beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Longhorn IMG Radio Network broadcast, including flagship KVET (1300 AM/98.1 FM) in Austin, begins at 5:30 p.m. The game can also be heard online at TexasSports.com. Tickets are available for all games through TexasSports.com or by calling (512) 471-3333.
Texas Runs By West Virginia: Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown combined for 191 rushing yards and three touchdowns and the Texas defense held No. 24/25 West Virginia's high-powered offense in check in a 33-16 home win Saturday. Texas used a strong rushing attack for the second consecutive week, piling up 227 yards after gaining a season-high 241 in a win over Texas Tech one week earlier. Gray had 101 yards on just 10 carries while Brown accounted for 90 yards on 20 rushes. Cedric Reed led a defensive effort that saw the Longhorns hold West Virginia to a season low in points, well below its average of 36.1. Reed was disruptive throughout, totaling 12 tackles, a career-high tying four for a loss and a career-best three sacks while forcing a fumble. The Longhorns used a big second quarter to build on a 7-3 lead, outscoring the Mountaineers 17-0 with big plays on offense and by allowing just 49 total yards.
The Oklahoma State Series: The Longhorns hold a 23-5 edge in the all-time series with the Cowboys and have won 13 of the last 16 meetings, though those three losses have come in the last four meetings. The Horns are 7-1 against the Cowboys in Stillwater and 14-4 in Austin. Since the two schools joined the Big 12 Conference in 1996, the Horns have won 14 of 18 contests against the Cowboys. The 1998 (UT, 37-34), 2002 (UT, 17-15), 2007 (UT, 38-35) and 2012 (UT, 41-36) games were decided on the final drive.
Texas-OSU Series Trends: UT and OSU have met 28 times with the Longhorns winning 23. The two teams' first-ever meeting, a 14-7 UT win in 1916, was played in San Antonio. They also met in San Antonio in 1920. UT is 13-1 against the Cowboys when the Horns enter the game ranked among the nation's top 25. OSU has been ranked in the AP poll five times in the history of the series, including 2003, '04, '08, '11, '12 and '13. UT and OSU met as Southwest Conference foes five times (1916, '17, '18, '20 and '22) before the Cowboys departed that league. The two teams also met in 1944, '46, '63, '67 and '68. UT has outscored OSU by an average of 29.9-17.5 in the series (837-491). The Cowboys have tallied more than 10 points on UT just 17 times, five of which were big Texas wins (71-14 in 1996, 55-16 in 2003, 56-35 in '04, 47-28 in '05 and 41-14 in 2009). UT has shut out Oklahoma State twice and held it to seven or fewer points 10 times. However, OSU has won the last three games played in Austin - 33-16 in 2010, 38-26 in 2011 and 38-13 last season.
First-and-Goal:
• The Texas defense has been solid for most of the season, ranking 39th in the FBS in total yards allowed (362.0 per game), No. 14 in passing defense (184.4 ypg), No. 15 in yards allowed per play (4.65), 12th in passing efficiency defense (106.09 rating), tied for 19th in sacks (3.0 pg) and 15th in red-zone defense (72.7 percent). West Virginia came into last Saturday's contest ranked 12th nationally in total offense (508.2 ypg) and 11th in passing yards (325.8 pg). The Mountaineers were held to 448 yards of offense, with 74 of that total coming on a meaningless drive in the final 5:00 of the game. Two weeks ago vs. Texas Tech, the Longhorns held the 23rd-ranked offense (483.8 ypg) to 381 total yards. In addition, the Horns held Kansas QB Montell Cozart to a rating of just 50.84, Baylor's Bryce Petty to a career-low rating of 104.20 and Oklahoma's Trevor Knight to a season-low 129 passing yards.
• After averaging 319.2 yards of total offense over the first five games, the Longhorns have posted an average of 402.4 yards over the last five contests. They are No. 98 nationally in total offense (360.6 ypg), but their average over the last five games would be No. 66 in this week's rankings. Texas' top three offensive outputs this season have occurred in the last five games. One week after being held to a season-low 196 total yards, including 90 on the ground, in the loss to Kansas State, which came into the game ranked No. 10 nationally in rushing defense (100.8 yds/game) and No. 39 in total defense (352.0 yds/game), the Longhorns posted 469 total yards vs. Texas Tech. One week after posting 482 total yards (148 rushing/334 passing) vs. Oklahoma, the second-highest total in series history (553 in 1999), UT rolled up a season-high 512 total yards vs. Iowa State. The output in those two games was the best in conference play since the 2011 season when UT rolled up 590 yards vs. Kansas (Oct. 29) and then 595 vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 5).
• QB Tyrone Swoopes has emerged as the focal point of the offense in just his second season. Swoopes has directed the offense the last nine games, completing 167 of 292 passes (57.2 percent) for 1,847 yards with 10 TDs and six interceptions. His passing yardage total is the fifth-best mark in school history after nine starts, while his 2,083 total yards is fourth. He posted career highs in completions (27), attempts (44) and passing yards (334) vs. Oklahoma and followed up by recording career highs in total offense (416) and rushing yards (95) vs. Iowa State. His passing yards and total offense (384) outputs were the most ever by a Longhorn in the Oklahoma series.
• Jaxon Shipley (54) and John Harris (50) are leading the team in receptions. Shipley ranks ninth in the Big 12 and tied for 48th in the nation (5.4 pg) in catches and Harris is fifth in the Big 12 and 23rd nationally in receiving yards per game (85.9). In addition, Harris is averaging his 17.2 yards-per-catch ranks fifth nationally among players with at least 45 receptions.
• Malcolm Brown (623) and Johnathan Gray (547) are the top rushers. Over the last two games, the Brown-Gray tandem has produced 384 yards on 69 carries (5.6 ypc) and six TDs. Brown rushed 22 times for a season-high 116 yards against Texas Tech and Gray posted a season-best 101 on 10 carries vs. West Virginia. Those were the first 100-yard rushing games of the season for Texas.
Streaks, Trends and Milestones:
• The Longhorns recorded their first victory against a top-25 team this season in Saturday's 33-16 victory vs. No. 24/25 West Virginia. They were 0-4 on the season entering the game, with the last win over a ranked team coming last year against No. 12/10 Oklahoma. In addition, Texas won at home vs. a top-25 team for the first time since a No.-1 ranked squad defeated No. 7/8 Oklahoma State, 28-24, on Oct. 25, 2008. However, in the seven previous home games vs. top 25 teams, the Longhorns were either unranked or lower in the polls. Texas is on pace to face six top 25 teams this season (upcoming foe TCU is No. 5 in both polls). This would be the seventh season in school history the Longhorns played at least six ranked teams. UT met six ranked teams in 1957, 1979, 1995, 2004 and 2013, and a record seven in 1990.
• Texas has won two of its three Big 12 road games this season, The Horns have also won eight of their last 11 league road games, including a 41-36 come-from-behind win over Oklalahoma State on Sept. 29, 2012.
• With three receptions for 38 receiving yards vs. West Virginia, Jaxon Shipley now has 213 career catches and moved from fourth to third on the UT all-time list, passing Quan Cosby (212/2005-08). Shipley now has 54 catches on the season. The senior is one of three players in school history to record three 50-reception seasons. He had a career-high 59 catches in 2012 and 56 last season. Shipley joins Mike Adams (1993, '95-96) and Roy Williams (2001-03) on the exclusive list.
• Malcolm Brown continues to move up the UT career rushing yards list. One week after posting a season-high 116 yards on 22 carries vs. Texas Tech and 73/1989-92) to move from 13th to 12th, the senior rushed 20 times for 90 yards vs. West Virginia and now has 2,593 in his career. He passed Jim Bertelsen (2,510/1969-71) to move from 12th to 11th. Over the last five games, Brown has rushed for 377 yards after posting 246 in the first five. He had his 11th career 100-yard rushing game vs. Texas Tech and ranks tied for seventh place on the UT all-time list. Brown and Gray each have a team-high six rushing scores. Brown has 24 in his career and needs three more to reach the UT career top 10. Gray rushed 10 times for a season-high 101 yards and a career-high three rushing TDs vs. West Virginia. It marked his fifth career 100-yard rushing game and he moved from 18th to 17th on the UT all-time rushing list (2,028), passing Marty Akins (2,020/1973-75). Gray became the 18th UT player to top 2,000 career rushing yards.
• John Harris posted five receptions for a career-high 165 receiving yards, including 123 in the first half, vs. Texas Tech. He had a career-long 68-yard reception in the second quarter, which set up a Johnathan Gray 17-yard TD run. He posted his third career 100-yard receiving game (all this year). That receiving yardage total ranks tied for No. 18 on the UT all-time single-game list and is the most since Mike Davis also had 165 (on four catches) vs. Texas Tech in 2012.
• The Longhorns have been forced to utilize five different starting lineups along the offensive line. The lineup - LT Marcus Hutchins, LG Sedrick Flowers, C Taylor Doyle, RG Kent Perkins and RT Camrhon Hughes - has been the same the last four weeks.
• Quandre Diggs made his way into a pair of the UT top 10 career lists in the West Virginia game. He recorded his third interception of the season. The second-quarter pick of Clint Trickett set up a Nick Rose 39-yard field goal. With 11 career picks, he now ranks tied for ninth on the UT all-time list with Mossy Cade (1981-83) and William Graham (1979-81). Diggs also posted his 36th career pass breakup to move into a tie for 10th on the UT all-time list with Stephen Braggs (1983-86).
• The defense had one of its best games knocking down passes vs. Texas Tech. The Longhorns were credited with a season-best 10 pass breakups, including a career-high four by Duke Thomas. Texas had four PBUs in three other games this season. It marked the most PBUs in one since the Longhorns had 13 vs. Texas A&M in 2011.
• Senior LB Jordan Hicks is one of 20 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player. Hicks has a team-high 130 stops for an average of 13.0 per game. The senior has eight double-digit tackle games, including a career-best 18 stops vs. both UCLA and Iowa State. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his 15-tackle, one-interception performance vs. Kansas (Sept. 27). Steve Edmond is second with 108 stops, including a career-best 19 vs. Baylor. He has six double-digit tackle games.
• Dominic Espinosa, who fractured an ankle in the season opener vs. North Texas, had his team-best 40 consecutive-game starting streak snapped vs. BYU. DE Cedric Reed, who has started 29 straight games, now has the team lead. TE Geoff Swaim has the most consecutive starts on offense with 16.
Did You Know?: The Texas defense has not allowed a passing touchdown in the last three games. It's been 127 passing attempts since Texas has allowed a touchdown. In addition, the last time UT didn't allow an opponent to throw a passing touchdown for three consecutive games was 2001 (at Baylor - Nov. 3; Kansas - Nov. 10; at Texas A&M - Nov. 23). That TD pass drought spanned 101 passing attempts in those three games.
Last Time vs. Oklahoma State (Nov. 16, 2013): Clint Chelf went 16 of 22 for 197 yards through the air and ran for another 95 yards with two scores to lead No. 12/10 Oklahoma State past No. 23/24 Texas. Case McCoy went 26 of 39 for 221 yards, but threw three interceptions that led to 14 points for the Cowboys, as Texas had its six-game winning streak snapped despite holding a 389-380 advantage in total yards of offense. Though falling behind early, the Longhorns used a heavy dose of Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron to stay close much of the first half. That duo combined to rush 22 times for 92 yards in the first half and Texas trailed just 14-10 after Brown's 7-yard touchdown run with 3:39 left, but OSU scored twice in the last 1:15 of the second quarter to take a commanding 28-10 lead going into the locker room. Brown finished the game with 73 yards on 25 carries, while Bergeron had 49 yards on 10 carries. Mike Davis caught nine passes for 112 yards.
Monumental Comebacks: Texas' 28-point comeback against Oklahoma State in 2004 marked the largest deficit a UT team had come back from in its history, surpassing the previous mark of 19 points set in the 2001 Holiday Bowl against Washington. The Longhorns trailed the Cowboys 35-7 and responded with 49 unanswered points for the win. In 2005, Texas had to overcome another 19-point deficit against Oklahoma State before scoring 38 unanswered points to win, 47-28. The Horns also tied the second-largest comeback in school history and set the standard for fourth-quarter comebacks against the Cowboys in 2007. The Horns trailed by 21 points entering the fourth quarter, but scored 24 unanswered points and won the game on a last-second, 40-yard Ryan Bailey field goal.
Rushing Attack: The Longhorns have racked up their two best rushing games of the season the last two weeks. One week after a season-high 241 rushing yards vs. Texas Tech (the most since rolling up 281 vs. Texas Tech last season), the Texas offense produced 227 yards on the ground vs. West Virginia. After averaging 120.5 rushing yards over the first four games, Texas has posted 181.2 over the last six. The Longhorns tallied more rushing yards in the first half (178) vs. West Virginia than they did in six games this season. UT rushed for 190 yards vs. a Baylor defense that ranked No. 6 in the nation in rushing defense (80.0 ypg). The Longhorns followed up with 148 yards (40 attempts), including 78 by Brown and 50 by Swoopes, vs. Oklahoma. The Sooners entered the game ranked No. 22 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 109.6 yards per contest.
Producing Explosive Plays: The Longhorns have had their best production of the season making explosive plays (12-plus yard rushes/16-plus yard catches) in four of the last five games. Though UT had just six (four rushing, two passing) at K-State, the Longhorns rebounded with 10 (six rushing/four receiving) at Texas Tech, including three John Harris receptions of 35 or more yards. Following that game, UT had nine against West Virginia seven of which came via runs including 39 and 40 yarders by Johnathan Gray. Against Oklahoma on Oct. 11, Texas had a season-best 12 explosive plays and followed with nine vs. Iowa State (four on the ground and five in the air). Two of the explosive plays came during the final drive of the game (3 plays, 68 yards, 19 seconds) to set up the game-winning 21-yard field goal by Nick Rose. UT has 12 pass plays of 30 or more yards this season and nine occurred over the last five games. WRs Jaxon Shipley (32), Marcus Johnson (41) and John Harris (38) each had a reception of more than 30 yards vs. Oklahoma. Harris had catches of 32 and 45 yards in the Iowa State game. Texas' season best prior to OU was seven explosive plays (vs. North Texas and Baylor).
Sack Attack: The Longhorns have combined for 30 sacks over the first 10 games and rank tied for 19th in the FBS (3.0 per game). Twelve players have been involved in a sack this season, including four with 4.5 or more. DT Hassan Ridgeway leads the way with 5.0 and is tied for 10th in the Big 12 (0.56 per game). DT Malcom Brown, LB Steve Edmond and DE Cedric Reed are tied for second with 4.5. Texas is the only team in nation that has four players with 4.5 or more sacks. In fact, only three other teams in the FBS have at least three players with 4.5-plus sacks. UT has at least three sacks in seven games this season. Baylor entered the Oct. 4 game as one of only two teams in the nation not to allow a sack (also New Mexico State) and UT took down QB Bryce Petty three times. The Bears had no sacks in their first 163 pass attempts of the season.
Picking It Off: Texas has 13 interceptions this season after posting 10 all of 2013. That is the most for UT in the first 10 games since recording 19 in 2009. That year they finished with a nation's-best 25 interceptions. The Horns rank tied for 11th nationally in interceptions and tied for 29th in turnovers gained (18). Four players have at least two interceptions wth Quandre Diggs and Duke Thomas leading the way with three apiece. Texas Tech entered its game with Texas ranked No. 123 nationally in turnovers lost (20) and 122nd in turnover margin (-1.50) and then surrendered the ball twice. West Virginia came into last week's game tied for No. 117 in the FBS in turnovers lost (20) and tied for 121st in turnover margin (-1.33) and had two turnovers to one for UT. In the WVU game, Texas improved to 5-2 on the year when forcing a turnover and is now 4-0 when holding the edge in turnovers. On the season, the Longhorns are tied for 59th in the FBS in turnover margin (+0.10).
Did You Know?: The Longhorns have not allowed an offensive touchdown in the first half in seven of 10 games this season. Only Iowa State (3), K-State (1), and Texas Tech (1) have scored offensive TDs in the opening two quarters.
By The Numbers…
1: Number of offensive touchdowns allowed by the Texas defense in the opening quarter this season (vs. Iowa State).
1: Cedric Reed leads the current roster in career tackles for loss (35), sacks (17.0) and forced fumbles (6).
1: Charlie Strong is the only head coach in Louisville to win at least three bowl games and he did it in just four seasons.
2: Charlie Strong served as the defensive coordinator on two national championship teams at Florida (2006, '08).
2: The Longhorns have two running backs on the roster with more than 2,000 career rushing yards. Malcolm Brown ranks 11th on the school's career list (2,593) and Johnathan Gray is 17th (2,028).
3: The Longhorns, who rank tied for 19th in the FBS in sacks (3.00 pg), have produced at least three sacks in seven of the 10 games this season.
3: Jaxon Shipley ranks No. 3 in school history in career receptions (213) after passing Quan Cosboy (2005-08, 212) during the West Virginia game.
4: Charlie Strong had four of his Louisville players selected in the top 75 of the 2014 NFL Draft, tied for the most in the nation.
5: Number of career starts the offensive line had registered entering the BYU game (Kent Perkins - 2; Sedrick Flowers - 2; Marcus Hutchins - 1).
6: Jaxon Shipley ranks No. 6 in school history in career receiving yards (2,471).
9: Opponents have returned just nine of 49 kickoffs, the fewest in the nation.
9: Jaxon Shipley ranks ninth on the school's all-time punt return average chart (9.8).
10: Quandre Diggs is the team's active career leader with 36 pass breakups, which is tied for the 10th most in school history.
11: Malcolm Brown has a team-high 11 career 100-yard rushing games, a mark that ranks tied for seventh in school history. The Longhorns are 8-3 when Brown rushes for 100 or more yards.
12: Jordan Hicks has 12 career double-digit tackle games.
23: During 2012-13, Charlie Strong led Louisville to a 23-3 record. The win total was tied for fourth in the FBS over that span.
26: Malcom Brown has 26 career tackles for loss, which ranks second on the team among active players (Cedric Reed - 31).
29: Cedric Reed has started 29 straight games which leads the team.
38: As of Nov. 2, the Longhorns' strength of schedule is tied for 38th in the FBS, according to NCAA.org. The past and future opposition has a winning percentage of .560 (51-40).
50: Number of career starts by members of the offensive line (Kent Perkins - 11; Sedrick Flowers - 11; Marcus Hutchins - 10; Taylor Doyle - 8; Camrhon Hughes - 4; Jake Raulerson - 4; Darius James - 2).
55.9: Jaxon Shipley (54) and John Harris (50) lead the team in receptions and are the clear top targets of Tyrone Swoopes. That duo has accounted for 55.9 percent (104 of 186) of the team's receptions.
68.6: John Harris (859) and Jaxon Shipley (538) lead the team in receiving yards. That duo has accounted for 68.6 percent (1,397 of 2,037) of the team's receiving yards.
158: Over the last eight years, Texas has the most Academic All-Big 12 selections of any team in the conference with 158.
300: Steve Edmond is the team's active leader in career tackles (300). Jordan Hicks is second with 282.
880: With 880 victories in program history, Texas is third on the NCAA all-time victories list behind only Michigan and Notre Dame.
2,000: In the West Virginia game, Johnathan Gray became the 18th player in Longhorn history to surpass 2,000 career yards rushing (2,028).
