The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 20/21 Football Preview: No. 11/11 Oklahoma State
10.17.2022 | Football
The Longhorns and Cowboys will kick off from Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. At 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
No. 20/21 Texas (5-2, 3-1) at No. 11/11 Oklahoma State (5-1, 2-1)
October 22, 2022
Where: Stillwater, Okla.
Stadium: Boone Pickens Stadium
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: ABC (Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Tom Luginbill)
Radio: Longhorn Radio Network/LEARFIELD (Craig Way, Roger Wallace, Will Matthews)
National Radio: Westwood One (Mike Watts, Derek Rackley)
Spanish Radio: Longhorn Radio Network/LEARFIELD (Dr. Rubén Pizarro-Silva, Jesus Mendoza)
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The University of Texas continues its 130th season of football on Saturday when the Longhorns meet Oklahoma State for the 37th time. The game will kick off from Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
• Last week, Texas (5-2, 3-1) snapped a three-game losing skid to the Iowa State Cyclones with a 24-21 victory at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, while Oklahoma State (5-1, 2-1) dropped a double overtime thriller to TCU, 43-40, in Fort Worth.
• Steve Sarkisian will be serving his 101st career game as head coach and 20th with Texas. He has a career record of 56-44 (.560).
• Texas currently boasts 933 all-time wins, the fourth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 933-387-33 (.702).
The All-Time Series
• Texas is set to face off with Oklahoma State for the 37th time in program history this Saturday, and for the 15th time in Stillwater.
• The Longhorns hold a 26-10 advantage in the series over the Cowboys, including a 9-3 mark in Stillwater.
• Oklahoma State won last year's contest in Austin with the 12th-ranked Cowboys topping No. 25 Texas, 32-24, despite a three-touchdown effort from Bijan Robinson.
• UT's 57-point victory over Oklahoma State (71-14) in 1996 - the first season of Big 12 Football - still stands as the largest margin of victory by either side in the series' history.
• After Texas won 12-straight meetings from 1998-2009, the Cowboys have won eight of the last 12 contests between the schools since 2010.
A Texas Win Would ...
• Be Texas' 934th victory all-time, the fourth-winningest program in college football history.
• Mark the Longhorns' fourth-straight victory, matching the longest streak since 2018-19.
• Improve the Longhorns to 27-10 all-time against Oklahoma State and 10-3 in Stillwater.
• Give Steve Sarkisian his 57th victory as a head coach and 11th at Texas in his 101st career game as a head coach.
• Be the Longhorns 146th victory in Big 12 Conference play and improve their all-time conference record to 146-77.
Sarkisian Era Enters Second Season
• Texas Football Head Coach Steve Sarkisian begins his second season at the helm of the Longhorns and his ninth season as a head coach overall.
• Last season, the Texas offense ranked 18th in the nation and second in the Big 12 Conference with 35.5 points per game, the third-straight top-18 scoring output for a Sarkisan-led offense.
• The offensive showing also marked the eighth top-30 scoring offense in Sarkisian's career.
• Bijan Robinson rushed for 1,127 yards in 2021, marking the 10th consecutive year a Sarkisian coached offense has had a 1,000-yard rusher.
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium Shines
• The Texas-Alabama game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium drew record-setting crowds to the Forty Acres.
• A total of 105,213 packed DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, topping the previous record of 103,507 established in 2018 in the Longhorns' victory over USC.
• It marked the 30th game in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium history to draw more than 100,000 fans.
• Texas drew over 100,000 fans to a home game for the first time since 102,498 Longhorn faithful packed the house for UT's 24-10 victory over Iowa State in 2018.
Drawing a Crowd
• A week after setting the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium attendance record, the Longhorns drew another huge crowd with 102,520 Longhorn faithful packing the house, the third-largest crowd in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium history, and the 31st crowd of 100,000-plus.
• It marked the first time since 2018 that Texas has drawn back-to-back crowds of over 100,000 fans.
• Texas followed that by drawing 100,740 fans for the matchup with West Virginia and 100,072 for game against Iowa State, the first time DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium held over 100,000 fans four times in a season since 2012 and also the first time with four consecutive games of more than 100,000 in attendance since 2012.
The Eyes of College Football are Upon Austin
• Nearly 10.6 million viewers tune into FOX for Texas Football's game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, the most-watched college football game of the 2022.
• The broadcast averaged 10,595,000 viewers on FOX, peaking at over 15.1 million viewers, and was the fourth-most watch regular season college football matchup in the network's history.
• It marked the 30th game in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium history to draw more than 100,000 fans.
• In addition to the record-setting crowds on the Forty Acres, FOX College Football announced that the game was the most streamed regular season college football or NFL game in FOX Sports history.
• ESPN's College GameDay drew its top Week 2 viewership in over a decade for the pregame show's live coverage from Lyndon B. Johnson Library Lawn.
• The show averaged 2,104,000 million viewers, an increase of 26% from 2021's Week 2 total.
• The final hour of the show, broadcast live from inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT, drew 2.7 million viewers.
• ESPN College GameDay's viewership of 2.1 million was the highest Week 2 total for the show since 2010 and the best for a September episode since 2016.
Dallas Domination
• The Longhorns won the 118th edition of the Red River Showdown in dominating fashion, topping Oklahoma by a score of 49-0.
• UT's shutout was the first over OU since 1965 and the first suffered by the Sooners since 1998.
• The 49-point margin was also the worst suffered by the Sooners in shutout fashion in program history.
• Texas held Oklahoma to 39 passing yards, the fewest surrendered by the Longhorns since 2014 (North Texas - 15).
• The Longhorns 49 points were the most-ever scored against the Sooners and the 49-point win was the largest margin of victory of UT in the rivalry.
• Texas' 36 first downs were the most in a single game in the matchup and the most ever at a game held inside Cotton Bowl Stadium.
• Redshirt freshman Quinn Ewers passed for four touchdowns, tied for third-most in the Texas-Oklahoma game in series history.
Weathering the Cyclones
• Facing an Iowa State defense that was holding opponents to a Big 12-best (13th/NCAA) 91 rushing ypg, Bijan Robinson (28-135) & Roschon Johnson (11-71) combined for 206 rushing yards — including teaming up for 59 yards on nine carries on the game-winning 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.
• Iowa State's defense is putting together one of the best seasons in school history, leading the Big 12 in total defense (277.5 yards per game), rushing defense (91.0) and scoring defense (13.7 points).
• Nationally, ISU is eighth in scoring defense, 11th in total defense and 13th in rushing defense.
Halftime Momentum Swings
• Texas has had a scoring attempt on all of its final drives of half this year, scoring touchdowns before heading into the locker room in the last four games: Missed FG; Missed FG; FG; TD; TD; TD; TD. The Longhorns opponents have scored just once (WVU) on their final drive of the half with the other six games being five punts and an interception.
• The Longhorns have held their opponents scoreless on each of their initial drive of the second half with the Horns scoring four times (three TDs and a FG) in seven games, including two of the last three outings.
Halftime Momentum
• Texas has had a scoring attempt on all of its final drives of half this year, scoring touchdowns before heading into the locker room in the last four games: Missed FG; Missed FG; FG; TD; TD; TD; TD. The Longhorns opponents have scored just once (WVU) on their final drive of the half with the other six games being five punts and an interception.
• The Longhorns have held their opponents scoreless on each of their initial drive of the second half with the Horns scoring four times (three TDs and a FG) in seven games, including two of the last three outings.
Complimentary Football
• Ranking 15th among Power 5 programs in scoring defense (18.3 ppg/21st FBS) and 20th in scoring offense (36.7 ppg/26th FBS), Texas is one of seven teams that ranks among the Power 5's top-20 in both scoring offense and scoring defense (the others are: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Ole Miss).
Non-Offensive Touchdowns
• Texas has made scoring non-offensive touchdowns a habit, registering at least one in 13 of the last 14 seasons.
• The Horns wasted no time this season when Keilan Robinson scored on a D'Shawn Jamison blocked punt to close out the first drive of the season opener by ULM.
• Jamison secured a defensive score with a third-quarter, 69-yard interception return against ULM, giving UT multiple non-offensive touchdowns in a season for the fourth time in six years.
• UT added a third for the 2022 campaign when Jahdae Barron intercepted a pass against UTSA at the Roadrunner 44-yard line and took it to the house for the first interception return of his career.
• Josh Thompson tallied a 27-yard interception return against Texas Tech last season that marked the fifth-straight season in which the Longhorns had a non-offensive touchdown.
• D'Shawn Jamison's 100-yard kickoff return against Oklahoma State in 2020 was the second of his career and fueled the Longhorns comeback from an 11-point deficit at the sixth-ranked Cowboys.
• Texas has scored a non-offensive touchdown in 15 of the last 16 seasons.
• Thompson's touchdown was the first for the Texas since defense since Anthony Wheeler's 38-yard fumble return in the 2017 Texas Bowl.
• It was the first interception returned for a touchdown since DeShon Elliott's 43-yard return at Baylor, also in 2017.
• The score was the 79th interception returned for a touchdown in UT history.
• UT finished 2017 with eight non-offensive touchdowns, tied for the most in the country. It was their most since registering 11 in 2009.
Score Big and Score Often
• Texas tallied 28 points in the first half against Oklahoma, the third time this season the Longhorns have scored 28 points in a half.
• UT has scored at least 24 points in a half six times this season.
• The Longhorns have scored at least 34 points in five of seven games this season.
• In last season's victory over Texas Tech, the Longhorns scored 70 points in a game for the first time since 2005 Big 12 Championship Game against Colorado.
• It marked only the second time since 1977 and 11th time in school history that UT had scored 70 points in a game.
• The 70 points tied for the second most scored against a Big 12 opponent in conference play, while the 42 points scored in the first half were also the second most in a Big 12 contest.
• Texas scored at least 32 points in six of 12 games in 2021 and had four games of 48 points or more.
• Texas scored at least 40 points in the first half against Rice (44 on Sept. 18) and Texas Tech (42 on Sept. 25), marking the first time since 2003 (41 vs. Rice/49 vs. Tulane) that the Longhorns tallied at least 40 first-half points in back-to-back games.
• Texas scored 28 points in the first quarter against Oklahoma, the third time this season the Longhorns had scored 28 points in a quarter.
• The 28 points in a quarter are the most by UT against Oklahoma since at least 1942.
Finding the End Zone
• In the Longhorns' season opener against ULM, Keilan Robinson returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, D'Shawn Jamison returned an interception for a score and the Texas offense scored three rushing and two passing touchdowns.
• It marked the first time since the season opener against Maryland in 2017 that Texas scored a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams.
• In the 2017 game, Holton Hill had a 31-yard interception return and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown, and Reggie Hemphill-Mapps scored on a 91-yard punt return. Shane Buechele added a pair of touchdown passes to Armanti Foreman and Collin Johnson and ran in for another score.
Heisman Hopeful: Bijan Robinson
• Texas has a strong Heisman tradition when it come to the running back position with two of the greats - Earl Campbell (1977) and Ricky Williams (1998) hailing from the Forty Acres.
• Additionally, the Longhorns have had 10 running backs or fullbacks place in the Top-10 in Heisman Trophy voting, most recently D'Onta Foreman in 2016.
• Current Big 12 Conference programs have produced five Heisman Trophy Winners from the running back/tailback position: Campbell, Williams, Billy Vessels (1952), Billy Simms (1978) and Barry Sanders (1988).
• The last three running backs named as the Heisman Trophy winner have been sophomores or juniors: Reggie Bush (2005), Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015).
Robinson By the Numbers
• Bijan Robinson has been one of the top performers in the FBS this season, ranking fourth in total touchdowns (11), fifth in rushing touchdowns (10), eighth in rushing yards (780) and 10th in total points scored (66), while also ranking 11th in rushing yards per game (111.4), 12th in all-purpose yards (145.57 ypg) and 20th in scoring (9.4 ppg).
• He leads the Big 12 Conference in all purpose yards per game, rushing yards, rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, total points and total touchdowns, while ranking second in scoring, sixth in rushing yards per carry (5.65), ninth in points responsible for (66), and 12th in total offense (111.4 ypg) and yards per reception (14.94).
• This offseason, Robinson focused on maintaining his speed for 90 yards (instead of the 40-yard dash), and was clocked at 22.3 mph on the GPS.
• Robinson has a history of not only making people miss and getting the tough yards, but also breaking big plays as both a rusher and receiver. For his career, Robinson has 36 plays (24 rushes/12 receptions) of 20-plus yards and that includes seven of 50 or more (all runs).
• Over his last 19 games, his ratio of long plays is even more impressive. During that time, he has 31 plays (20 rushes/11 receptions) of 20-or-more yards, including five runs of 50-plus. He's accomplished that in just 399 plays (352 rushes/47 receptions) in that 19-game span, or a play of 20-plus yards on average about every 13 plays.
• In seven games this season, he has 10 plays (5 rushes/5 receptions) of 20-or-more yards, including touchdown runs of 78, 41 and 40 yards.
• In 10 games last season, he had 12 plays (9 rushes/3 receptions) of 20-or-more yards, including two of 50-plus, with five touchdowns.
All About Zay
• Sophomore WR Xavier Worthy is one of the premier wide receivers in the Big 12, ranking first in receiving touchdowns (six - 13th in the FBS), fifth in receiving yards (432), sixth in total touchdowns (six) and eighth in receiving yards per game (61.7) and receptions per game (4.6), while also ranking 15th in total points (36), 17th in yards per reception (13.50) and 18th in scoring (5.1 ppg).
• Worthy is also serving as the Longhorns' primary punt returner this season, averaging 6.8 yards per return, the fourth-best return average in the Big 12 this season.
• He had a stand-out performance against Iowa State, catching a season-high eight passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, including a 3-yard go-ahead score to help clinch the Texas victory.
• The two-touchdown game was his second of the season and the fifth multi-touchdown game of his career.
• Has a touchdown reception in four consecutive games for the second time in his career.
• His two scores brought his career receiving TD total to 18, tied for fifth all-time in UT history.
• Worthy has caught a pass in all 19 games he has played and brought his career total to 94.
• Versus Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, he tallied three receptions for 29 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown reception.
• Against West Virginia, he caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns of 15 and 44 yards.
• He also threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Tavion Sanders on the first pass attempt of his career.
• Worthy was the first Longhorn to pass and receive a touchdown in the same game since Lil'Jordan Humphrey against Oklahoma in 2018.
• The 100-yard performance was his fifth.
• At Texas Tech, Worthy caught three passes for 50 yards, including a 39-yard reception for the 13th touchdown of his career before leaving the game with an injury.
• In the Longhorns' 41-20 victory over UTSA, Worthy hauled in four receptions for 41 yards.
• Worthy caught five passes for a game-high 97 yards against Alabama, including a diving 46-yard reception at the end of the first quarter.
• His standout performance against No. 1 Alabama to move past 1,000 career receiving yards.
• He had a pair of receptions for 24 yards against ULM and also returned three punts for 33 yards, including a career long 21-yard return, and ran the ball once for seven yards.
Quinn in Command
• Redshirt freshman QB Quinn Ewers has guided the Longhorns to three victories in his first four career starts. The lone loss coming to then-No. 1 Alabama, in which he left the game due to injury at the end of the first quarter.
• His three victories are tied for 10th-most by a freshman in program history.
• In the win over Iowa State, Ewers passed for 172 yards and three touchdowns, completing 17-of-26 passes along the way.
• He had a standout performance against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, completing 21-of-31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns, establishing career bests in each category.
• The four touchdown passes are tied for third-most in the UT-OU game in series history and are the most-ever by a Texas freshman.
• Ewers' four passing scores are also tied for 10th-most in a game in program history and tied for third among Texas freshmen.
• His four touchdown passes were the most for a Texas freshman since Shane Buechele had four against UTEP in 2016.
• His efforts earned him Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week honors, the first weekly conference honor of his career.
• He started the first two games of the season for the Longhorns, completing 25-of-36 passes (69.4%), for 359 yards and two touchdowns in four total quarters of action.
• Against No. 1 Alabama, Ewers passed for 134 yards and connected on 9-of-12 passes before being sidelined with an injury at the end of the first quarter.
• He made his first career start and his Longhorn debut in the season opener against ULM, guiding the Texas to a season-opening 52-10 victory.
• The transfer from Ohio State completed 16-of-24 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. After throwing an interception on his second career passing attempt, he bounced back to connect on eight-straight passes and nine of 10, guiding Texas to four touchdowns, a field goal and a field goal attempt on his next six drives. The stretch included a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Tavion Sanders and a 43-yard completion to Casey Cain.
• Ewers' 225 passing yards were the third-most since 1950 for a freshman starting in the season opener, trailing Shea Morenz's 347 (1993) and Shane Buechele's 280 (2016).
• He was the sixth Longhorn freshman to start the season opener and the fifth to lead Texas to victory:
Sanders is a Sensation
• Sophomore TE Ja'Tavion Sanders has been tremendous during the 2022 campaign and is already making his marking on the UT record books.
• Against Iowa State, he had three receptions for 37 yards, including a third-down, 13-yard reception that helped lead to Texas' first touchdown of the game.
• In the Red River Showdown against Oklahoma, Sanders caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
• The two scores brought his season total to five this season, tied for third all-time among Texas tight ends.
• Against West Virginia, Sanders caught five passes for 78 yards and a career-best two touchdowns.
• His two scores went for 33 and 13 yards and marked the first time a Texas tight end has hauled in two touchdowns in a game since D.J Grant in 2011.
• At Texas Tech, he was the top target for QB Hudson Card, making five catches for 40 yards.
• He made his first career start in the season opener against ULM and did not disappoint, establishing career highs with six receptions, 85 yards and his first touchdown.
• The 85 receiving yards were the most for a Texas tight end since Jermichael Finley tallied 149 yards on four receptions in against Oklahoma in the 2007 Red River Showdown.
• A tremendous blocker as well, Sanders was targeted six times and caught all six passes, including a pair of clutch catches on third and fourth down that set up a pair of touchdowns.
• He then added three receptions against No. 1 Alabama.
Ford Foundation
• Junior LB Jaylan Ford has emerged as a crucial member of the defense during the 2022 season.
• Ford played a critical role in ending two Iowa State drives in the Longhorns' victory over the Cyclones.
• First, he intercepted a pass in the end zone that shifted momentum in the game in towards Texas and prevented a potential two-score deficit. Then, with just over two minutes remaining, he jumped on a Cyclone fumble that sealed the game for the Longhorns. He also added eight tackles (two solo) to lead the team.
• In the Red River Showdown, Ford made seven tackles (four solo) and had one TFL against the Sooners.
• Against West Virginia, he registered 14 tackles (seven solo), his fourth-straight game with 10-or-more tackles, and a tackle for loss.
• At Texas Tech, he recorded 12 tackles (four solo), his third-straight game with 10-or-more tackles, and had a forced fumble.
• Ford was a force against UTSA, posting career best numbers with 15 tackles, 10 solo tackles and his first forced fumble.
• He had a breakout performance against No. 1 Alabama, posting a team-high 10 tackles (six solo) with two tackles for loss and one sack, helping hold the Crimson Tide to 20 points.
Jerrin's Jumpstart
• Junior DB Jerrin Thompson has become the field general of the Longhorn secondary, starting each of the first seven games of the 2022 campaign as a focally leader of the defense.
• He tied for the team lead with seven tackles (four solo) against Oklahoma to help lead the Longhorns to a shut out of the Sooners in the Red River Showdown.
• Thompson was flying to the ball against West Virginia, posting his second-straight 10-tackle performance, including six solo tackles.
• At Texas Tech, Thompson established career highs with 10 tackles and seven solo tackles, while also breaking up one pass.
• Against UTSA, he had four solo tackles in helping UT pick up the win.
• Thompson registered one of the best games of his career against Alabama, tallying seven tackles (four solo) against the Crimson Tide.
• That effort was preceded by a four tackle (two solo) performance against ULM in the season opener.
Anthony's Cookin'
• Super senior DB Anthony Cook has become a leader in the Texas secondary, pacing the defensive backfield with 42 tackles (23 solo) through the first seven games of the season.
• The veteran defensive back helped seal the Longhorns' victory over Iowa State, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Texas with just over two minutes remaining.
• He tallied four tackles (one solo) and had one pass breakup against West Virginia.
• Cook had a career game at Texas Tech, recording personal bests with 12 tackles and eight solo tackles, while also adding a pass breakup.
• He tallied six tackles (three solo) in UT's win over UTSA, the 11th game of his career with five or more tackles.
• Against Alabama, he collected nine tackles (six solo) and had a career-best tying two tackles for loss.
