The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 7/6 Football preview: No. 25/RV Kansas State
10.30.2023 | Football
Texas will host conference rival Kansas State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Texas (7-1, 4-1) vs. Kansas State (6-2, 4-1)
November 4, 2023
Where: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft)
Radio: Longhorn Radio Network (Craig Way, Roger Wallace, Will Matthews)
Spanish Radio: Longhorn Radio Network (Dr. Rubén Pizarro-Silva, Jesus Mendoza)
National Radio: Westwood One (Ted Emrich, Derek Rackley)
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The University of Texas continues its 131st season of football on Saturday when the Longhorns host Kansas State for the 24th all-time meeting and 13th time in Austin.
• Texas (No. 7) is ranked in the AP Top-10 for the eighth consecutive week, the longest single-season stretch for the Longhorns since 2009.
• Last time out, the Longhorns (7-1, 4-1) defeated BYU, 35-6, improving to 4-0 at home on the year.
• The Longhorns' 7-1 start is the best for the program since 2009.
• No. 25/RV Kansas State (6-2, 4-1) extended their win streak to three straight last Saturday after defeating Houston at home, 41-0.
• Texas currently boasts 943 all-time wins, the fifth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 943-391-33 (.702).
Series History vs. Kansas State
• The Longhorns and Wildcats have met 23 times previously, with Texas holding a two-game series edge at 13-10.
• Texas is currently riding a six-game winning streak against K-State dating back to 2017. It is the longest winning run in the series for either program.
• Texas holds a 9-3 mark when the teams play at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium with the Longhorns winning each of the last five in Austin.
• UT won last season's game in Manhattan, 34-27, when Bijan Robinson ran for 209 yards on 30 carries and Xavier Worthy scored two touchdowns for the Longhorns.
• Texas and Kansas State will meet as AP ranked opponents for the first time since 2012.
• The Longhorns and Wildcats have played on four previous occasions as AP ranked opponents with the teams each winning two games apiece, including 1-1 marks at home and on the road.
• Texas was victorious the last time the programs played in Austin as ranked opponents, topping Kansas State, 24-20, in 2003.
A Texas Win Would ...
• Be Texas' 944th all-time victory, the fifth-winningest program in college football history.
• Give Steve Sarkisian his 67th victory as a head coach and 21st at Texas in his 115th career game as a head coach.
• Mark the first 8-1 start for a Steve Sarkisian led team and the best for the Longhorns since 2009 (9-0).
• Give Texas a 5-1 start to conference play, the Longhorns' best mark since 2013 (6-0).
• Improve Texas' all-time Big 12 Conference record to 154-79.
Third season OF Sarkisian Era
• Texas Football Head Coach Steve Sarkisian is in his third season at the helm of the Longhorns and his 10th season as a head coach overall.
• Last season, the Texas offense ranked 24th in the nation and third in the Big 12 Conference with 34.5 points per game, the fourth-straight top-25 scoring output for a Sarkisian-led offense.
• The offensive showing also marked the eighth top-25 scoring offense in Sarkisian's career.
• Marked the seventh time a Sarkisian offense averaged at least 34 points per game.
• Bijan Robinson rushed for 1,580 yards in 2022, marking the 11th consecutive year a Sarkisian offense (as head coach or offensive coordinator) has had a 1,000-yard rusher.
FOX Big Noon Kickoff Returns to Austin
• All fans are invited to attend FOX Big Noon Kickoff LIVE at Hook 'Em Hangout beginning at 9 a.m. prior to the Texas-Kansas State game. The national broadcast features Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram and Urban Meyer. This marks the second time Big Noon Kickoff has televised LIVE from Austin and first time since September 2022.
Veterans Recognition Day
• Every year, on or around Veterans Day, The University of Texas community remembers and shows their appreciation for those who served during Veterans Recognition game week. This week's game vs. Kansas State will serve as Texas' annual Veterans Recognition Game.
• The University has a long-standing tradition of honoring former Texas students and military members. The Football team played its first game inside then-Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 8, 1924, a facility the UT student body chose to name in honor of the 198,520 Texans who fought in World War I and the 5,280 who lost their lives. In 1977, the stadium was rededicated to veterans of all wars and renamed Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in 1996 in honor of the Longhorns' legendary coach.
Ricky Williams Heisman Trophy 25th Anniversary Salute
• Saturday's game will feature a salute the 25th Anniversary of Ricky Williams' epic Heisman Trophy-winning season.
• In 1998, Williams produced one of the finest seasons on NCAA record in 1998, rushing for 2,124 yards (No. 5 on the NCAA's all-time chart and now 14th) and 27 TDs (No. 4 on the NCAA's all-time list and now tied for 14th). He also became the first-ever two-time winner of the Doak Walker Award (nation's outstanding running back) and claimed the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year, The Associated Press Player of the Year, The Sporting News Player of the Year and the Football News Offensive Player of the Year.
• With his second consecutive unanimous first-team All-America honor in 1998, Williams became the first UT player since Jerry Gray (1983-84) to earn unanimous first-team All-America recognition in consecutive seasons.
• Texas officially retired Williams' No. 34 jersey in a pregame ceremony prior to the Oklahoma State game on Sept. 30, 2000.
Texas Exes Distinguished Alumni Recognition
• Texas Football Legend Ricky Williams will be among six Texas Exes to receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award this week.
• The award recognizes alumni who have made significant achievements in their careers and service to the university. Through a commitment to excellence, our Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients truly exemplify the phrase, "What starts here, changes the world."
• Honorees will be recognized during a ceremony at the Alumni Center on Nov. 3 and halftime of the Texas' football game against Kansas State on Nov. 4.
• This 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award honorees are:
• John C. Goff – McCombs School of Business
• Ed Hyman – Cockrell School of Engineering
• Ross R. Moody – McCombs School of Business
• Jeannie M. Leavitt – Cockrell School of Engineering
• Ricky Williams – College of Education
• Mitchel Wong – College of Natural Sciences
100th season of Texas Football at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
• 2023 marks the 100th season in which Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at Campbell-Williams will serve as the home for Texas Football.
• The first game at Texas Memorial Stadium took place on Nov. 8, 1924, as the Longhorns welcomed 13,500 fans for a Southwest Conference matchup against Baylor.
• The stadium was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1924, after the UT student body decided to name the stadium in honor of the 198,520 Texans who fought in World War I and the 5,280 who lost their lives doing so.
• In 1977, the stadium was rededicated to veterans of all wars.
• The stadium was renamed in honor of College Football Hall of Fame Darrell K Royal in 1996.
• In 2020, the field, previously named for Joe Jamail, was renamed in honor of Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams.
• The Longhorns have an all-time record at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium of 397-122-10 (.760).
Home Sweet Home
• The Longhorns played in a packed house at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in the victory over BYU, welcoming the 10th-largest crowd in stadium history with 101,670 in attendance.
• In UT's previous home game against Kansas, the Longhorns had 102,986 fans witness the victory over the Jayhawks, the fourth-largest crowd in stadium history.
• Two weeks prior, Texas drew 101,777 fans for the game against Wyoming.
• UT has drawn over 100,000 fans to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in eight of the 10 last home games.
• In the 11 home games since the start of the 2022 season, the Longhorns have hosted six of the 10 largest home crowds in program history.
• The Horns have had 37 home games of 100,000-plus fans.
Drawing a Crowd
• Texas has played in front of capacity crowds in each of the last six games.
• At Alabama, 100,077 fans filled Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
• The following week, 101,777 Longhorns fans packed Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
• In the Big 12 opener in Waco, Baylor announced a capacity crowd of 49,165, the eighth-largest attendance figure in McClane Stadium history.
• The Longhorns drew 102,986 fans for the Big 12 home opener against Kansas, the fourth-largest crowd in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium history.
• The 2023 Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma had a capacity crowd of 92,100 fans inside the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
• In Texas' first game at Houston since 2001, the Longhorns and Cougars drew 42,812 fans to TDECU Stadium.
• The Horns welcomed 101,670 fans back to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium for the game against BYU.
Scoring in Bunches
• Texas has scored 30 points or more points in each of the first eight games of the season for the first time in program history.
• UT has scored at least 30 points 10 of the last 11 games and 17 of 21 games since the start of the 2022 season.
• The Longhorns scored at least 21 points in a quarter in each of the first four games this season with two of those occurrences taking place in the fourth quarter.
• In the home opener against Rice, the Longhorns opened the second half with three consecutive touchdown drives.
• UT trailed Alabama 16-13 heading into the fourth quarter, but quickly scored a pair of touchdowns on back-to-back drives early in the frame to take 27-16 lead. Texas added a touchdown on their next drive to go up 34-24.
• In week three, Texas and Wyoming were all square, 10-10, heading into the fourth quarter. The Longhorns collected touchdowns on their firsts two drives then added a third on a Jerrin Thompson pick-six that closed out the scoring, 31-10.
• Against Baylor, the Longhorns scored three rushing touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 22-point halftime lead on the way to a 38-6 road win.
• UT has had one quarter in seven of eight games in which they have scored at least two touchdowns.
Complimentary Football
• Texas ranks sixth in ESPN's College Efficiencies rankings with an overall rating of 84.9. The Longhorns rank 18th in offensive efficiency (75.4) and eighth in defensive efficiency (83.1) and are one of only six teams nationally (Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State) that rank among the top-18 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
• Texas ranks 15th among Power 5 programs in total offense (454.1) and 20th in total defense (328.0), one of seven programs to rank among the top-20 in both categories. The others are Georgia, Louisville, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee and UCLA.
• The Longhorns are one of only eight FBS schools (and six Power 5 programs) scoring at least 34 points (34.5) and allowing 16 or fewer points (16.0) per game. The list also includes Georgia, Kansas State Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State and SMU.
X-Factor
• Junior WR/PR Xavier Worthy is one of the premier wide receivers in the Big 12 and the nation.
• On the year, he has totaled 44 receptions for 572 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks second in the conference in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and is tied for sixth in touchdowns, while ranking third in receptions per game (5.5) and third receiving yards per game (71.5).
• Nine of his 44 receptions are for at least 20 yards, including a pair of 44-yard touchdown catches, a 42-yard touchdown reception and two 39-yard receptions.
• He has become one of the top return specialists in the nation and currently leads the Big 12 and is sixth in the FBS averaging 17.6 yards per return.
• Against BYU, he followed the first Cougar drive of the game by returning a punt 74 yards for a touchdown.
• It was the first punt return for a score for Texas since 2018 and the 74 yards it tied for the 10th-longest punt return in UT history.
• Worthy also caught four passes for 27 yards in the victory over the Cougars.
• At Houston, he had six receptions for a team-leading 92 yards and had a 42-yard touchdown.
• He has eight career touchdowns of 40-plus yards (three in 2023) and 11 career receptions of 40-or-more yards.
• It marked his third consecutive game with at least six receptions and fourth of the year.
• For his career, Worthy has hauled in 166 receptions for 2,313 yards and 25 touchdowns.
• The Fresno, Calif. native has caught a pass in all 33 games he has played, tied for the fourth-longest streak in program history, and his 166 career receptions are the 10th-most for a Longhorn.
• His 2,313 receiving yards rank 10th all-time in program history, 76 behind B.J. Johnson (2000-03).
• He ranks third in UT history in touchdown receptions and is just one of four Longhorns to haul in at least 20 touchdown catches.
• He ranks fifth among active players at 70.1 receiving yards per game for his career (Jacob Cowing, Arizona - 77.2; Rome Odunze, Washington - 76.9; Malik Nabers, LSU - 73.2; Troy Horton, Colorado State - 71.1).
• Worthy's 13.6 career punt return average ranks third among active FBS players and third in program history.
• His 25 career receiving touchdowns are third-most among active FBS players.
• Worthy leads all active Big 12 players in career touchdowns (25) and receiving yards (2,286), while his 166 career receptions are second (Phillip Brooks, Kansas State - 168).
• Worthy was everywhere on the field against Oklahoma, registering season highs with eight receptions and 108 yards.
• It was the sixth time in his career that Worthy eclipsed the century mark, the 10th-most in program history.
• Against Kansas, Worthy had seven receptions for 93 yards and became the 11th Longhorn to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.
• At Baylor, he caught 3 passes for 31 yards and one touchdown while also returning three punts for 48 yards, including a career-long 40-yard return.
• He followed his 40-yard punt return with a career-long 35-yard pass completion to Ja'Tavion Sanders, the second pass and completion of his career.
• His fourth-quarter touchdown reception against Wyoming sparked the Longhorns' offense after catching the ball on the Texas 46-yard line, breaking a tackle at the 40, and racing down the right sideline to score the first of Texas' three unanswered touchdowns.
• The 44-yard touchdown reception was his sixth career TD catch of 40 or more yards.
• Against Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Worthy had five receptions for 75 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
• The 44-yard score was the ninth career reception of at least 40 yards and the fifth touchdown of 40-plus yards.
Jonathon on the Spot
• Sophomore RB Jonathon Brooks' performance out of the backfield has been critical to the Longhorns' success in the 2023 season.
• His versatility has been on display during the Longhorns' last three games, rushing 58 times for 326 yards (109 ypg) and catching 17 passes for 125 yards to total 451 yards (150 ypg).
• He ranks fourth in the nation this season in rushing yards per game (115.4 ypg) and sixth in all-purpose yards (141.88 ypg), ranking second in the Big 12 Conference in both categories, while sitting fifth nationally in rushing yards (923). He is second in the conference in total touchdowns (8), third in rushing yards per carry (6.41) and fifth in the conference in rushing touchdowns (7).
• In the victory over BYU, he carried the ball 16 times for 98 yards 6.1 ypc) with one touchdown and hauled in four passes for 40 yards.
• Against Houston, he rushed for 99 yards on 20 carries and established career bests with eight receptions for 51 yards to total 150 all-purpose yards, his third consecutive game with 150+ all-purpose yards.
• Brooks went over the century mark for the fourth-straight game against Oklahoma with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries (5.9 ypc).
• His fourth quarter touchdown against the Sooners had tied the game at 27-27.
• Oklahoma had entered the game ranked 28th in rushing defense, allowing 105.2 yards per game.
• Brooks was dominant in the Texas victory over Kansas, posting his first career 200-yard rushing game, totaling 218 yards on 21 carries (10.4 ypc) with two touchdowns.
• His 218 yards were the fourth-most for a Longhorn versus an AP-ranked opponent.
• Brooks had a 54-yard touchdown run in the win over Kansas. Of his 13 career touchdowns (11 rushing, two receiving), five have been for 34 or more yards (three rushing, two receiving).
• Rushed for multiple touchdowns in his second consecutive game and third time in his career.
• At Baylor, he carried the ball 18 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns and also had an 18-yard reception.
• He had a dominant day in the victory over Wyoming, establishing then-career bests with 21 carries for 164 yards (7.8 ypc) while adding the eighth rushing touchdown of his career.
• During Texas' two fourth-quarter scoring drives against the Cowboys, Brooks rushed for 107 yards on eight carries, including a 61-yard run.
• Against Alabama, he rushed a career-high 14 times for 57 yards and one touchdown.
• Brooks has scored a touchdown in three-straight games (2 rushing, 2 receiving) dating back to the Alamo Bowl against Washington when he had a rushing and receiving touchdown.
• He proved to be a dual threat in the win over Rice, rushing 12 times for 55 yards and catching a pair of passes for 42 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown reception, the longest reception of his career.
• For his career, the Hallettsville, Texas native is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, rushing 195 times for 1,263 yards with 13 touchdowns.
Mitchell Makes an Impact
• Junior wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has come up huge in his first eight games in the Burnt Orange, tallying 29 receptions for 427 yards and a team-leading seven touchdown receptions.
• In the Texas win over BYU, Mitchell collected three receptions for 59 yards and equaled his season high with two touchdown catches.
• Mitchell had a breakout performance against Kansas, establishing career bests with 10 catches and 141 receiving yards while adding one touchdown reception.
• His 10-reception performance was the most for the Longhorns since Xavier Worthy had 14 against the Jayhawks in 2021.
• He had three receptions in each of the first four games of the season, averaging 45 yards per game to open the year.
• Against Alabama, he had three receptions for 78 yards and a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. His first was a 7-yard touchdown that gave Texas the lead for good early in the fourth quarter, while his second, 39-yard score that sealed the win.
• It was the first career multi-touchdown game for Mitchell and the second game in which the Georgia transfer has scored against the Crimson Tide.
• He quickly made his presence felt in his first action as a Longhorn in the victory over Rice, catching three passes for 26 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown catch.
• Mitchell's scores against Alabama marked the fourth consecutive game in which he had hauled in a touchdown reception, including a 9-yard touchdown in the season-opener against Rice, a 10-yard TD against Ohio State in the CFP Semifinals and a 22-yard score against TCU in the CFP National Championship.
Ford Foundation
• Senior LB Jaylan Ford emerged as one of the top defenders in the nation in 2022, earning All-American honors from the Associated Press and first-team All-Big 12 accolades from the league's coaches and the AP.
• Ford had a game-high 11 tackles (four solo) with a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries in the win against BYU.
• In the victory over Houston, Ford tallied six tackles (four solo), a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble that led to a Texas field goal.
• It marked his fifth-straight game with at least six tackles and sixth consecutive game with one or more tackles for loss.
• Ford equaled his season high with eight tackles (three solo) and one tackle for loss - his team-leading eighth of the season - against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.
• In the Big 12 home opener against Kansas, he tallied a team-high seven tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry.
• Ford collected a team-high eight tackles (four solo), one tackle for loss and one interception against Baylor.
• The interception against the Bears was the sixth of his career, fourth-most among Texas linebackers in program history.
• All six of his interceptions have led to Texas scoring drives (five touchdowns, one field goal).
• He has become a takeaway machine for the Longhorns, collecting eight over the last 14 games, including all six of his interceptions, while also forcing a fumble in the win over Houston that was recovered by the Longhorns.
• The Frisco, Texas native tallied seven tackles (four solo), including one tackle for loss, in the Horns win against Wyoming, bringing his total tackles to over 200 for his career.
• Against Alabama, Ford tallied five tackles (two solo) with one tackle for loss in the victory.
• He opened the 2023 season right where he left off last season, registering five tackles (one solo) and intercepting one pass.
T'Vondre's Time
• Super senior DL T'Vondre Sweat has become a force in the middle of the Texas line.
• For his career, he has totaled 110 tackles (41 solo) with 15 tackles for loss and four sacks in 55 career games played.
• He had a career day in the victory over BYU, establishing a career best with seven tackles (three solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Sweat has tallied one tackle for loss in three of the first seven games and is tied for fourth on the team with four TFLs on the year.
• He recorded four tackles (three solo) with one tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Baylor after posting three tackles with one tackle for loss in the victory over Wyoming.
• At Alabama, Sweat registered one sack of the Longhorns' five sacks on the game: the most the Crimson Tide had surrendered at home since 2015.
• Against Rice in the 2023 season opener, he matched his career high with five tackles (two solo) with half a tackle for loss.
Jahdae All Day
• Senior DB Jahdae Barron's impact in the defensive backfield can be felt throughout the team.
• Barron had an impact all over the field against BYU, collecting six tackles (two solo) with two tackles for loss, one pass breakup and a pass deflection that led resulted in a Terrance Brooks interception to set up Texas' second touchdown of the game.
• He was a difference-maker for the Longhorns against Houston, providing a spark with three timely tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup on the Cougars' final offensive play of the game that halted the drive at the Texas 10-yard line.
• The Austin native registered 11 tackles (five solo) with one tackle for loss in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma.
• Barron tallied three solo tackles, including a tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble that led to a Texas touchdown.
• Against Wyoming, Barron had a then-season-high 11 tackles (six solo), 0.5 TFL and one pass breakup in the win, including four third-down plays to force fourth down - three tackles and one pass breakup.
• At Alabama, Barron set the tone for the day, intercepting a pass to shut down the Crimson Tide's first drive and returning it 16 yards to set up Texas' first score.
• Barron added four tackles (three solo) in the win in Tuscaloosa, including a third-down tackle that forced an Alabama field goal.
• In 2022, Barron tallied a career-high 78 tackles (43 solo) including a team-leading 11.5 tackles for loss while adding two interceptions, one quarterback hurry, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery and two defensive touchdowns (INT, FR).
• He became the first FBS defensive back since 2000 to register double-digit tackles for loss, one fumble returns for a touchdown and one interception return for a touchdown in the same season.
• Posted at least five tackles in eight games last season, including three double-digit performances.
• The pair of non-offensive touchdowns gave him three for his career, two shy of Michael Huff's UT record.
• Barron notched seven tackles (three solo) in the Alamo Bowl against Washington.
• He tallied five tackles (two solo) with two tackles for loss and his first career sack in helping Texas to a win in the season finale against Baylor.
• The Austin native had a career day against TCU, recording 11 tackles with a career-high nine solo and 3.5 tackles for loss, while also collecting his first fumble recovery and returning it 48 yards.
• Barron posted a critical PBU to prevent a TD and create a turnover on downs at Kansas State.
• He had a standout game against Oklahoma State, recording a career-best 12 tackles (six solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, Barron picked off a pass to shut down a Sooner drive, and also tallied six tackles (three solo) and had half a tackle for loss.
• Versus West Virginia, he posted six tackles (five solo) and had one tackle for loss.
• He had a career day at Texas Tech, establishing career bests with 10 tackles, six solo tackles and two tackles for loss.
• Barron recorded his first career interception against UTSA and took it 44 yards for the first pick-six of his career. He also added six tackles (three solo) in the victory over the Roadrunners.
• His effort against UTSA earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Had four tackles (two solo) against Alabama.
