No. 7 Texas Secures Overtime Victory against No. 23 Kansas State
In a thrilling matchup, the No. 7 Texas Longhorns managed to survive a late upset attempt from the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, securing a 33-30 overtime win.
The game took an intense turn when Kansas State rallied from a 24-7 deficit to tie the game at 27 in the fourth quarter. Despite missing an earlier field goal attempt, the Wildcats’ kicker, Chris Tennant, came through in the remaining moments of regulation, nailing a 45-yard field goal to force overtime in Austin, Texas.
With the game hanging in the balance, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman made a bold decision in overtime, opting to go for a touchdown on fourth down from the 4-yard line. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the pass fell incomplete, allowing Texas to maintain its College Football Playoff hopes.
Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy started the game strongly, completing 7 of 9 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. However, he struggled down the stretch, completing just 12 of his next 28 passes for fewer than 3.3 yards per attempt and throwing two interceptions. Despite his struggles, Texas put the ball in Murphy’s hands twice in overtime, but he was unable to convert for a score.
The Longhorns’ victory keeps them in control of their Big 12 and College Football Playoff destiny, improving their record to 8-1. On the other hand, the Wildcats now face an uphill battle to get back into the conversation.
Kansas State’s quarterback, Will Howard, had an impressive outing, throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns, with most of his production coming after throwing a second-half interception. In an attempt to stop the run, the Wildcats sold out on defense, but Texas managed to rush for 230 yards, including a standout performance from Jonathon Brooks, who accumulated 112 rushing yards.
The Wildcats’ struggling offensive line proved to be a significant obstacle, as they ran for a mere 33 yards on 29 carries, failing to keep up with Texas’ physical defense.
With this crucial win, the Texas Longhorns kept their playoff hopes alive, while the Kansas State Wildcats will need to regroup and face the challenges that lie ahead.