Dominant Defense<\/h3>\n
The dream season has been relying on the defense for the past few weeks.\u00a0 Against Kansas State, the Longhorns got another MVP performance from T\u2019Vondre Sweat<\/a>.\u00a0 He had four tackles with a tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, and two passes broken up.\u00a0 The senior turned in another dominant performance and has been elevating himself in the eyes of NFL scouts.\u00a0 He spearheaded a defense that smothered Kansas State, holding the Wildcats to two of 14 on third-down conversion attempts.<\/p>\n Kansas State ran the ball 29 times for 33 yards for a meager average of just over one yard per attempt.\u00a0 It placed a heavy burden on Howard, who turned in a resilient effort on 26 of 42 passing.\u00a0 Texas kept the pressure on the senior quarterback, getting two sacks from Ethan Burke<\/a> and another by Barryn Sorrell<\/a>.\u00a0 We told you in the summer that the Texas edge rushers were due for a breakout season<\/a>, and they are playing their best football right now.<\/p>\n Ryan Watts<\/a> and Jaylan Ford<\/a> contributed with eight tackles each, and Michael Taaffe<\/a> made seven tackles and had an interception.\u00a0 The Longhorns\u2019 defense rose to the occasion when it mattered most, snuffing out the Wildcats on the final play of the game when Kansas State Head Coach Chris Klieman<\/strong> elected to go for the win.<\/p>\n Backup quarterback Maalik Murphy<\/a> got off to a hot start in the first quarter.\u00a0 He connected on 7 of 11 passes for 152 yards and a 37-yard scoring toss to Adonai Mitchell<\/a> on the Longhorns\u2019 second drive.\u00a0 Then he cooled off, going 5 of 10 for 23 yards while looking uncomfortable and off balance.<\/p>\n Murphy was out of step for most of the game.\u00a0 He finished the day 19 for 37 with 248 yards and two interceptions and remained unbeaten as the Longhorns\u2019 starter.\u00a0 Head Coach Steve Sarkisian<\/strong> showed confidence in his young quarterback, however.\u00a0 The redshirt freshman rebounded, leading his team on a 14-play drive that went 69 yards and resulted in a field goal late in the fourth quarter.\u00a0 Like last week\u2019s win over BYU, Murphy did enough to keep Texas\u2019 hopes alive for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game while starter Quinn Ewers<\/strong> continues to sit out with a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n Murphy needed a reliable target to get the win for Texas and Mitchell stepped up.\u00a0 The Georgia transfer caught eight passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. \u00a0He provides the Longhorns with a reliable threat alongside fellow wideout Xavier Worthy<\/a>, who had five catches for 48 yards.\u00a0 The combination of Mitchell and Worthy has been a dangerous tandem for opposing defenses throughout the dream season.<\/p>\n Mitchell has totaled 37 receptions for 576 yards and eight touchdowns this year, while Worthy has amassed 49 catches for 620 yards and four scores.\u00a0 Together they make a formidable duo as Texas makes its way down the home stretch.<\/p>\nQuarterback Quandary<\/h3>\n
Mitchell\u2019s Magic<\/h3>\n
Redzone Reality<\/h3>\n
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