PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Sam Ehlinger, a sophomore, has become the unquestioned leader of the Longhorns offense. He went going 22-of-34 for 312 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Texas Tech while adding 14 yards on the ground. He continues to build on his school-record and Big 12 Conference 280 consecutive passes without throwing an interception, besting Major Applewhite’s previous school mark of 156 set in 1999.
–LB Gary Johnson, a senior who came to Texas last year after playing in junior college, has already asserted himself as the Longhorns’ do-everything linebacker and one of the team’s leaders. Johnson registered a team-high nine tackles and two stops for a loss (both of them sacks) in the win as Texas Tech. At 6-foot and 230 pounds, Johnson might be a little undersized to be a constant run stuffer, but he plays bigger than his size and hits as hard as anyone in college football.
–CB Kris Boyd. No player on the Longhorns has been harder to predict over the past three seasons than Boyd who continues his enigmatic play and actions 10 games into the 2018 campaign. Boyd has the skills to be a true shutdown corner — as long as he can keep his emotions in check. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, he has the size to take on and stop most of the receivers that will line up across from him. Boyd had eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the win over Texas Tech. He has 44 stops, a sack, 1.5 tackles for a loss, an interception, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and 13 pass breakups for the season.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads Iowa State 13-2 including 7-1 in games played in Austin. The Longhorns have won two straight over Iowa State, including last season’s 17-7 victory in Ames.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “So these guys realize, I think, more than the young guys, how different this team is compared to teams of the past, teams that they’ve been associated with. They know the potential of this team, and I think they’re hell bent on making sure that this team achieves its potential.” — Texas coach Tom Herman, about his 26 seniors.
