Kansas State University

Kansas State at Texas: Three-minute preview

K-State is hoping that Justin Silmon (above) and Charles Jones will have success running the ball and help the Wildcats have a balanced attack against Texas.
K-State is hoping that Justin Silmon (above) and Charles Jones will have success running the ball and help the Wildcats have a balanced attack against Texas. The Wichita Eagle

When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas

TV/radio: Fox Sports 1; WHB (810 AM)

The series: K-State leads 9-6

The line: Texas by 4

What’s at stake

K-State needs a victory to boost morale and stay above .500. Texas need a victory to validate its shocking win against Oklahoma. The loser of this game will have trouble making a bowl.

Cheers if ...

The Wildcats find an offensive strategy that works. They have done little in the last six quarters trying to throw the ball. It’s time to shake things up.

Jeers if ...

Hubener turns the ball over. Injuries have all but erased K-State’s margin for error. It can’t win unless it wins the turnover battle.

Kellis Robinett’s pick: Texas 24-21

This game is essentially a toss up, but the Longhorns are healthier than the Wildcats and they are playing at home. That gives them the nod.

KANSAS STATE (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)

Date

Opponent

Result/time

Sept. 5

South Dakota

W, 34-0

Sept. 12

at UTSA

W, 30-3

Sept. 19

Louisiana Tech

W, 39-33, 3OT

Oct. 3

at Oklahoma State

L, 36-34

Oct. 10

TCU

L, 52-45

Oct. 17

Oklahoma

L, 55-0

Saturday

at Texas

11 a.m.

Nov. 5

Baylor

6:30 p.m.

Nov. 14

at Texas Tech

TBA

Nov. 21

Iowa State

TBA

Nov. 28

at Kansas

TBA

Dec. 5

West Virginia

TBA

TEXAS (2-4, 1-2 Big 12)

Date

Opponent

Result/time

Sept. 5

at Notre Dame

L, 38-3

Sept. 12

Rice

W, 42-28

Sept. 19

California

L, 45-44

Sept. 26

Oklahoma State

L, 30-27

Oct. 3

at TCU

L, 50-7

Oct. 10

vs. Oklahoma*

W, 24-17

Saturday

Kansas State

11 a.m.

Oct. 31

at Iowa State

TBA

Nov. 7

Kansas

7 p.m.

Nov. 14

at West Virginia

TBA

Nov. 26

Texas Tech

6:30 p.m.

Dec. 5

at Baylor

TBA

*at Dallas

Three things about Texas

1 The Longhorns have improved on offense since Jerrod Heard took over as quarterback. The redshirt freshman has thrown for 714 yards and three touchdowns on top of 433 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

2 Texas has been all over the place this season, beating Oklahoma and playing Oklahoma State and California tough, but also losing horribly to TCU and Notre Dame.

3 Peter Jinkens and Malik Jefferson drive Texas on defense. They have combined for 85 tackles, including 5  1/2 for loss.

Key matchup

Justin Silmon and Charles Jones vs. the Longhorns’ front seven: The Wildcats must restore balance to their offense. They can’t do that without effectively running the ball behind their running backs.

KANSAS STATE OFFENSE

P

No.

Player

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

WR

6

Deante Burton

6-2

205

Jr.

WR

19

Kody Cook

6-1

200

Sr.

LT

55

Cody Whitehair

6-4

305

Sr.

LG

77

Boston Stiverson

6-4

316

Sr.

C

71

Dalton Risner

6-5

300

Fr.

RG

68

Luke Hayes

6-6

295

Sr.

RT

65

Matt Kleinsorge

6-5

310

Sr.

TE

80

Cody Small

6-5

241

So.

WR

4

Dominique Heath

5-9

175

Fr.

QB

8

Joe Hubener

6-5

211

Jr.

RB

32

Justin Silmon

5-10

191

Fr.

K

3

Jack Cantele

6-0

175

Sr.

KANSAS STATE DEFENSE

P

No.

Player

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

DE

75

Jordan Willis

6-5

250

Jr.

DT

95

Travis Britz

6-4

293

Sr.

DT

60

Will Geary

6-0

297

So.

DE

45

Marquel Bryant

6-3

254

Sr.

LB

9

Elijah Lee

6-3

218

So.

LB

35

Will Davis

6-0

224

Jr.

LB

52

Charmeachealle Moore

6-0

221

Jr.

CB

33

Morgan Burns

5-11

201

Sr.

SS

24

Nate Jackson

5-11

185

Sr.

FS

4

Kaleb Prewett

6-1

204

So.

CB

7

Danzel McDaniel

6-1

205

Sr.

P

14

Nick Walsh

5-11

212

So.

TEXAS OFFENSE

P

No.

Player

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

WR

4

Daje Johnson

5-9

184

Sr.

WR

1

John Burt

6-2

184

Fr.

LT

55

Connor Williams

6-5

283

Fr.

LG

66

Sedrick Flowers

6-2

326

Sr.

C

74

Taylor Doyle

6-4

300

Sr.

RG

77

Patrick Vahe

6-2

319

Sr.

RT

76

Kent Perkins

6-5

325

Jr.

TE

47

Andrew Beck

6-3

232

So.

WR

3

Armanti Foreman

5-11

204

So.

QB

13

Jerrod Heard

6-2

195

Fr.

RB

32

Jonathan Gray

5-10

211

Sr.

K

23

Nick Rose

6-1

194

Sr.

TEXAS DEFENSE

P

No.

Player

Ht.

Wt.

Yr.

DE

1

Shiro Davis

6-3

256

Sr.

DT

99

Desmond Jackson

6-1

300

Sr.

DT

98

Hassan Ridgeway

6-3

314

Jr.

DE

40

Naashon Hughes

6-4

232

So.

LB

19

Peter Jinkens

6-0

230

Sr.

LB

46

Malik Jefferson

6-3

232

Fr.

LB

45

Anthony Wheeler

6-2

209

Fr.

FS

31

Jason Hall

6-2

209

Sr.

SS

14

Dylan Haines

6-1

193

Jr.

CB

21

Duke Thomas

5-10

178

Sr.

CB

24

John Bonney

6-0

188

Fr.

P

13

Michael Dickson

6-3

208

Fr.

Kellis Robinett: @KellisRobinett

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Kansas State at Texas: Three-minute preview."

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