Texas Football: Ranking the difficulty of every opponent in 2018

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AMES, IA – SEPTEMBER 28: Defensive back Kris Boyd #2 of the Texas Longhorns breaks up a pass meant for wide receiver Allen Lazard #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Longhorns won 17-7 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

The nation watched last season as Texas and Iowa State took part in a defensive battle at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. It was a weeknight game nationally televised and put on display on effective the Texas defense can be under new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. And, then sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele held it together enough to claim the road victory.

This time around, Iowa State won’t be surprising anyone with how good the program was under head coach Matt Campbell in 2017. Iowa State was one of the best stories of any team in the nation. The Cyclones came out of nowhere to beat the two top teams in the conference last year in Oklahoma and TCU and won its bowl game.

Texas knows what’s coming from the Clones this season and gets them at home in 2018. This point of the schedule relaxes a bit since the final three games of the regular season come against Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Kansas. The gameplan for an offense led by quarterback Kyle Kempt, running back David Montgomery, and wide receiver Hakeem Butler will be clearer by Week 11.

Moreover, even though two of the final three games of the regular season are on the road, the Horns should be able to handle the travel to face Kansas and Texas Tech. Most would likely expect Iowa State higher up on the list, but Texas gets the Clones at home and already defeated them last season.

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