Texas Football vs Oklahoma: Three X-Factors for the Horns

The kicking game

An under-the-radar storyline for this Texas program throughout the offseason was how they would replace Cameron Dicker. Dicker, who was a four-year starting kicker, also served as the punter during the 2021 campaign.

An off-season kicking competition saw redshirt freshman Bert Auburn win the job as the starting placekicker. Auburn has been awesome, to say the least.

The Flower Mound, Texas native has nailed 22-of-22 extra points and 10-of-12 field goals. Both of his field goal misses were due to a poor snap/hold combination.

Auburn is 6-of-6 on field goals of 40+ yards including a 49-yarder to take the lead against Alabama with 1 minute and 29 seconds remaining and a 48-yarder as time expired in Lubbock to send the game into overtime.

Auburn has proven to be accurate, powerful, and clutch. Like his aforementioned predecessor Dicker the Kicker, I expect Auburn to respond when called upon during the Red River Showdown.

When it comes to the punting game, Texas Wesleyan transfer Daniel Trejo has been a welcomed site after Issac Pearson struggled to corral a few snaps against UL Monroe.

Trejo is averaging 41.0 net yards on 15 punts this season. He has a long of 61 yards and a return percentage of 26.7.

Trejo is certainly no Michael Dickson, but he has been a vital part of the special team’s success this season. It will important for everything to go off without a hitch in the punting game on Saturday. Texas can ill-afford to allow the Sooners easy access to points.