Texas football vs. Iowa State: 4 bold predictions for a tricky matchup

Xavier Worthy gets over the top twice for 50+ yard catches

One of the biggest potential mismatches for the Longhorns has to do with the speed and athleticism that Texas has to utilize in space on offense against an athletically overmatched Iowa State defense. Star sophomore wide receiver Xavier Worthy and redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers have a potential connection that could exploit the backend of this Iowa State defense.

I talked earlier this week about the threat that Ewers presents to this Iowa State defense. If Ewers has the time to sit back and pick apart the Iowa State defense on some underneath crossing routes to redshirt junior wide receiver Jordan Whittington and out in the flats to sophomore tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, then we could see the pass coverage over the top put to the test.

Getting the athletes out in space in the passing game can then get the Iowa State safeties creeping up a little bit more, which is when you can hit Worthy over the top. And Ewers obviously has the arm to accurately hit Worthy down the field.

It looks like the best deep connection in the passing game that Iowa State has faced in the first six games this season is Kansas QB Jalon Daniels to speedy WR Quentin Skinner. But that connection didn’t pose any sort of threat in reality as Skinner wasn’t targeted but one time downfield, which resulted in an uncatchable ball, to Iowa State when those two teams squared off.

Thus, Iowa State has yet to face a wide receiver with the deep-threat ability that Worthy brings to the table. This will be a new test for this defense and will create yet another opportunity for Sark to stretch the field and get this Iowa State side uncomfortable in ways that they haven’t dealt with yet this season.