3 biggest concerns for Texas football against a tough Oklahoma State team
Texas’ struggles on third down
Third and fourth-down defense were major issues all season long for Texas. And those issues continued in Week 7 against Iowa State, where Texas boasted an opponent third down conversion percentage of 60.0. That was almost good for the bottom 10 in the FBS in Week 8.
Texas also gave up one fourth-down conversion on one attempt last weekend against the Cyclones.
In fact, Texas ranks at the bottom of the FBS in terms of total fourth down conversions allowed, with a whopping 13. Granted, almost half of those fourth down conversions that Texas allowed came against Texas Tech on Sep. 24.
Texas has also struggled this season against almost everyone in terms of getting off the field on third down. So far this season, Texas boasts an opponent third down efficiency of 41.74 percent, good for 91st in the FBS. Last weekend also saw Texas continue to struggle to get off the field in third-and-long situations.
Texas was a season-worst 7-of-10 in opponent third down efficiency against Iowa State last weekend on third-and-long plays (at least 7 yards from the first down).
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) October 19, 2022
Texas was an unbelievably bad 7-of-10 in terms of opponent third-and-long efficiency last weekend against Iowa State. To put it simply, Texas allowed first downs on 70 percent of plays when Iowa State’s offense had to pick up at least seven yards for the first down. To make matters worse, five of those conversions came on third down plays with at least 10 yards to go for the first.
And while Oklahoma State only ranks in the middle of the pack in the FBS in terms of third down conversion rate (39.77 percent, good for 65th in the FBS), they’ve done a little bit better in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State ranks sixth in the Big 12 in terms of third down conversion rate in Big 12 play, at 40 percent.
The fact of the matter is that Oklahoma State is right there with Iowa State and ranks higher than Texas Tech in terms of third down conversion rate this season. Texas had a tough time getting those teams off the field on third and fourth down. The defense must be able to get off the field this weekend to prevent Sanders and the Pokes from wearing them down as Texas Tech did to them and Iowa State almost did last weekend.