Texas Football: 5 takeaways from Longhorns’ messy win over Kansas

While it wasn’t easy, No. 3 Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian got the job done at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sep. 30 against head coach Lance Leipold and the No. 24 ranked Kansas Jayhawks. Texas had too many missed opportunities to count in this game, especially in the first half and early in the third quarter.

Kicker Bert Auburn missed two field goals on four attempts in the first three quarters of the game. He’s now 9-of-14 on field goal tries this season, a major step back from his solid 2022 campaign.

Texas also had too many drives that either got on the plus side of the 50-yard line or in the red zone without a touchdown or any points. At halftime, Texas had over twice as many plays run as the Jayhawks and roughly three times as many first downs. Yet, the Longhorns held just a six-point lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

Jonathon Brooks and No. 3 Texas football handle No. 24 Kansas in the second half

The mistakes were cleaned up more in the latter portion of the second half, with redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns putting some distance between them and Kansas. Texas scored touchdowns on three of its first four drives in the second half to put the Jayhawks away. The defense also clamped down in the second half, forcing multiple key three-and-outs from the Jayhawks.

Here are five takeaways from the Longhorns’ messy win over the Jayhawks at home in Week 5.

Injuries loom large before Red River

Texas suffered two pretty massive injuries in this game against Kansas. The first was the ankle injury that junior tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders suffered in the first half. Sanders was rolled up on by a Kansas defender early in this game, causing him to miss the rest of the contest.

The other significant injury Texas suffered in this game was to redshirt junior cornerback Ryan Watts. Texas’ starting boundary corner suffered a lower-body injury in the first half, keeping him out the rest of the way.

Sanders and Watts are two incredibly important starters for the Longhorns. Sark and his staff will need them back heading into Red River next weekend in Dallas against the Oklahoma Sooners.