Texas Football: 4 takeaways from Horns heart-pumping OT win vs. K-State

Maalik Murphy, Texas football. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Maalik Murphy, Texas football. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jonathon Brooks, Texas football
Jonathon Brooks, Texas football /

Texas has its biggest collapse of the season in the blink of an eye in the second half

Just when it looked like Texas had a shot to put the Wildcats away, Sark’s squad experienced the biggest collapse we’ve seen from them so far this season. Texas was up 27-7 with all the momentum on their side after Brooks punched the ball in during the third quarter.

Kansas State’s offense wasn’t mustering much of anything in the first 35 minutes of this game, outside of the touchdown drive after the blocked punt late in the second quarter.

The momentum shifted back to the Wildcats with a long touchdown drive led by Howard. Texas struggled to bring down senior Kansas State slot receiver Phillip Brooks, who got into the end zone on a 26-yard pass from Howard.

That was the first of three scores in a span of roughly five minutes for the Wildcats.

Kansas State was set up on the plus side of the field multiple times by the aforementioned Murphy interception early in the fourth quarter and then a fumble by Brooks on the next Texas drive. It took no time for the Wildcats to convert on those two turnovers with two quick touchdowns through the air from Howard to wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Jayce Brown.

The second-half interception by Murphy was his second of the game. But it was also his worst interception of the season, as he put the ball in a dangerous area where there was no way that the receiver would make a play on the ball.

Kansas State kept fighting to stay alive in this one, even after missing a short field goal late in the fourth quarter and a key extra-point that could’ve won the game for the Wildcats.

Texas survived by the skin of their teeth in this game. If the Longhorns were ever lucky to win a game, it surely was this one over the Wildcats.