Texas Football: Player reactions after Longhorns big win vs. Iowa State

No. 7 Texas football had to overcome a hostile atmosphere in primetime on the road at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames and a few notable injuries to key starters to get a big 26-16 win over the Iowa State Cyclones in Week 12. Texas showed off its depth and perseverance as a team to get the double-digit win over Iowa State to move one step closer to earning a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian saw his squad control the line of scrimmage for most of the game on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Texas’ defense held the Iowa State offense to just nine rushing yards on the night, the fewest in a Big 12 game since 2018.

Texas football players react on social media after the 26-16 Week 12 win over Iowa State

We can’t say enough about the dominance senior defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat and junior Byron Murphy II put on display against Iowa State in this game. They dominated the trenches again this weekend, which was made an even bigger deal due to the comments Iowa State senior guard Jarrod Hufford made in an interview earlier in the week.

Texas’ offense also put up nearly 400 total yards of offense against an Iowa State defense that was allowing around 325 total yards per game entering Week 12.

The 26-16 win over Iowa State moves Texas to 10-1 (7-1 Big 12) this season. It is the first time the Longhorns have reached double-digit wins during the regular season since 2009. The win also puts Texas one game away from locking up a spot in the Big 12 title game in Arlington on Dec. 2 and in the conversation for the College Football Playoff.

Iowa State, meanwhile, drops to 6-5 (5-3 Big 12) this season. Head coach Matt Campbell and the Cyclones have also now lost two of their last three games.

The Longhorns players had plenty to brag about on social media following the win over Iowa State. Here’s the best of the player reactions on social media following Texas’ big 10-point win over Iowa State on Nov. 18.

Sweat deserves bragging rights after making multiple impactful plays to help Texas win this game. He played a huge role in helping Texas clog up the rushing lanes and allowing just nine rushing yards from the Cyclones. Sweat also had a batted ball on a money down for Iowa State and a huge extra-point attempt that he blocked, and that was returned for two points by DB Austin Jordan.

True freshman safety Derek Williams Jr. also reacted on social media to Iowa State rushing for just nine yards after Hufford’s comments earlier in the week.

Murphy reacted similarly to Sweat and Williams after Iowa State’s offensive performance against the Longhorns on Nov. 18.

Senior linebacker Jaylan Ford had another big game for the Texas defense against Iowa State.

Junior wide receiver Xavier Worthy and senior nickelback Jahdae Barron also reacted to Hufford’s comments after the win.

Next up for the Longhorns is the regular season finale on Nov. 24 (Black Friday) in primetime at DKR in Austin against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.