Led by Bijan Robinson’s career day, Texas runs all over Kansas in 55-14 win
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Entering the Texas Longhorns’ game with the Kansas Jayhawks, UT head coach Steve Sarkisian knew what needed to happen for his team to leave David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium with the victory.
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“I got asked before the game, what’s going to be the key tonight?” Sarkisian said postgame. ”My last comment was, ’No. 5’s got to show up tonight. We’re going to need him in this ball game.’”
Texas’ game plan was run-centric, taking pressure off of redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers and placing significant responsibility on star running back Bijan Robinson.
As he has done throughout his career, Robinson executed the task with a level of power, grace, and playmaking ability few others at the college level possess. He turned in one of the best performances of his time in burnt orange, with career highs of 243 yards and four touchdowns in the Longhorns’ 55-14 win.
“I knew that I had to do whatever I could to help the team win,” Robinson said. “We knew we had to run the ball throughout the game to be successful, and that’s what we did. When we got here to Lawrence and got the plan, I said ‘man, it’s going to be a cold one.’ But it doesn’t matter. I’ve got to use God’s gift and follow the O-line.”
Robinson played the lead role in Texas’ complete domination of a game KU team using a game plan that emphasized many fans’ favorite four words: run the damn ball. Texas had 57 carries for 427 yards, part of a 539-yard night for the offense. Robinson dazzled on scoring jaunts of two, 17, one, and 32 yards with the shortest coming via a jump over the offensive line just before the halftime whistle.
“I can’t really describe Bijan Robinson because he’s just him,” Jake Majors said. “People reference ‘who’s him?’ He’s him. He’s just one hell of a playmaker. I love him to death. He trusts us.”
Robinson’s runs showcased everything that has him in the running to be a first-round pick as a running back, a rare occurrence in the modern game. He showcased his duffel bag full of moves to evade defenders, doing things most 6-foot-0, 220-pound backs are not able to do.
And his night didn’t even last all 60 minutes. With the game easily in hand, Robinson saw his last carry in the third quarter. After that point, the rest of the backs took over and kept having similar levels of success.
The Texas defense played well in concert with the offense, limiting the Jayhawks to 14 total points. The first score for Kansas didn’t come until there was 1:55 left in in the third quarter, cutting Texas lead to 34 points at 41-7.
Texas defenders were kept fresh, even in the cold weather, thanks to the ability for the Longhorn offense to control the game and keep Jayhawks Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal at bay.
Most of that thanks is due to Robison’s career night leading the strongest rushing performance of the season. As a result, Texas improved to 7-4 and still has an outside chance at winning the Big 12 championship.
FIRST QUARTER
Top Moment: Bijan Robinson’s 17-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14-0 Texas
Featured Performer: Bijan Robinson
Stats: Texas rushed 15 times for 104 yards and only attempted five passes, with Robinson accounting for 69 yards and two scores on eight carries. Texas gained eight first downs in the opening 15 minutes with six via the rush. Kansas had only 44 total yards.
Notes: Texas won the toss and elected to receive, but nothing came of it. The Texas defense forced two three-and-outs and even had a fourth-down stop thanks to Jerrin Thompson, which Texas turned into a Bert Auburn field goal in the second quarter. Quinn Ewers was not asked to do much in the passing game, but he showed obvious signs of improvement in his footwork in the run game and on play-fakes.
SECOND QUARTER
Top Moment(s): Jaylan Ford’s interception of Jalon Daniels, leading to Bijan Robinson’s one-yard touchdown rush before the halftime whistle.
Featured performer: Bijan Robinson
Stats: Texas had 14 rushes for 115 yards. Robinson added a score with one second left in the half. Keilan Robinson added a touchdown reception earlier in the quarter when the Longhorns faced 3rd-and-goal from the KU 15. Ford recorded 5.0 tackles in addition to his interception. Ewers was 5-of-9 for 40 yards and the one score.
Notes: The Longhorns avoided surrendering a second-quarter score to the Jayhawks after a long drive led by Daniels. He appeared to have found a receiver who launched himself into the end zone for a score, but it was called back by a ineligible receiver downfield penalty. Kansas missed the ensuing field goal, leading to Keilan Robinson’s score. One play prior to Bijan Robinson’s touchdown run, the clock had 10 seconds left in the half. Bijan Robinson took the ball and eluded Jayhawk defenders for 24 yards before being forced out at the one-yard-line. One play later, he leapt over the line for a score to make it 31-0 at the half.
Quotes: “I think that was probably the coolest play to me out of all the plays I’ve made this year just because it shows the relationship I have with my teammates,” Ford said.
“I was blocking my guy, and I look up and I see Bijan levitating,” Majors said.
THIRD QUARTER
Top moment: Bijan Robinson’s 32-yard touchdown run to make it 38-0
Featured performer: Bijan Robinson
Stats: Ford added a pass breakup in addition to all his other stats. Texas once again had another 100 yard quarter on the ground, rushing for 110. Ewers only completed 2-of-5 passes for 10 yards. Kansas had 103 yards of total offense but failed to convert on both its third-down chances and its lone fourth down opportunity. Brooks received a few carries and had four rushes for 26 yards in brief third quarter action. DeMarvion Overshown had four tackles in the quarter.
Notes: The Longhorns gave up the first touchdown of the game to Kansas, but at this juncture the game was clearly in hand with the Longhorns up 41-7 after the score. Texas’ starters, including Ewers, were in the game on the drive where the Longhorns had possession as the third quarter ended and the fourth began. It would be the last drive for the ones.
Quotes: “You just have to use the gifts that God has given you, make them miss, find a way to get into the end zone,” Robinson said.
FOURTH QUARTER
Top Moment: Jonathon Brooks’ 70-yard touchdown run.
Featured performer: Jonathon Brooks
Stats: Brooks rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, most coming as a result of the above run. Jaydon Blue also received a few carries, gaining 16 yards on 7 rushes. David Gbenda, Morice Blackwell, and Ethan Burke all recorded tackles.
Notes: The long Brooks run occurred with an offensive line composed of mostly freshmen: Neto Umeozulu – Malik Agbo – Logan Parr – DJ Campbell – Cam Williams. Hudson Card received the mop-up duty. Maalik Murphy did not see game action, and Charles Wright did not make the trip due to an illness. Texas had 14 rushes for 98 yards. Kansas finished with possession, but made a switch at QB to Jason Bean after Daniels found Luke Grimm for a score Texas responded to with the long run.
Quotes: “I don’t know if you saw me on the sideline, but I was sprinting trying to go catch him,” Robinson said. “He stayed up and took that long one. I’m just so happy for him.”
