Inside Texas Answers: Texas vs. Iowa State
A .500 Texas Longhorns team heads to Ames, Iowa to take on the Iowa State Cyclones. Can the Longhorns avoid the program’s first four-game losing streak since 2010? Inside Texas offers predictions.
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Eric Nahlin – Iowa State, 31-24. I don’t like this matchup one bit for Texas, mainly because I see too many similarities to the Arkansas game. Matt Campbell is going to test UT’s run game soundness with constant motion and formation shifts. On defense, Sark has yet to exhibit he can solve the drop-eight defense.
Justin Wells – Texas, 30-27. After three consecutive second-half collapses, there’s nothing like a night trip to Ames to get your mind right. Campbell’s Cyclones have been the beneficiary of two wins over the Longhorns on last-second field goals. But this Saturday, UT will turn the tables. Look for heavy doses of Bijan Robinson plus a Texas defense that’ll create a few turnovers, just in time for Cameron Dicker to boot the game-winner.
Joe Cook – Iowa State, 38-24. A game where Texas has to win in the trenches doesn’t seem like a game it can win right now. If the downfield shots land, this may be a different story but we haven’t seen those plays happen as often as Texas has needed them. Xavier Worthy needs to have another 100-yard game for Texas to have a chance. Having to win two of the last three to reach bowl eligibility is on the table.
Ian Boyd – Iowa State, 27-17. I’d say this game hinges largely on two factors. 1) Texas’ ability to execute the RPO game and 2) its ability to avoid getting creased and popped for big plays by Breece Hall. If Texas executes at a high level in either dimension it’ll be the first time this season, which is a lot to expect from a team reeling from defeats and facing the Ames crowd at night.
Scipio Tex – Iowa State, 30-21. Iowa State has actually underperformed this year but the matchups aren’t great for Texas unless Sark can scheme up inspired play from Casey Thompson and a winning defensive game plan from Pete Kwiatkowski.
Hudson Standish – Iowa State, 37-28. This video sums up how I’m feeling heading into a chilly Saturday night in Ames.
Gerry Hamilton – Iowa State, 45-24. Iowa State is averaging over 200 rushing yards per game in Big 12 play. I could probably just throw the score prediction out and be done right there. But this needs to be a paragraph. Maybe Texas plays its best game of the season when it’s absolutely needed most. The Texas staff really does need that to happen. The flipside is maybe Iowa State plays its best game of the season. They haven’t come close to that either. Iowa State is better on the offensive line and at quarterback. Maybe a game on the road at night with temperatures in the mid-30s is what this Texas team needs right now. I’m firmly in ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ mode.
Bobby Burton – Texas, 28-27. Vegas says Texas shouldn’t win this game. Matt Campbell is a hot shot coach and the Cyclones are still playing for a chance to go to the Big 12 championship. They have a great running back, a multi-year starter at QB, and a staunch defense, too. But there’s a reason Iowa State has lost three games itself this season. They’re far from perfect, no different than the Horns. I’m not exactly sure why, but I think Texas gets off the struggle bus on Saturday. Perhaps the Horns finally start attacking on defense or maybe a ball bounces the Horns way at a key moment for a change.
