Nothing was more satisfying to the Texas Longhorns football team than a record 49-0 win over Oklahoma. Texas overturned almost half of their scholarship players from 2021. But even the new guys are feeling the revenge tour that the 2021 players are talking about. Quinn Ewers is back behind center and the Longhorns managed to score 49 points with only two plays of more than 30 yards. The statement from this Red River game was clear and felt. From the players and coaches to the entire nation. Whether you’re a fan, recruit, or apart of another program. The message of this game is the standard of the Steve Sarkisian era at Texas has been set. Texas at midseason is 4-2 and at its healthiest so far in 2022.

Key Players For Texas’ Midseason Point

Texas at the midseason point has been able to rely on Bijan when it mattered the most this year. In the conference, he’s second in rushing yards at 645 on the season and has another 203 yards receiving. Xavier Worthy is 10th in receiving, Jordan Whittington is 11th, and Ja’Tavion Sanders is 17th in the conference. While the passing game did just enough in Quinn Ewers’s absence. They looked like the explosive unit they were in the first five quarters Quinn Ewers played this season. The Offensive line is growing despite coming into the Oklahoma game last in the conference in run blocking efficiency.

Defensively, Jaylan Ford continues to be all over the field continuing to lead the Big 12 in tackles. Jahdae Barron and D’Shawn Jamison each added a second interception to their season total. The defensive line is anchoring this defense’s ability to maximize its potential. T’Vondre Sweat and Keondre Coburn are even generating draft buzz with their play this year. Whether you think Pete Kwiatkowski or Gary Patterson deserves more credit for the Texas defense dropping its points allowed per game two touchdowns so far in 2022. One thing is for sure. Defensively, Texas at the midseason point is doing a lot to make its offense cool and calm.

Texas vs Iowa State Midseason Offensive Comparison

So far in 2022, these offenses are on two different ends of the spectrum. Iowa State is last in scoring with 23.2 points per game and Texas is fourth in the conference averaging 38.8 points per game. With Brock Purdy and Breece Hall off to the NFL, it’s up to Steve Sarkisian and the Texas offense to figure out the best defense in the conference.

Texas Offense

In 2021, the Texas offense struggled with the three high safety look that Iowa State will run defensively. With multiple chances to see it in 2021 and an offseason for Steve Sarkisian to figure out what went wrong. It’ll be interesting to see how it is attacked this Saturday. Quinn Ewers is looking more comfortable with each throw. All hands are on deck with this one as even more weapons to play with are coming available. No Jordan Whittington or Ja’Tavion Sanders were in Ames last year. Xavier Worthy finished with 2 receptions for 22 yards and Bijan Robinson lead receiving with 36 yards. Offensively, Texas only had 103 yards passing and 104 yards rushing. If the revenge tour is going to continue it starts with better offensive line play, decisive quarterback play, and receivers can’t afford to drop passes.

Iowa State Offense

While the defense is first in scoring in the conference, the offense is last through 6 games. With two losses coming by 14-11 to Kansas and this past Saturday 10-9 to Kansas State. Hunter Dekkers has 1,514 yards on the year on a 67.4 completion percentage. But has 11 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on the year. He is 68th in quarterback rating at 57.1 and is only throwing 63.1 percent in the conference and 64 percent on the road. Jirehl Brock has been a good replacement with 394 yards on the year and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, and Dimitri Stanley are the top three receivers for Iowa State and are all averaging about 10 yards per reception or more (Jaylin Noel is the lowest of the three, averaging 9.8 ypr). The offensive line has allowed 14 sacks so far in 2022.

Texas vs Iowa State Midseason Defensive Comparison

Iowa State is the best defense in the Big 12 in yards allowed and scoring at 13.7 points per game. Texas is fourth in yards allowed and third in scoring at 17.8 points per game. Texas and Iowa State at midseason are two of the elite defenses in 2022. But this Saturday they don’t line up against each other. One plays a confident offensive group. The other plays one still trying to figure out how to get the ball in the end zone.

Texas Defense

The Texas defense has made a drastic change from what they were in 2021. Giving up 31.5 points per game last year and 17.8 through six games in 2022. A big key has been the pressure the defensive line is getting on its own. In 2021, a backup linebacker in Ben Davis led the team in sacks with two and a half. Barryn Sorrell already has three through six games. Coming into the Oklahoma game the defense had 129 quarterback hurries. Second to Penn State at 131 quarterback hurries. Also, an underrated part of the success of the Texas defense is the second string can come in and give the first team a break throughout the game with minimal drop off. Combined with balance offensively and the depth of certain spots defensively. Texas can continue being at the elite level they have played at most of the first six games.

Iowa State Defense

Outside of the electric Jalon Daniels. The Iowa State defense hasn’t held anyone of note in check. The only good team we’re sure they played, they allowed 31 points in a loss to Baylor. But they are running a scheme Texas hasn’t proven they’ve figured out yet. Unless they’re capable of confusing Quinn Ewers and turning over an offense that hasn’t been easy to get off the field. A question of how much being the best defense in the Big 12 may just be smoke and mirrors of lesser competition. O’Rien Vance is the only Iowa State player in the top 25 leaders in tackles and tackles for loss. Will McDonald is 18th in tackles for loss. Though team defense, communication, and execution are what get you to 13.7 points per game allowed. It’s up to the Texas offense as to what that could mean for them this Saturday.

Texas vs Iowa State Conclusion

We know what the standard is for Texas through the midseason point. We know Iowa State has a great defense that looked “just good” against Baylor. I believe that this will be the first complete team Iowa State has faced so far in 2022. Quinn has scored 52 points and 49 points in both completed games and the defense has only allowed more than 20 points once all year. That was on the road and not at home. Texas carries its momentum into Stillwater with a 42-16 win against Iowa State.

Look at the number around Texas historic 49-0 win over Oklahoma this past weekend.

Numbers inside Texas Longhorns’ huge win over Oklahoma Sooners (espn.com)

Check out my predictions for 2022. So far 5-1 against the spread for Texas games.

Texas Longhorns Game By Game Win/Loss Predictions – Texas Talk (texas-talk.com)