The Kansas State Wildcats suffered a heartbreaking 33-30 loss against the Texas Longhorns in overtime on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The Wildcats rallied from a 20-point deficit in the second half to force the extra period, but could not complete the comeback. Here are five takeaways from the game.
Will Howard’s career day was not enough?
Kansas State quarterback Will Howard had a career-high 327 passing yards and four touchdowns, but also threw two costly interceptions. Howard showed his arm strength and accuracy on several deep throws, connecting with Phillip Brooks, Keagan Johnson and Jayce Brown for scores. However, he also made some poor decisions under pressure, especially in the first half when Texas built a big lead. Howard’s second interception came in overtime, when he tried to force a pass to DJ Giddens on third down. The turnover gave Texas a chance to win the game with a field goal.
Texas’ offense was too explosive
The Texas Longhorns showcased their offensive firepower, scoring on six of their first eight possessions. Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy threw for 248 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jonathon Brooks rushed for 112 yards and a score. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell had a breakout game, catching eight passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Mitchell’s 75-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter was the longest play of the game. Texas also had a balanced attack, with four different players scoring touchdowns.
Kansas State’s defense stepped up in the second half
The Kansas State Wildcats made some adjustments on defense after halftime, holding Texas to just three points in the second half. The Wildcats forced two turnovers, including a fumble by CJ Baxter that set up the game-tying touchdown. Kansas State also came up with some crucial stops on third and fourth down, especially in overtime. The Wildcats denied Texas a touchdown on their first possession of overtime, forcing a field goal. On Texas’ second possession, Kansas State stopped Texas on fourth-and-one at the 16-yard line, giving themselves a chance to win the game.
Kansas State’s special teams were a mixed bag
The Kansas State Wildcats had some highs and lows on special teams. On the positive side, kicker Tate Winkle made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to three points. Punter Ty Zentner also had a good day, averaging 46.8 yards per punt and pinning Texas inside the 20-yard line twice. On the negative side, Kansas State had a punt blocked in the first quarter, leading to a Texas touchdown. The Wildcats also missed an extra point in the third quarter, which proved to be costly later on.
Kansas State’s comeback fell short in overtime
The Kansas State Wildcats showed a lot of resilience and fight, erasing a 20-point deficit in the second half to force overtime. The Wildcats scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, with Howard throwing two touchdown passes to Brooks and Johnson. In the fourth quarter, Kansas State tied the game at 30 with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Brown. However, in overtime, Kansas State could not find the end zone, settling for a field goal on their first possession and turning the ball over on their second. Texas won the game with a 33-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker.
