Did you know Kansas beat Texas last season? Of course you did because it was one of everyone’s favorite games from the 2022 season. Did you know Kansas has also beaten Texas in two of their past five matchups? Since 2012 Kansas has a total of 18 wins. Seven of the wins have come against FCS opponents. The Jayhawks have only beat one Big 12 school twice in that time frame who happens to be the Texas Longhorns.
Kansas beat Texas in 2016 which effectively ended the Charlie Strong era. Kansas won by a score of 24-21 in overtime. This was also the first Longhorn’s loss to Kansas since 1938. Kansas and Texas did not play from 1938 until 1996 when the Jayhawks joined the Big 12. The Strong era in Austin was already on a downward spiral and this loss was the final straw. Texas turned the ball over six times in the game including an interception. The interception help set Kansas up to kick a game winning field goal.
Texas would survive a scare from Kansas during the 2019 season. The Longhorns narrowly defeated the Jayhawks by a score of 50-48. Texas needed a field goal as time expired to defeat Kansas. Carter Stanley and Pooka Williams were nearly unstoppable. Stanley threw for 310 yards and added an additional 65 on the ground. Williams rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger also threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in the high scoring affair.
The 2021 edition of the Kansas vs Texas matchup also saw the Longhorns struggle with turnovers. Texas turned the ball over four times while Kansas finished with zero turnovers. This turnover margin helped the Jayhawks defeat the Longhorns 57-56. Kansas head coach, Lance Leipold, made the bold decision to go for two in overtime. His decision paid off as Jalon Daniels’ pass to Jared Casey sealed the victory. Kansas had never won a game in Austin until 2021.
Texas will be looking for revenge in 2022 and they have the fire power to make it happen. Quinn Ewers was the number one recruit in the 2021 class and is expected to be the starting quarterback. The Longhorns also return superstar running back Bijan Robinson. Xavier Worthy caught three touchdowns in last season’s matchup with Kansas and he also returns. The Jayhawks defense will need to improve after allowing almost 600 yards to Texas. Leipold has been a proven winner at each stop in his coaching career. A successful rebuild of the Kansas program would be the most impressive mark on his resume thus far. A second win against Texas would help him reach that feat.
