Staff predictions for Texas’ season finale against Kansas State

Texas will host Kansas State for the season finale on Friday, Nov. 26.

Each team is dealing with significant injuries to key starters, opening the door for a close matchup.

The Longhorns have severely underperformed this season and are currently riding a six-game losing streak. Getting back into the win column this week could provide a boost for the program heading into the offseason.

Kansas State is now bowl eligible with a 7-4 overall record and is currently sitting in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 standings.

Will Texas end their season on a high note?

Staff predicts the game

Kevin Borba

Texas is probably thrilled that they have just one more game, as this losing streak has taken the wind out of the sails. I have never seen a worse stretch of Texas football in my life, and it somehow keeps getting worse.

Kansas State is not an ideal matchup for Texas, as they have a top-40 defensive unit in the nation, and they have a stud running back in Deuce Vaughn that will likely gash this Longhorns defense.

This Texas team is not bowl eligible, and have been looking uninspired since the Oklahoma game, so I can’t imagine they get up for a meaningless game like this one.

At this point this is basically a final audition for certain players for when they hit the transfer portal, or a last chance effort to impress Steve Sarkisian before the offseason. I think unfortunately for Texas fans this streak gets extended to a very unlucky number seven in a row.

Kansas State 42, Texas 28

Cj Mumme

Kansas State is playing very good football down the stretch of the season. The Wildcats have won four of their last five games and already locked up bowl eligibility.

Running back Deuce Vaughn is a matchup nightmare for Texas. Vaughn is eighth nationally in all-purpose yards and he will face a Texas defense that has been getting gashed on the ground all season long.

Texas will need a big day from running backs Roschon Johnson and Keilan Robinson. The running backs were very effective late in the West Virginia game. Pounding the rock would be a good way to take pressure off both the quarterbacks and defense.

Although Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson is questionable, I believe Texas will have a hard time stopping Decuce Vaughn. I expect Kansas State to have a big day on the ground and walk out of DKR with a victory.

Kansas State 38, Texas 30

Cami Griffin

It’s tough to put faith into this Texas football team after how the last several games have gone.

The only way this matchup could be close for Texas is if Kansas State quarterback Skylar Thompson does not play due to an injury suffered last week. However, the Longhorns did lose to a backup quarterback for Kansas, so even that is pushing it.

I believe the game will come down to how healthy the Texas quarterback is, whether that be Hudson Card or Casey Thompson, along with whether or not the defense is able to limit Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn on the ground.

Nothing will surprise me at this point.

Kansas State 34, Texas 28