Kansas State @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Texas 21, Kansas State 24

First-year Texas coach Tom Herman came in with a reputation as one of college football's top offensive minds after winning the Broyles Award as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Ohio State's 2014 national championship team. But it's been a much-improved defense that is carrying the Longhorns into Saturday night's Big 12 contest with visiting Kansas State.

Texas allowed an average of 31.5 points and and 448 yards per game in 2016 and was embarrassed by Maryland, 51-41, in Herman's Longhorn head coaching debut on Sept. 2. But in three games since that debacle, including a better-than-expected 27-24 double overtime loss at Sam Darnold-led USC, Texas is allowing an average of just 11.3 points and 298.3 yards per game and has held each opponent to less than 100 yards rushing, including Iowa State to just 10 yards on the ground in a 17-7 victory last week. That defense figures to be put to the test again this week by a physical Kansas State offense that is averaging 37.5 points and 229 yards rushing. "I'm really proud of the way that our defense has played the last three weeks," Herman said. "They're certainly playing at a level that we can certainly win with."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Texas -7

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (3-1, 1-0 Big 12): Senior quarterback Jesse Ertz is off to a strong start for the Wildcats, rushing for a team-high 332 yards and three touchdowns while also passing for 706 yards and five more scores. He had 78 yards rushing and two touchdowns to go along with 171 passing yards and another TD to highlight Kansas State's 24-21 win over the Longhorns last season. The defense, led by linebacker Trent Tanking (26 tackles) and tackle Will Geary (three sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss), ranks 15th nationally in scoring (15.0 points allowed) and 21st in total defense (308.5 yards).

ABOUT TEXAS (2-2, 1-0): Shane Buechele, who returned to the starting lineup at Iowa State after missing two games with a shoulder injury, is expected to start again at quarterback despite wearing a walking boot earlier in the week for a sprained ankle. He passed for 171 yards and connected with 11 different receivers in the Iowa State win despite playing behind a thin offensive line that is without All-American left tackle Connor Williams (sprained MCL, torn meniscus, sprained PCL) for the immediate future. The The defense, led by nose tackle Poona Ford, linebacker Malik Jefferson (team-high 33 tackles) and cornerback DeShon Elliott (four interceptions in last two games), has already forced eight turnovers this season, including seven interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kansas State leads the series with Texas, 10-7, but is just 3-6 in Austin.

2. Texas already has five non-offensive touchdowns this season after having none in 2016 and leads the NCAA with four defensive TDs.

3. Kansas State has won its last six games against teams from Texas including five major FBS programs (Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor).

PREDICTION: Texas 21, Kansas State 14