Kansas State @ Texas preview

Kansas State at Texas

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2012 ) Texas 24, Kansas State 42

Texas coach Mack Brown expects to see more of the same when Kansas State pays a visit on Saturday for both teams' Big 12 Conference opener. The Longhorns' struggling run defense is ranked 121st out of 123 FBS teams, allowing 308.7 yards on the ground. "I think anybody right now will try to run the ball against us," Brown said. "We haven't stopped it yet. We feel like we will see a very similar game plan to what we have seen the last two weeks. We will see option, we will see power, we will see quarterback runs."

Kansas State rushed for 329 yards in last week's 37-7 win against Massachusetts, which is ranked 122nd in run defense. Wildcats running back John Hubert and quarterback Daniel Sams have combined for 354 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The Wildcats have won five in a row against Texas, including a 42-24 victory in December that clinched the conference title.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Texas -5.5.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (2-1): Junior starting quarterback Jake Waters has thrown for 673 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions and the Wildcats use the mobile Sams for a change of pace. Coach Bill Snyder said during his Tuesday news conference that his team needs to be able to make in-game adjustments against Texas' new up-tempo offense. Ty Zimmerman and Kip Daily have returned interceptions for touchdowns in the Wildcats' past two games and Kansas State has forced four turnovers.

ABOUT TEXAS (1-2): The Longhorns announced Friday that quarterback David Ash will get the start. Ash returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion on Sept. 7. Texas will be without two offensive starters - receiver Daje Johnson (ankle) and tight end Greg Daniels (foot) - and receiver Mike Davis (ankle) and offensive linemen Josh Cochran (shoulder) and Mason Walters (knee) are questionable. Senior quarterback Case McCoy, who started last year's game against Kansas State, went 24-of-36 for 196 yards and a touchdown in last week's 44-23 loss to Mississippi.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas is 13-2 in Big 12 openers under Brown, with the two losses coming to Kansas State on the road in 1998 and at home in 2007.

2. Texas sophomore RB Johnathan Gray has rushed for 209 yards, including 91 yards and a touchdown.

3. Kansas State is ranked first in nation in punt returns (31.7 yards) as senior Tramaine Thompson has gained 95 yards on three returns.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 27, Texas 20