Texas vs. Kansas State score: Longhorns survive comeback attempt, earn key tiebreaker in Big 12 title race

No. 24 Texas survived a furious comeback attempt from No. 13 Kansas State for a 34-27 win on the road thanks to a miraculous forced fumble by defensive lineman Keondre Coburn. The Wildcats fell behind 31-10 at the half but put together a 17-3 second-half run and got the ball back with 2:43 remaining and two timeouts with a shot to tie the game. However, Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez was stripped by Coburn while attempting to throw in traffic. Texas jumped on the loose ball, securing its sixth victory of the season. 

The victory snaps a five-game road losing streak for the Longhorns dating back to Oct. 2, 2021. Texas lost one-score decisions against both Texas Tech and Oklahoma State earlier this season, but with this win, it picks up a critical tiebreaker over the Wildcats in the Big 12 Championship Game race. The Longhorns are now tied with Baylor and Kansas State at 4-2 in the Big 12 standings. 

Texas got off to a strong start behind some impressive running from running back Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns scored on their first three drives of the game while taking just eight plays each. Quarterback Quinn Ewers helped lead an offense that posted 352 yards in the period, including 146 through the air. One of the biggest swings of the game came on K-State's final drive of the half as Martinez threw his first interception of the season to set up a late Texas touchdown to stretch the lead to 21. 

Kansas State responded with major adjustments in the second half. The Wildcats held Texas to just 114 total yards and forced three punts. Most importantly, Kansas State started to get Texas off the field on third down, holding the Longhorns to 3 of 8 after 5 of 7 in the first half.

Martinez had a strong performance, throwing for 169 yards in the second half alone. He finished with 381 total yards and three touchdowns for the game. His turnovers were backbreaking down the stretch, however. The Wildcats outgained Texas 468-466 but failed to score touchdowns on three key red-zone trips. 

Robinson had another stellar performance for the Longhorns, breaking the 200-yard mark for the first time this season and the second time in his career with 209 yards on 30 carries. K-State's Deuce Vaughn posted 73 yards rushing, 86 yards receiving and a touchdown. 

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Nearly a catastrophic error for Kansas State as Adrian Martinez fumbled the ball. Multiple Texas defenders chased after the ball, but it ultimately rolled out of bounds in a huge break for the Wildcats. Longhorns defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat went down after chasing with everything he had after the ball. 

 
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Texas attempted to put away the game with three straight runs, but Kansas State was up to the challenge. The Wildcats smacked Bijan Robinson in the backfield on a bizarre toss call and Kansas State has more than 2:30 remaining to try and tie the game in Manhattan.  

 
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Texas 34, Kansas State 27

The Wildcats got stonewalled in the red zone once again, making it three red zone trips that Kansas State failed to turn into touchdowns. In a seven-point game, those opportunities stick out. Texas gets the ball back with 4:26 remaining and the Wildcats need to get some stops, especially on a drive that's sure to feature a heavy helping of Bijan Robinson. 

 
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Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez is putting together one of his best drives as the Wildcats drive to cut the lead to one score. Martinez has taken advantage of broken running plays and hitting on throws over the middle against zone coverage. 

 
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Texas 34, Kansas State 24

The Longhorns ride 25 yards of Kansas State penalties down most of the field, but can't finish in the red zone and is forced to settle for a field goal. However, the kick does make the game a two-score contest as the Wildcats get the ball back. Kansas State has a major opportunity to put pressure now. 

 
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Texas 31, Kansas State 24

Here come the 'Cats. After going down by 21 points at halftime, Kansas State has come out dominant on both sides of the ball to get right back in the game. Quarterback Adrian Martinez had two massive throws on the latest drive and has more than 250 yards heading into crunch time. 

 
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Just like that, a pair of penalties on the Kansas State center -- an unsportsmanlike conduct and holding -- has the Wildcats facing first-and-35 instead of being right on the edge of the red zone. However, Deuce Vaughn gets the whole penalty back in one play and then draws an unsportsmanlike conduct the other direction to bring Kansas State back into the red zone. Bizarre sequence, but a fortunate one for K-State. 

 
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Kansas State once again appeared to give up a major conversion to Texas, but again forced a fumble on the play, this time off receiver Xavier Worthy. The Wildcats have the ball deep in Texas territory with a chance to cut into the three-score lead. 

 
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Kansas State got an early first down, but quickly gave the ball right back after getting to fourth-and-1 and giving up for a punt. Punter Ty Zuntner booted a tremendous 61-yard punt to flip the field, but it doesn't feel encouraging to see Kansas State punting and giving the ball back that quickly. 

 
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Kansas State gets the ball to start the second half and Texas stuck the returner within the Wildcats' own 20-yard line for a hot start to the half. Kansas State has a lot of ground to make up and will have to hit on a few explosive plays to stay in it. 

 
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