Texas vs. Kansas State score, takeaways: No. 7 Longhorns survive rally to edge No. 23 Wildcats in overtime

The Longhorns watched a 24-7 lead disappear in the second half before holding on for the win

No. 7 Texas survived a late upset attempt from No. 23 Kansas State for a 33-30 overtime win. The Wildcats opted to go for a touchdown on fourth down from the 4-yard line, but the ball ultimately fell incomplete as Texas maintained its College Football Playoff hopes. 

Kansas State stormed back from a 24-7 deficit to tie the game at 27 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats whiffed on a field goal that would have tied the game earlier in the quarter, but kicker Chris Tennant nailed a 45-yard field goal in the remaining moments of regulation to force overtime in Austin, Texas. Kansas State coach Chris Klieman decided to take the late chance for the win in overtime, but it did not pay off. 

Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy started 7 of 9 for 162 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter but unraveled down the stretch. Murphy completed just 12 of his next 28 passes for fewer than 3.3 yards per attempt and threw two picks. In overtime, Texas put the ball in Murphy's hands twice, but he was unable to convert for a score. 

With the win, Texas stays in control of its Big 12 and College Football Playoff destiny at 8-1. The Wildcats now have a tough road ahead to get back into the conversation. 

• Kansas State quarterback Will Howard threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns, with most coming after he threw a second half interception. 
• The Wildcats sold out to stop the run, but Texas managed to rush for 230 yards, including 112 yards from Jonathon Brooks. 
• Kansas State ran for just 33 yards on 29 carries as the Wildcats' offensive line failed to keep pace with a physical Texas defense. 

CBS Sports was with you throughout the game bringing you live updates and highlights. Read on below for takeaways as the Longhorns picked up a key win over the Wildcats. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 10:15 am ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Sark claims Texas has 'best win'

The first College Football Playoff Rankings of the season were released on Tuesday and Texas ranked No. 7. Before the first grouping was released, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian made his pitch to the CFP Committee, noting that he believes that the Longhorns boast the top win in the country with a road victory against Alabama. 

"I'd argue that we have the best win in the country right now," Sarkisian said during his weekly press conference. "The fact that we go into Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and beat a team that was 52-1 in the previous 53 games [before] us going in there ... and I hear so much about how tough the SEC is, but I haven't seen any of those teams go into Alabama and win either. I feel pretty good about our team and I think over time this whole thing will play itself out."

Steve Sarkisian boasts Texas' win over Alabama as best of any team ahead of College Football Playoff Rankings

Dean Straka

[Nov 4, 2023 at 10:00 am ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Murphy back under center

Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy is set to start his second game in relief of starter Quinn Ewers. In his first career start, the freshman tossed a pair of touchdown passes and threw for 170 yards in a 35-6 win over BYU. Murphy threw a bad interception early, but was able to collect himself and lead a pair of fourth quarter scoring drives to put the game out of reach. However, Murphy will have to be even better against a fearsome Kansas State defense. The Wildcats rank top 25 nationally in rushing defense, the best unit Texas has played since rushing for just 2.8 yards per carry against Alabama. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 9:30 am ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

KSU using dual-QB system

The Wildcats brought back Big 12-winning quarterback Will Howard for his senior year, but star freshman recruit Avery Johnson has quickly forced his way onto the field. Johnson rushed for five touchdowns in an easy win over Texas Tech and has since keyed major victories over Houston and TCU. The Maize, Kansas, native boasts a 4.56 40-yard dash and a higher junior SPARQ score than either Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts, a profile impressive enough to land him on the 247Sports Freaks List. Johnson brings a different dynamic to Howard's pocket passing. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 1:42 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

A key matchup in the Big 12 championship race awaits us on Saturday as No. 7 Texas welcomes in No. 23 Kansas State to Austin. The Longhorns are still firmly in the College Football Playoff hunt despite their loss to rival Oklahoma a few weeks back in the Cotton Bowl, and a win over a ranked Wildcats team here at home could go a long way in securing a berth in the four-team field should Texas win out the rest of the way. 

This Kansas State team will provide one of the toughest tests of the season for Texas, though. The reigning Big 12 champions are coming off a 41-0 thrashing of Houston and are riding a three-game winning streak. Texas QB Maalik Murphy is ready to make his second start in place of Quinn Ewers, but the question will be whether he and the rest of the Longhorns offense can handle the pressure from this stout Kansas State defense.