| Texas RB Joe Bergeron will replace starter Malcolm Brown in the lineup on Saturday agaisnt West Virginia. (AP) |
Texas ruled RB Malcolm Brown out for Saturday's game against West Virginia, the Austin-American Statesman reported. Brown sprained his left ankle in the first quarter of Texas' 41-36 win over Oklahoma State.
If any team is prepared to handle losing its starting running back, it's the Longhorns. Sophomore RB Joe Bergeron will start for Brown. Bergeron ran for 48 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. Brown's injury should also result in more work for freshman Johnathan Gray, who broke out against the Cowboys for 68 yards on 12 carries.
Brown, who averages 6.1 yards per carry, was UT's leading rusher before injuring his ankle and getting passed by Bergeron.
Mountaineers learning from last season's LSU loss: West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen sees some similarities between how Texas plays and LSU last year. The Tigers knocked off the Mountaineers 47-21 by forcing four turnovers and running for 186 yards.
"We're capable of running routes and pass protecting and all that. We proved we can do that against anybody," Holgorsen told the Charleston Gazette, referring to the LSU game. "You have to block up front and you have to win one-on-one matchups on the outside. We did all that. But we turned the ball over four times.
"Did we lose? You're darn right we did. We didn't stop their run and we turned it over four times. Hopefully, it is not the same outcome."
K-State has special place for Governor's Cup: Think Kansas State will look past Kansas? Not likely. Kansas State coach Bill Snyder places special emphasis on the Kansas game. The winner gets the Governor's Cup, and as Kellis Robinett of the Kansas City Star reports, Snyder leaves the trophy case that holds the Cup empty in years the Cats lose to the Jayhawks, which has only happened four times since 1993.
"I've seen the days when KU beat us and the reaction around town," K-State punter Ryan Doerr said. "It always feels good to beat them handily. That's how we've done it the last couple years. We are not real big fans of KU around here. Anytime you can just destroy them -- I don't know how else to say it -- it just feels good."
Meanwhile in Lawrence, Charlie Weis is giving a history lesson on the rivalry this week.
How will Landry Jones respond without Ryan Broyles?: The Oklahoman's Jason Kersey looked at how Oklahoma QB Landry Jones has responded after losses. What the numbers revealed was that Jones was much better after losses when he had Ryan Broyles.
With Broyles (seven games): 2,429 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Without Broyles (two games): 417 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Also in Soonerland, a cool story from The Oklahoman's Stephanie Kuzydym on OU backup offensive lineman Austin Woods, who finished chemotherapy this week for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Red Raiders' tight coverage making a difference: Wondering how in the world Texas Tech's defense has gone from defenseless to the best pass defense in the Big 12? Nick Kosmider of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal writes that the Texas Tech defensive backs are playing tighter in coverage.
TCU's Trevone Boykin could see time at RB: TCU is considering using backup quarterback Trevone Boykin at running back, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Boykin periodically comes in to spell Casey Pachall and give the Horned Frogs a Wildcat look. He has run for 122 yards on 12 attempts this year. TCU also announced on Tuesday a two-game series with Ohio State. The teams will play at TCU Sept. 15, 2018, and the Horned Frogs will travel to Columbus on Sept. 21, 2019.
UT offensive coordinator earns praise: Austin-American Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls writes that Texas offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin and defensive coordinators Manny Diaz have swapped places as the hot coaching name on UT's staff. Bohls also write that Harsin has not received enough credit for the improvement of QB David Ash.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).