Tom Herman’s Texas team picked up a much-needed 41-34 win over Texas Tech in Lubbock last Saturday. Ahead is one of the biggest matchups of the year for Herman’s squad, as AP No. 18 Iowa State comes to Darrell K. Royal Stadium for a primetime matchup.

Here’s what Herman had to say in his weekly press conference.

Injury update

Corner Davante Davis (knee/ankle) - Bone bruise on his knee and strain of a muscle in his ankle, is planning on playing on Saturday but his status is not definitive

Safety Brandon Jones (ankle) - is running well, stopping and cutting has not happened, Wednesday is a target date for that

Wide receiver Collin Johnson (knee) - injection in knee on Monday, hoping for increased activity as week goes on

Safety Caden Sterns (concussion) - will be playing Saturday if everything goes according to plan

Defensive back Josh Thompson (ankle) - “not looking great” for Saturday

Running back Keaontay Ingram (hip pointer) - expected to work his way back soon

Unwavering confidence in defense

In the first five games of the season, the Texas defense looked as stout as ever as it allowed an average of 18.8 points per game. But the next week, Oklahoma scored 45. In the coming weeks, Oklahoma State put up 38 and West Virginia scored 42. The vaunted defensive front had lost its edge.

“We were psychologically maybe on some shaky ground after the last two weeks,” Herman said. “Our defense in the last five weeks has played four out of the top ten passing offenses in the country.”

Herman in part chalked up the outbursts to the fact that the Longhorns were indeed playing some of the top scoring offenses in the country, which includes Texas Tech a week ago. He expects a full return to form against Iowa State with multiple players set to return from injuries. “We expect to play a lot better defense this week,” Herman said. “One, because we’re going to be better. We’re going to learn from the things that went wrong in the last couple games… and we should be getting healthier. That’s always a big thing.”

Cyclone weapons

Iowa State has rattled off five consecutive wins after starting the season 1-3. Two of those wins have come off Oklahoma State and West Virginia, Texas’ two conference losses. What changed for the Cyclones after their slow start? Brock Purdy made his first start at quarterback against Oklahoma State, the first game in this win streak, and has been on fire ever since. Herman praised what the freshman has done thus far.

“The guy’s undefeated. He’s 5-0,” Herman said. “He’s got a ton of moxie, you can tell nothing phases that kid… he’s got that “it” factor.”

Purdy’s favorite target has been Hakeem Butler, a 6-foot-6-inch freakish athlete at wide receiver. Herman called the wideout “extremely talented,” and said he has seen vast improvement from when he recruited Butler as a raw high school talent.

“The thing he has developed in his game is his physicality,” Herman said. “[Butler is] much more physical when the ball is in the air and in the run game, he’s a punishing blocker on the perimeter”

Ehlinger against tenacious defense

Last year’s matchup with Iowa State was a defensive struggle that was ultimately won by a Shane Buechele-led Texas offense. The defensive look that the Cyclones rolled out in that game has been remarkably successful since that matchup, and has helped Iowa State lead the Big 12 in nearly every defensive category this season.

“That was the unveiling of that dime package of theirs that has flourished,” Herman said. “They’ve evolved… they are pressuring a little bit more, they had a lot of success pressuring West Virginia.”

Sam Ehlinger will be making his first start against this stout defense. Ehlinger is rolling at this point in his sophomore season, but Iowa State will likely be the best defense he has played this season. In the end, Herman said, it simply comes down to trust.

“He trusts in [offensive coordinator Tim] Beck, he trusts the offensive staff, he trusts his receivers, he trusts his line, and at the end of the day, he trusts himself,” Herman said.