Week 13 Watching Guide: Longhorns, Aggies with huge home games

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Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is taking you through all the matchups you need to watch in Week 13 of the college football season. 

Friday Window

Marquee Game: Iowa State at Texas, 11 a.m. on ABC

The Longhorns have a real path to the Big 12 championship game, but it all comes down to Friday morning in Austin. If Texas beats Iowa State, it would hold tiebreakers against the Cyclones and Oklahoma State, giving it a huge advantage in earning a trip to the title game. A loss would make the path much harder. 

However, Iowa State won’t go quietly. The Cyclones sit at 6-1 and alone atop the Big 12 standings. They already have a win over Oklahoma. Running back Breece Hall spearheads an offense that rushes for more than 200 yards per game. Texas will have to shake off its Thanksgiving meal quickly to beat a team this good and control its own destiny. 

Early Window

Marquee Game: Texas Tech at Oklahoma State, 11 a.m. on FOX 

The Red Raiders are riding high after a last-second comeback against Baylor, exactly the kind of game they would have lost earlier in the season. However, the next challenge won’t be easy: The Red Raiders are facing off against a thriving OSU team. 

However, this matchup takes us back to last season in Lubbock when Matt Wells and his staff put together a complete performance to beat the Cowboys. A lot has changed since then, but Texas Tech gets Oklahoma State fresh off a tough loss. Can the Red Raiders play spoiler again? 

Other Games: 

  • SMU at East Carolina, 11 a.m. on ESPN+: The Mustangs lost a prove-it game against Houston last week, but will get an opportunity to work out some kinks against a struggling ECU squad. The pitch is simple: Come watch the Mustangs high-flying offense find some rhythm. 

  • Rice vs. UTEP, 12 p.m. on ESPN3: The Owls and Miners are similar-caliber teams with real upside. It will be fascinating to figure out which matchup decides the game: UTEP’s receivers over Rice’s DBs, or Rice’s offensive line against UTEP’s developing unit. 

Afternoon Window

Marquee Game: Texas State vs. Coastal Carolina, 2 p.m. on ESPN+

Shockingly, Texas State is set to be the first team in college football to make it completely through a full 12-game college football schedule. The final test comes against the best team in the Sun Belt, by far. 

The Chanticleers are murdering opponents, winning Sun Belt matchups by three touchdowns a game and becoming the first conference team to start 8-0. However, Texas State has excelled at keeping things close with dynamic offense. Can we see the dynamic, game-changing Brady McBride put another complete game together? Because that could change everything. 

Second Screen: UTSA vs. North Texas, 2 p.m. on FSN

The Roadrunners quietly have put together a strong season and suddenly have a favorable path to the Conference USA title game. Getting to 5-2 in conference would potentially give the Roadrunners a powerful advantage and mean a single UAB loss could clinch UTSA the division. That said, North Texas has no intention of lying down. 

Evening Window

Marquee Game: LSU at Texas A&M, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Do you think Texas A&M’s players remember last season? LSU obliterated the Ags, tripling their yardage and winning 50-7 en route to a national championship. This time around, though, the Aggies are the ones to fear. 

Texas A&M has a full roster again after two weeks of COVID-19 quarantine and are set to emerge as a top-five program and legitimate College Football Playoff contender. LSU, on the other hand, is starting a freshman quarterback and has stumbled out to a 3-3 record. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and Jimbo Fisher will be ready to bury the Tigers. 

Other Games: 

  • Baylor vs. Kansas State, 6 p.m. on ESPN2: The Bears look to regroup after a dreadful five-game losing streak. However, K-State is certainly an opponent looking worse for wear, so there’s certainly a chance. Plus, will Baylor try different options at quarterback? 

  • TCU at Kansas, 7 p.m. on FS1: The Horned Frogs should beat Kansas easily, but the Jayhawks have a knack for making TCU sweat. This will be a good opportunity for TCU’s offense to get creative and work on some passing and protection concepts. 

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