In a game that ended up becoming more about survival than actually making a statement, Texas was able to hold on and beat a disappointing Iowa State squad in the Big 12 opener for each team on Thursday night. The Cyclones were supposed to be better in 2017 than in recent years, but the Longhorns defense – a defense that was allegedly vulnerable – shut down their attack and held the home side to just seven points.
This was far from a classic – and it was a game that showed just how far these two have to go in order to compete with Oklahoma – but it was Tom Herman's side that did just enough to claim a 17-7 victory.