Sam Ehlinger ties Patrick Mahomes on Big 12 touchdown leaderboard
By John Buhler
Sam Ehlinger continues to put up stats as Texas football’s starting quarterback.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger has as many Big 12 touchdown passes as Patrick Mahomes had during his career with Texas Tech.
In a game without ranked teams, the Texas Longhorns put up 69 points on the Kansas State Wildcats in the Little Apple. This was the most points a Texas offense had scored since drubbing the Colorado Buffaloes in the 2005 Big 12 Championship game. With his 93rd career touchdown pass at Texas, Ehlinger is tied with the former Texas Tech standout for seventh in Big 12 history.
Texas defeated Kansas State 69-31 today.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 5, 2020
That's the most points by the Longhorns in a game since scoring 70 in 2005 against Colorado in the Big 12 Championship.
Sam Ehlinger threw his 93rd career Pass TD, tying Patrick Mahomes for the 7th-most in Big 12 history. pic.twitter.com/1YEiaAg9Jw
What are the chances Sam Ehlinger comes back for a super senior year?
Because this year’s eligibility does not count for any college football player, Texas’ senior quarterback could return for a fifth year in his native Austin. Sure, Ehlinger could turn pro and will probably get drafted as a mid-tier prospect, but he is not going to have anywhere close to the NFL career of Mahomes. With Texas still not officially back, Ehlinger may return for one last roundup.
While a convincing win over K-State in Manhattan should help head coach Tom Herman get a fifth year on the job, the Longhorns still have three conference losses on the year to the TCU Horned Frogs, the Oklahoma Sooners and the Iowa State Cyclones. Ehlinger’s talent has resulted in one Big 12 Championship game appearance and one New Year’s Six bowl victory in four seasons.
So yes, there are plenty of reasons Ehlinger could return to Texas for a fifth year. His pro career is not a guarantee, while he can continue to build on his legacy as Texas’ best quarterback since Colt McCoy. If he keeps climbing up the record books and leads Texas to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff berth, he will have done the improbable and finally brought Texas back.
Tying Mahomes in all-time Big 12 touchdowns is great, but winning a championship is better.
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