Iowa State football: 5 Things to know about Texas

AMES — Big 12 Championship football game implications are on the line when No. 22 Iowa State (6-3, 5-2 Big 12) travels to Austin, Texas, to play No. 19 Texas (7-3, 5-2 Big 12).

Here are 5 Things about Saturday's game (7 p.m., Longhorn Network).

1. The Longhorn Network

Let's get this one out of the way: The game will be 'televised' on the Longhorn Network, which people outside the state of Texas can't get on their cable packages. Some dish networks carry the game on certain packages.

There is no possibility of this top-25 matchup to be 'flexed' to an actual ESPN channel so everybody can watch. This game also will not be broadcast on Cyclones.tv.

The only way you can watch the game if you're from Iowa (or not from Texas) is if you have the correct tier of Direct TV or Dish Network. The channels are 677 and 407, respectively.

If you don't have the correct tier of Direct TV or Dish, one option would be to go to your favorite local sports bar and watch it there, assuming they have Direct TV or Dish.

If that option isn't up your alley, you might be stuck listening to the radio, which isn't a horrible option, just not ideal.

2. The man in charge

Texas head coach Tom Herman was instrumental in what was Iowa State's biggest win in program history — before the Cyclones beat No. 3 Oklahoma on the road last season.

Herman was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State from 2009-11. In 2011, Iowa State upset No. 2 Oklahoma State, 37-31.

Herman left for Ohio State after that season where he was the offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer for three years, helping win a national championship in 2014.

After helping secure the title, he got a head coaching job at Houston, where he stayed for two seasons before being named the head coach at Texas.

Herman led the Longhorns to a 7-6 record last season and a win over Missouri in the Texas Bowl.

3. Is Texas back?

It's a question that's been posed every season since Mack Brown left in 2013.

The answer is sort of.

Texas is mostly back, but it did lose to Maryland in the first game of the season. Since the loss, the Longhorns have mostly righted the ship by beating then-No. 5 Oklahoma as well as TCU, Kansas State, Baylor and most recently Texas Tech.

It should be noted the Longhorns got tripped up by Oklahoma State and West Virginia, so they're not completely back.

4. (Not so) Lil'Jordan Humphry

Lil'Jordan Humphry, which is his real name, is not very 'li'l.' Humphry is a 6-foot-4, 222-pound receiver for the Longhorns.

First, let's get into his name. According to Texas athletics, Humphry's older brother wanted him to be named 'Michael' after Michael Jordan. Humphry's mom compromised with his older brother and named him 'Lil'Jordan.'

Let's be honest, she got lucky because Michael Jordan was just 2 inches taller and actually weighed less. If Humphry would've ended up taller than Jordan, well, that would've been somewhat ironic.

On the field, Humphry is a phenomenal talent.

He's hauled in 63 passes for 947 yards and seven touchdowns.

Humphry was a running back in high school and he still has some rushing chops. He's ran the ball six times for 25 yards and a touchdown this season.

Humphry's best game came against Texas Tech last week when he caught eight passes for a season-high of 159 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score.

5. The best uniforms

I'm not shy about this: Texas has, bar none, the best uniforms in college football. They are perfection.

Any time a team can get close to replicating Texas' uniform combination, it should. The 'white-school color-white' home combination is exquisite.

The only problem is, the burnt orange cannot be matched, so other schools have to settle for what they have.

It should be noted I'm not a Texas fan and never have been a Texas fan. I just love the uniforms.

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