Ranking losses

Was last Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma the most disappointing in this millennium? It depends on your perspective. Were the 63-14, 65-13, and 55-17 losses to Oklahoma in 2000, 2003, and 2011, respectively, worse because they were blowouts? In my opinion, no. Those games were over by halftime, and Texas wasn’t defending a #1 ranking. Last week’s loss stemmed from playing stupid football against a below-average Oklahoma team.

Sarkisian’s Oklahoma losses

Sarkisian is 3-3 against Oklahoma, with wins in 2022, 2024, and 2025 and losses in 2021, 2023, and 2026. Sark’s late-game decisions this year and in 2023 played a major role in Texas’s losses. In both games, Sark settled for field-goal attempts instead of attempting to extend drives and giving Texas a chance to win on the game’s final possession.

Go for the win, Sark, à la Veer’s right 53 veer pass in 1969 and the Steelers’ roll left in 1996!

Precarious position

Of the seven remaining games on Texas’s schedule, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, and LSU are all better all-around teams than Oklahoma. And Texas would probably lose to A&M if they played as stupidly as they did against Oklahoma. If you believe teams can’t lose more than two regular-season games and still make the playoffs, Texas is in a precarious position.

Sarkisian to the fanbase and media.  Are you going to believe me, or your lying eyes?

When asked in his Monday press conference after the Oklahoma game what was the disconnect between a $50 million payroll and the Longhorns’ performance on offense, Sarkisian dissembled and then said, “And so clearly we’ve been just a little bit off. I think we’re close.”

Close?

Texas is 12^th out of 16 in total offense and 11^th in scoring in the SEC.

Texas ranks 90th nationally in fewest penalty yards per game, with 62 penalty yards per game. By contrast, Notre Dame averages 28 penalty yards per game.

Texas is 97^th nationally in turnover margin at -2 for the season.

Sark, when asked if the special teams needed better coaching, said (I’m paraphrasing for brevity) no; the special teams have performed at a high level over the years.

Hmm. Let’s see here. In the last two games, Texas special teams allowed a punt-return touchdown, failed to recover an onside kick, and had a punt blocked and recovered for a touchdown. Also, Texas has started the last two games by kicking off out of bounds, giving Tennessee and Oklahoma good starting field position.

As far as over the years, last season Georgia broke Texas’s back by recovering an onside kick in the 4^th quarter that led to a touchdown, giving them a 28-10 lead.

Conspiracy theory

Why hasn’t Texas’s offense featured any designed running plays for Arch Manning?  With the offense struggling, wouldn’t it make sense to add some Manning runs to the mix? Is there an agreement between the Mannings and Sarkisian that Arch won’t be used in the running game to avoid injury?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Florida

The Gators rank 12th nationally in scoring, averaging 41.7 points per game, but their starting quarterback, Aaron Philo, may not play due to a shoulder injury.

Florida’s defense gives up 29 points per game, ranking 113^th nationally. They allow 268.7 passing yards per game.

Cliché alert

Given Florida’s porous defense, this could be a get-well game for Arch Manning.

Will Texas suffer from an Oklahoma hangover coming into the Florida game?

***

Texas is favored by 11.5. I don’t gamble, but if I did, I’d take Florida and the points.

Hool ‘em,

W.E.

Willie Earl’s Top 40

On with the countdown!

#24

#23

#22