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Texas Football: How should Longhorns feel after USC loss?

By James Caldwell

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a goal line stance by his defense against the USC Trojans during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a goal line stance by his defense against the USC Trojans during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Texas Football and Texas Longhorns fan expect to win every game. There should never be an opponent or situation where the Longhorns Football team does not have a chance to win a game.

That will always be the mentality and always should be the mentality.

But, heading into a road trip against Top 5 USC where everything seemed to line up for USC to win the game, it was not reasonable to expect the Longhorns to win.

Just look at the QB position. Texas started true freshman Sam Ehlinger on the road in a hostile environment with no running game support. Meanwhile, USC started top NFL Draft prospect Sam Darnold.

Then, there’s the defense, which gave up 51 points at home against Maryland. Sure, the defense shut out San Jose State last Saturday, but the Trojans and Spartans are worlds apart (despite their close nicknames).

Surely, USC would just run up and down the field on the Longhorns defense.

But, there was Texas deadlocked at 0-0 after one period, then tied 7-7 with five seconds left in the second quarter, then deadlocked at 17-17 at the end of regulation, then tied again at 24-24 after one overtime.

Yet, despite how great Texas played considering the context, there is an extra sense of frustration that the Longhorns let this game slip away. Yet, an extra sense of pride in how the Longhorns played. [ Texas vs. USC Box Score ]

Did USC Win or Texas Lose?

The age-old question in sports is whether one team won or another team lost.

USC fans would argue the Trojans won thanks to Sam Darnold’s great play at the end of each half in regulation and a defensive stand in the second overtime.

Texans fans would argue that the Longhorns lost this game because of the playcalling, Sam Ehlinger fumbling in the second overtime, the poor officiating, and giving up a 56-yard TD pass on the last play of the first half.

Regardless of whether Texas lost or USC won, this game was right there for the Longhorns.

Sure, looking at this game objectively before kickoff, they did not have a good chance to win. But, there in the first half, second half, and even in overtime, the Longhorns had the game in their hands to win.

That’s what makes the loss so hard to digest because it was a chance to make a huge statement about a new direction for Texas Football.

Instead, the Longhorns had to settle for a really great showing, respect from USC and opposing QB Sam Darnold, and conversation about the turnaround job expected under Tom Herman.

The conversation was so close to being about an epic win for Texas Football. But, the performance was so great that it took the sting off the loss.

Next: Texas Football Q&A with Peter Gardere

Was this a turning point for the Texas Longhorns? Let’s see where things stand one year from now when USC travels to Austin for the rematch. Will that game be a battle of Top 10 teams in the third week of the 2018 season? Let’s see how the rest of this season plays out to find the answer.

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