Texas Football: Two straight losses bring about recurrent themes for Tom Herman

The faltering of Texas football when it matters most this year could create some doubt as to what Tom Herman could give this program.

For what came about in two straight weeks now for a Texas football squad with three losses on the year, there’s some striking similarities to 2017. Through the first seven games of 2018, it looked as if head Texas football coach Tom Herman might be one year ahead of schedule in terms of getting this team to the heights of national contention.

This whole saga with the two-game losing streak started in Week 9 with a dangerous road trip to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium lurking. Oklahoma State surprised the college football world and pulled off the upset against then ranked No. 7 Texas (in the AP Poll).

Entering the matchup with Oklahoma State, the Texas Longhorns couldn’t afford any slip ups because of the Week 1 loss to the Maryland Terrapins. Texas had a shot at getting in the field for the College Football Playoff this year if it was able to win out through a tough slate to finish out the regular season.

Then, the Horns got the chance for redemption at home on the Forty Acres against the No. 13 ranked West Virginia Mountaineers. While Oklahoma State didn’t match the talent level that West Virginia brought to the table, each were difficult victories to seal for the Horns.

Some lapses at key times got the best of Texas in each game. Texas had two losses against the Mountaineers and Pokes to the tune of a combined margin of four points. If not for a successful two-point conversion try by West Virginia in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.

Part of the blame for these two losses could fall on the defense, who gave up 80 points in the last two weeks. Some of the blame could also fall on the inability to close out games or come up big in the fourth quarter when it was needed. Most of the year, the Horns were at least clutch when it mattered in the final minutes (outside of the Maryland loss).

This loss stings since Texas football came so close to clearing the hurdle that is West Virginia and getting in prime position for an appearance in the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game. In just two weeks, both the Big 12 Title and Playoff hopes seem to be dashed. Texas does only have two Big 12 losses, but it still has to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the road and the dangerous Iowa State Cyclones.

Last year, the losses to the Oklahoma Sooners, USC Trojans, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech all felt very similar to the ones we’ve seen this fall. Winning out would help give the Horns a very small chance at getting to Arlington, TX, on Dec. 1 and saving a once promising 2018 campaign. The focus right now should be on taking care of business and stopping this losing streak next week against Texas Tech.