Texas Football: 4 takeaways from the last-second loss to LSU

4. Texas has no one to blame but themselves for this loss

It is one thing to be outplayed by an opponent. It is another to lose to a team that is simply more talented than you are. But that was not the problem in last nights game. The problem was that Texas football could not get out of their own way.

The first sign of this was on fourth down in the first quarter, when Keontay Ingram (who prior to this game had been a sure-handed back) dropped a wide open touchdown pass. Ingram never seemed to fully regain his confidence after this, and was not used as much as would have been originally thought throughout the rest of the game. (He also had a fumble later, but he was able to recover it).

This was followed up by the Longhorns getting an interception on the eight-yard line, but then being unable to score a touchdown and refusing (for the second time) to simply take the points that were available.

But the biggest blunder of all came late in the fourth quarter, when the Longhorns had been playing well on offense and needed a stop and a touchdown to win the game. They had forced the Tigers into a 3rd-and-17 situation, which meant that they would get the ball back unless they allowed a back-breaking play.

And that is precisely what happened.

Despite receiving some pressure, Joe Burrow threw a touchdown pass that effectively ended the game. Had the Longhorns simply dropped into their “Cowboy package” (dropping 8 defenders into coverage and rushing three) it is likely they would have come up with a stop. But since they blitzed, they left themselves vulnerable and they paid dearly for it.

To be fair, the Tigers played very effectively in their new offense and should be commended for it. But in large measure, Texas lost this game with self-inflicted wounds.