Texas Football: What the loss to OU truly means for the Longhorns

Another close loss for the Texas football program this season to a top-ranked opponent (this time the Oklahoma Sooners) could test the patience of the fans.

Another heartbreaking loss to a top-10 opponent dropped for the Texas football program over the weekend. In the Red River Rivalry game on Oct. 12, the Oklahoma Sooners got the best of Texas at the Texas State Fairgrounds in Dallas at the original Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma did command the pace of the game most of the way, but Texas fought on offense to no end. They just weren’t able to get to that final onside kick that was dribbling down to the sideline and eventually out of bounds.

This was the second time this season that the Texas Longhorns football program saw their hopes of defeating a true College Football Playoff contender and/or Big 12 Title hopeful dashed on a failed onside kick. The Longhorns also fell short in Week 2 against the still undefeated LSU Tigers at home by the final score of 45-38 at home. LSU is coming off a big victory over the No. 7 Florida Gators at home in Baton Rouge last weekend.

Texas did wind up covering the point spread that was set at about 10.5-points ahead of kickoff. The final score between the Longhorns and Sooners in Red River on Saturday afternoon was 34-27. Oklahoma was able to close down the win late in the fourth quarter after gaining just one first down.

We can look back on that game hoping that the Longhorns would have sophomore wide receiver Brennan Eagles manage to make it down the sideline to nab that final onside kick. Eagles also had a key drop in the first half that was a paramount of the struggles for junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger under pressure all game long.

Ehlinger also has a very valiant effort last weekend but ultimately fell one possession short. You can’t blame him for being sacked eight times in one game from an Oklahoma defense that looked like Swiss cheese last year. But the fact of the matter was that his offensive line and wide receivers didn’t help him out enough to get the win.

All in all, there were a lot of frustrating aspects to this game for the Longhorns. Losing two straight now to the Sooners and taking one step back in the race to nab one of the two spots in the Big 12 Championship Game hurts. Texas was also pretty much effectively eliminated in the race to land one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Texas should still be of the perception that they are one of the two clear favorites to get a spot in the Big 12 Title Game in December. But there could be a tough test coming their way from the Baylor Bears and Iowa State Cyclones. Nabbing a conference title and at least 10 wins again this year would put head Texas football coach Tom Herman in a positive spotlight with the fan base and the media. It would also keep this program trending up.

Up next for the Longhorns is a return home to face the struggling Kansas Jayhawks and first-year former LSU head coach Les Miles. Herman and the Longhorns are a 22-point favorite to open the week over the Jayhawks. They will be hoping to move to 5-2 (3-1 Big 12) on the season with a win over Kansas this coming weekend.