It really felt like there wasn't much good to take away from the Texas Longhorns' loss to the Oklahoma Sooners.
However, it wasn't only doom and gloom for the Horns in the Red River Rivalry, and there are actually a few positive takeaways from the showing.
So, while Texas's undefeated record is now tarnished and the team no longer stands atop the rankings, what were the silver linings from this year's Red River Rivalry?
Nick Townsend's return made an immediate impact
Second-year tight end Nick Townsend finally returned to the offensive rotation after missing a few weeks with a knee injury, which he suffered in the Horns' comeback win over the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Even as quarterback Arch Manning struggled to find consistency, Townsend's presence undeniably made a positive impact.
Yes, he had three catches for 18 yards, but he was also a massive help when it came to blocking OU's relentless pass rush, something that even the actual offensive linemen were struggling with for Texas. He was more than just another target for Manning; he was a protector and a constant for an offense that was anything but consistent on Saturday.
Derrek Cooper Jr.'s future is extremely bright
While everyone was looking forward to the return of running back Hollywood Smothers, myself included, it was actually true-freshman RB Derrek Cooper Jr. who made the biggest impact in the backfield.
Cooper ran for a team-leading 41 rushing yards on just eight carries, outpacing the stats of Smothers or fellow running back Raleek Brown. Of course, Smothers also had 19 receiving yards, but when head coach Steve Sarkisian finally decided to give Cooper a few attempts, his impact was undeniable, and it showed a lot of promise for his future, which he hopefully spends at Texas.
Of course, Sarkisian only gave Cooper eight carries, compared to 12 for Smothers, despite the fact that the freshman averaged more yards per rush attempt than anyone else in burnt orange. Maybe when Sark reviews the film, he'll see just how talented his youngest running back is.
Texas's offense still has easier opponents moving forward
This is more of a generalization than something that you could have picked up on from the game itself, but the best news for the Longhorns is that their next few opponents have nowhere near the same defensive talent as the last few teams Texas played.
While Ohio State boasts the No. 1 defense in the nation (per SP+), Tennessee the 23rd, and Oklahoma the eighth, Manning and his offense will have "easier" opponents up next. Florida's defense ranks 59th among P4 teams, Ole Miss's ranks 57th, and Mississippi State's rings in at 65th.
In other words, things should get easier for the Texas offense from here on out.
However, the Horns weren't that bad on the offensive side of the ball, ignoring the three interceptions and the fact that Texas lost.
In fact, the 6.0 yards per play that the Longhorns averaged against the Sooners was the highest YPP that Oklahoma's defense has allowed in 20 games, dating all the way back to the 2024 season. So, while it wasn't a great performance, it wasn't all bad.
Yes, there is a lot of room for improvement, that is impossible to deny, but there are a few positives to take away from the loss (they just don't fall into the actual wins column).
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