With almost no pass protection and, when the O-Line did decide to check into the game, overthrown passes by Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the Longhorns failed miserably in their SEC opener against the Florida Gators.
Texas, which was No. 9 in the country with a 3-1 overall record, visited the Gators, who were unranked and 1-3 on the season, for their first conference game of the season.
By halftime, Texas fans were giving up hope on Manning and their offense, even questioning their supposedly rock-solid defense, as the Gators went up 19-7 with 30 minutes to go.
The second half was no better as the Gators were able to tack on 10 more points and Texas was only able to find the end zone one more time, Manning throwing two interceptions in the final two quarters of a game that was seen as make or break for the young QB.
Arch Manning woes highlighted by loss to Florida
Throughout his first SEC game as the true starter for the Longhorns, Manning completed just 16 of 29 pass attempts for 263 yards and two touchdowns (earning just as many TDs as INTs).
While he was able to run for 52 yards on the ground, he was also sacked 4 times for a loss of 5 yards at the line of scrimmage. Simply put, the quarterback who was projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had an abysmal showing against an unranked squad.
Longhorn defensive gaps against the Gators
Even with two takeaways, a fumble recovery by Anthony Hill Jr. in the first half and an interception by Michael Taaffe in the second half, the defensive unit wasn't quite what it was supposed to be for Texas.
The Gators were able to earn 457 total yards for three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground, as Florida quarterback DJ Lagway had one of the best performances of his young collegiate career.
The Horns' defense gave up 159 yards on the ground as Florida running back Jadan Baugh picked apart the defensive line. Lagway was able to earn 298 yards through the air, the third-most he has earned over the last two seasons.
With the loss, Texas dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in SEC play, as the Gators improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 against conference opponents.
Next week, the Longhorns' lives won't get any easier as they take on the currently-ranked No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Red River Rivalry. Simply put, head coach Steve Sarkisian and the rest of the Texas football program need to figure out their issues before the rest of the season unfolds.