Texas’ Red River Collapse Falls Squarely on Steve Sarkisian

DALLAS, TX – Steve Sarkisian doesn’t need to search far to find the person most responsible for Texas’ shocking loss to Oklahoma at the State Fair. He simply needs to find the closest mirror, and I’m sure there are a few in the Cotton Bowl locker rooms.

Texas didn’t look like the No. 1 team in the nation through five weeks of the college season, despite a win over previously No. 1 ranked Ohio State and a road win over Tennessee.

The cracks in the foundation were obvious to anyone not wearing burnt orange glasses. An inconsistent quarterback. An inefficient running game. Shaky special teams play. And too many penalties.

The Horns were winning. But they weren’t convincing.

Corny dogs and wild ass results – that’s what Red River does. The Horns were overwhelming favorites despite their flaws because the ones at Oklahoma were more glaring. The Sooners offense is putrid, and even if Texas and Arch Manning can’t string together four quarters of competence, surely 24 or more points would get the job done.

The only way Oklahoma could score is if Texas scored for them. Sarkisian’s whole game plan should’ve been focused on limiting mistakes because there was no way that the Sooners could match up in a fair fight. They’d need luck. Instead, they got help.

Oklahoma didn’t record a first down until 9:40 left in the second quarter and went three-and-out on its first six possessions of the game. Yet, the game was tied at 7 -7 early in the second quarter because the Sooners scored a touchdown on a blocked punt that was recovered in the Texas end zone.

The Longhorns built a 17-7 lead after two successful drives late in the fourth quarter. The 10-point cushion might as well been 100 considering how easily Will Muschamp’s defense was shutting down Ben Arbuckle’s offense. The Sooners had 69 yards on 26 plays through the first two quarters and only one of those yards was on the ground.

But those foundational cracks – namely an inconsistent offense – began to reveal themselves in the second half. Texas’ first five drives of the second half ended with four punts and an interception. Three of those drives were three-and-outs.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma scored 10 points and tied the game seconds into the fourth quarter on a drive that was extended by two killer Texas defensive penalties. The first was a roughing the passer on a double pass that negated a Longhorn interception. Later, Texas was flagged for pass interference in the end zone on 3^rd and goal from the 9. Oklahoma scored its lone offensive touchdown on the next play, a two-yard run.

And then disaster struck. Manning threw an interception that was returned 42 yards for a touchdown by Peyton Bowen, a Denton Guyer product. The Sooners suddenly led for the first time and all the momentum was dressed in crimson.

Texas answered right back, however. The Longhorns cobbled together a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Manning to freshman wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr to tie the game at 24 with 6:32 left in regulation.

Texas had two chances late to win the game and escape with an unblemished record and a three-game winning streak against the Sooners. Instead, the next two Longhorn drives ended with a missed 53-yard field goal and a second Manning interception. Oklahoma marched into field position and hit the game winner as time expired to salvage the season and put Texas on the ropes.

Sarkisian didn’t play a snap in the game but his fingerprints are all over the result. It is his offense because he’s the play caller – one of the few remaining play-calling head coaches at a national championship contending program. And he must own the mistakes on special teams and the lack of discipline in key moments. Texas committed eight penalties for 61 yards.

Texas has been kept out of the end zone in seven of the last 16 quarters. They only scored three points through three quarters against Ohio State. They were kept out of the end zone for large portions of the wins over UTSA and Tennessee. The fourth quarter against the Buckeyes was the outlier, not a sign of what was to come from Manning and the offense.

Texas went all-in to improve the supporting cast around Manning. The additions of Cam Coleman, Raleek Brown, and Hollywood Smothers were supposed to unlock his five-star potential.

But through six weeks of the season, Manning looks like a quarterback who needs another year of college seasoning. He’s the second consecutive can’t-miss five-star quarterback prospect to plateau under Sarkisian’s tutelage. Quinn Ewers never hit his perceived ceiling either. And for another year, Texas is much better on defense than it is on offense – Sark’s side of the ball.

One loss won’t derail Texas’ season. Miami reached the national championship game after losses to Louisville and SMU. A 10-2 mark gets the Horns in. With their schedule, a 9-3 record won’t disqualify them.

But the SEC schedule is a grind and Texas has too many hurdles ahead to trip over the Sooners. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. And it might cost them their goals on the season because the schedule includes five teams that entered Week 6 ranked and Texas A&M in Kyle Field to close the season.

The conversations about Texas heading into the Oklahoma game were about if this team had a national championship ceiling. The narratives building about the Horns following the game are about if they’ll even make the CFP.

If Sarkisian can’t fix his offense, get his team to cut down on penalties, and find some answers in special teams, 8-4 looks more likely than 10-2. And 8-4 will cause some very uncomfortable conversations on the Forty Acres.