Upcoming an important begin to the season for Texas, which basically integrated a win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Longhorn lovers have been occupied with their staff for the primary while in an extended while.

Next over the weekend, woe, within the title of the Purple River Competition, clash.

Oklahoma edged out Texas, 34-30, on the Wool Bowl. Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel led his staff on a dramatic, up-tempo, 75-yard force in 62 seconds with out a timeouts left. He clash receiver Nic Anderson for the game-winning landing, departure the Horns with 15 seconds at the clock to reply. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ Downpour Mary aim was once similar, however no longer similar enough quantity.

So, the place does Texas proceed from right here? 

Past each and every loss is sobering, Saturday’s was once particularly so as it got here towards a sour rival. Schoolmaster Steve Sarkisian stated the staff’s target this season is to win a championship, and that dream continues to be very a lot intact.

The Longhorns will have to win the left-overs in their usual season video games, as none in their combatants are lately ranked. Past anything else can occur in school soccer, there could be negative legitimate pardon for any other loss.

That implies we’ll most likely see a rematch towards OU (so long as the Sooners win out as neatly) within the Fat 12 championship tournament the primary weekend of December. Whoever wins that may be a shoo-in for the School Soccer Playoff. If it’s Texas, it will be a one-loss staff with wins over Alabama (by way of double digits at the street) and Oklahoma (in a convention identify matchup). 

Past Sarksian and his avid gamers are gazing movie and taking part in the woulda-coulda-shoulda tournament, Saturday’s consequence isn’t the tip.

“The overriding message is, ‘Hey, everything we want out of the season is still right in front of us,'” Sarkisian stated this day. “We’ve got to go handle our business.”

That implies solving one of the vital obtrusive mishaps that cursed Texas over the weekend — like give up 3 surrenders and forcing none. Oklahoma best scored seven issues off the ones takeaways, however they avoided scoring possibilities for Texas and shifted momentum.

Ewers threw interceptions at the first two Texas form and was once sacked 5 occasions. However he nonetheless controlled to finish 31-of-37 passes for 346 yards and a landing. This integrated at one level finishing 19 passes in a row.

“For any quarterback to throw two picks, that could rattle you pretty good and the response he showed, I thought, was tremendous under duress,” Sarkisian stated. “He was sacked, had a fumble in there, got hit pretty good scrambling, but I thought the poise and composure he showed was indicative of a guy who’s growing in confidence, who’s maturing.”

Even so, Texas was once nonetheless known as for 9 consequences when it had prior to now been averaging 4 in line with tournament. The Longhorns scored simply 3 issues on 3 journeys to the pink zone (year OU went 6-for-6) and couldn’t form a prevent defensively on OU’s final force. One of the head-scratching moments got here early within the fourth quarter when Texas had a anticipation to tied the sport, however failed to attain on 4 tries from the 1-yard fold.

“That sucked,” Sarkisian stated of the Sooners’ goal-line get up.

The Horns nonetheless led 30-27 with 1:17 to proceed next Bert Auburn’s 47-yard ground target. However that left simply enough quantity while for Gabriel to govern an epic successful force, throughout which Sarkisian stated his protection wasn’t at the “same page from a coverage standpoint.”

Now not being in sync on offense, protection and particular groups was once a ordinary theme during the sport. On OU’s ultimate play games, Texas idea it made the precise name, however didn’t blast.

“The biggest thing that comes out of this for me, after all that being said, we had a great opportunity to win the game,” Sarkisian stated. “And if that’s our worst, we’re going to be OK.”

Texas, which dropped six spots to Deny. 9 within the scores, has a anticipation to recuperate and regroup because it heads into the bye day. Next it has six winnable video games left (combatants come with Houston, BYU, Kansas Order, TCU, Iowa Order and Texas Tech, who’ve a blended 18-15 report on the midpoint of the season).

Past maximum coaches discuss a 24-hour rule to live on video games next each wins and losses, Sarkisian in reality doesn’t need to follow that presently. He desires his avid gamers to grieve and really feel the ache of a last-minute loss. He believes it’ll inspire them in the second one part of the season.

“Losing sucks,” Sarkisian stated. “It’s not fun for anybody. But inevitably, you’ve gotta focus on the task at hand. I don’t know if you ever just wash it away. 

“I’m hopeful we don’t simply proceed out of that stadium Saturday and upcoming again right here in Austin and release the sport up there. I am hoping we more or less raise this one with us for a slight bit and I am hoping it fuels us to be even higher than we will be able to be transferring ahead.”

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Robust Like a Girl,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth annualannually of Name IX. Observe her on Twitter @LakenLitman.

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