Media/$9.95-er postgame analysis articles (CCG Week)

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Collecting all the post-game analysis articles, including those behind paywalls, regarding the Okie Lite game here:

(Joe Cook) CHAMPS: Texas takes home the Big 12 title in 49-21 win over Oklahoma State

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In their final season as members of the league and for the first time since 2009, the Texas Longhorns are Big 12 Conference champions. The Longhorns dominated Oklahoma State Cowboys, winning 49-21 on the back of a complete performance in all three phases of the game.

Quinn Ewers was 35-for-46 for 452 yards and four touchdowns over one interception, putting on one of the best passing outings ever by a Longhorn and setting multiple Big 12 Championship game records in the process. He began the game 12-of-12 for 175 yards and three touchdowns, and distributed the ball to nine different receivers in the first half. He led a first-half offensive effort that saw Texas post 422 total yards, including 354 through the air.

Six different Longhorns scored touchdowns on Saturday, including defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year hauled in a two-yard reception in a goal-line set. Ja’Tavion Sanders and Adonai Mitchell both hauled in scoring passes and went over 100 yards receiving. Star Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon managed only 34 yards on 13 carries, part of a meager 281 total yard day for OSU.

The title is the 29th conference championship for the Longhorns and the first since 2009. It is the fourth Big 12 Championship for Texas joining titles won in 1996, 2005, and 2009. The win is a fitting bookend for Texas, as they won the league in their first season as members in 1996 and now have done the same in their final season in 2023. For Steve Sarkisian, it’s his first conference championship as a head coach. After numerous conference titles as an assistant for Nick Saban and Pete Carroll, the third-year Texas head coach now has one to call his own after missing out on league titles at Washington, USC, and in his first two years at Texas.

The win boosts the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff resume. Texas entered the game as the No. 7 team, but Ohio State was left out of the Big 10 Championship and now has one fewer win than the Big 12 champion Longhorns. No. 5 Oregon lost to No. 3 Washington on Friday in the Pac-12 Championship and are now eliminated from contention with a second loss.

Texas likely needs assistance, notably in the ACC and SEC Championship games, but the Longhorns wouldn’t be on the doorstep of the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance if it didn’t emerge victorious on Saturday. A statement win for Texas ensured their conference crown and the need to pay attention to the selection show on Sunday, and in the process the Longhorns snapped their conference title drought as they make their way out of the Big 12 for the SEC.

(Steve Habel) Statement made: No. 7 Texas gets record game from Quinn Ewers in rout of Oklahoma State in Big 12 championship

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ARLINGTON, Texas – No. 7 Texas completed its “Embrace the Hate Tour” with a bang as Quinn Ewers passed for a record 452 yards and four touchdowns and the Longhorns defense did the rest in a 49-21 shellacking of Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon in the Big 12 Championship game. The Longhorns (12-1) captured their first Big 12 title since 2009 and successfully bookended their 27 seasons in the league with championships before an event record 84,523 fans at AT&T Stadium.

Texas will now wait to see if winning its final seven games, beating Alabama on the road and blowing out Oklahoma State in the title contest is enough to earn it a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Ewers finished 35 of 46 and completed his first 12 passes of the game to eight different receivers on the way to passing for the most yards ever in a Big 12 Championship game. It was just the third 450-yard passing game in school history and first since Colt McCoy threw for 470 against UCF in 2009.

The Longhorns’ defense did not allow Oklahoma State (9-4) to broach the 200-yard barrier until the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter. By that time Texas was ahead by five touchdowns. The Longhorns outgained Oklahoma State 622-281 in the victory.

There were plenty of stars in this win for Texas. Keilan Robinson ran for a team-high 75 yards and two second-half TDs on just four carries. Adonai Mitchell had 109 receiving yards and Ja’Tavion Sanders added 105, the latter on a team-best eight catches. Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns but star running back Ollie Gordon, the Big 12’s offensive player of the year, managed only 34 yards on 13 carries.

The Longhorns came out on fire, wrong-footing Oklahoma State on all four snaps on its opening drive that was capped by a pass to Mitchell for a 10-yard TD at the 12:52 mark of the first quarter. It was Mitchell’s team-leading 10th scoring catch of the season. Ewers connected with a wide-open Sanders on a flea-flicker play for a 24-yard TD and a 14-0 lead six and a half minutes into the game. The score came three snaps after a 54-yard catch and run by Xavier Worthy.

Oklahoma State responded with a 5-yard Bowman-to-Brennan Presley touchdown pass at the end of an eight-play, 75-yard march that cut the Texas lead to 14-7 with 5:36 to play in the first quarter.

The Longhorns countered with a nine-play, 77-yard drive that culminated with a 2-yard TD pass from Ewers to 362-pound defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, the Big 12’s defensive player of the year, with 1:41 to play in the opening quarter. Sweat then struck a Heisman pose in the end zone before being mobbed by his Texas teammates on the sideline.

After an interception by Texas’ Kitan Crawford at the UT 5, the Longhorns marched 95 yards in seven snaps to CJ Baxter’s 10-yard scoring run and a 28-7 lead with 11:40 to still play in the second quarter. The key play on the drive was a 62-yard bomb from Ewers to Mitchell on third down.

Ewers’ only bad pass of the first half – and just his second “incompletion” of the game – was picked off by the Cowboys’ Nickolas Martin and returned 27 yards to the UT 3. Two plays and an illegal motion penalty later Bowman passed to Rashon Owens for a 7-yard TD that culled the Texas lead to 28-14. The Longhorns swung back, adding to its lead on an 8-yard pass from Ewers to Jaydon Blue with 2:11 to play to play before halftime.

Oklahoma State fumbled on its own 47, with the Longhorns’ Anthony Hill Jr. causing the miscue and Ethan Burke recovering it with 1:29 remaining. Texas drove into field goal range but Bert Auburn was wide left from 44 yards out, snapping a streak of 19 straight three-point kicks and leaving the Longhorns’ lead at 34-14 at the break. Texas’ 422 yards of total offense was its high for a first half this season while the combined 49 points before halftime as a record in the conference championship game, supplanting the 46 combined first-half points scored by Texas and Colorado in the 2001 contest at Texas Stadium in Irving.

The Longhorns started the second half unimpressively on offense until Keilan Robinson ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 3:33 to build the Texas lead to 42-14. Ewers broke the record for passing yards in the title game when he started the drive with an eight-yard completion to Sanders. Robinson added an 11-yard TD with 10:38 to play before Bowman and Owens hooked up again for a 3-yard scoring pass with 6:26 left. Texas ran out the final minutes as its fans feted their champions and the Longhorns’ ascendance back to the upper echelon of the college football world.

(Jeff Howe) No. 7 Texas bludgeons No. 18 Oklahoma State en route to fourth and final Big 12 championship, 49-21

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Posing the rhetorical question of whether or not Texas is back to what it was in the halcyon days of the Mack Brown era might always be a punchline, but the seventh-ranked Longhorns proved in Saturday’s 49-21 bludgeoning of Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game that they’re back to being capable of living up to lofty expectations. Steve Sarkisian’s squad was the media’s preseason favorite to win the league and after going through the regular season with only one loss in conference play, rolling into AT&T Stadium as the No. 1 seed in a title game played before a record crowd of 84,543, who watched a historic first half throwing the football by Quinn Ewers pace a performance worthy of claiming the program’s fourth and final Big 12 title, which they’ll carry with them into the SEC in 2024.

Ewers led Texas (12-1, 8-1 Big 12) to touchdowns on four of five first-half possessions, firing four touchdown passes and piling up 354 yards while going 23-for-31 through the air. The touchdown throws — a 10-yard rollout to the wide side of the field for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell on the game’s first series, a 24-yard trick play to tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, a 2-yard toss to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year T'Vondre Sweat and an 8-yard strike to running back Jaydon Blue — highlighted a day in which Ewers established a new record for yards passing in a Big 12 championship game with a career-high 452 yards (36-for-46 throwing the football) on his way to being named the game's Most Outstanding Player.

The touchdown pass to Blue when he slipped into the flat with 2:11 remaining until halftime allowed the Longhorns to head into the locker room with a three-touchdown lead, 35-14. Keilan Robinson found a crease in the defense on the offense’s second possession of the third quarter with the speedy running back jetting toward the sideline and staying in bounds for a 57-yard touchdown.

When Robinson scored his second touchdown of the game, swinging a run wide to the left side of the field before crossing the goalline inside the front pylon, a 49-14 lead with 10:38 to go allowed the burnt orange faithful to exhale. Losers in nine of its previous 13 meetings against Mike Gundy, Texas completed its revenge tour in its final run through the Big 12 gauntlet in emphatic fashion.

Of the Big 12’s 10 members when Sarkisian took the job in 2021, the Cowboys came into the game as the only opponent to own an unbeaten record against him, winning meetings in Austin in 2021 and in Stillwater in 2022 (the Longhorns, for whatever it’s worth, didn’t face conference newcomers Cincinnatti or UCF this season, but they did defeat BYU and Houston). That’s no longer the case since Texas had its way with Big 12 competition in 2023, losing one game to rival Oklahoma, who is joining the SEC along with the Longhorns ahead of next season to continue the Red River Rivalry.

Owning a 42-14 lead through three quarters, Texas was averaging 8.2 yards per play with 544 total yards. Entering the fourth quarter, the Longhorns owned a plus-352 edge in total yards and a plus-114 edge in rushing yards while achieving an 8-for-12 mark on third down (a combined 9-for-13 effort on third and fourth down) and recording a plus-20 play differential. When the dust settled, the Longhorns outgained (662-281) and outrushed (198-31) Oklahoma State (9-4, 6-2) and was the more efficient team on the field (10-for-16 on third down, 2-for-2 on fourth down and 5-for-5 with five touchdowns in the red zone) while running 29 more plays than the Cowboys (an 86-57 edge in play differential).

Whether it was taking advantage of great field position (a 3-play, 39-yard touchdown drive to open the game was helped out from a 15-yard penalty for interfering with Xavier Worthy during an attempted punt return), or putting together lengthy drives (the Longhorns scored on touchdown drives of 84, 77, 95, 82, 79 and 88 yards on the day), Oklahoma State couldn’t slow down the Texas offense.

Not to be outdone, the defense contained Ollie Gordon, preventing the nation’s leading rusher entering the game (131.7 yards per game) from being much of a factor. Injured in the third quarter and reentering the game in the fourth quarter when the outcome had been decided, Gordon finished the game with only 34 yards on 13 carries with the Cowboys mustering only 31 yards on the ground (1.7 yards per attempt).

The mullet-clad demon was the last one the Longhorns needed to conquer to be made whole on their way out of the Big 12. The ghosts of a largely forgettable era of football on the Forty Acres should be considered vanquished as the program prepares to start anew and make its way to the exit trailing only the Sooners’ 14 conference championships won as a member of the Big 12 (Saturday’s win broke a second-place tie with Baylor and Kansas State for the most titles won) makes for one heck of a parting gift.

Especially since it comes at the end of a 10-game stretch in which Texas wore a large target on its back throughout the season. The member institutions who are going to be in the Big 12 in 2024 and beyond wanted their pound of flesh in 2023, but the Longhorns decided to punch first throughout conference play, which could ultimately lead to punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff.

 

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(Ian Boyd) Five quick thoughts: The Texas Longhorns are Big 12 Champions

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Mission accomplished. The Texas Longhorns finished the 2023 season as 12-1 Big 12 Champions after crushing Oklahoma State 49-21 in the Conference Championship Game. There’s a lot to take away from this and Texas fans should savor the moment before just quickly moving on to the playoff selection committee and the additional postseason stakes for the Longhorns.

Texas is now the Alpha and Omega of the league as it’s been known for the entirety of its history. The Big 12 was formed by fusing some Southwest conference teams into the “Big 8” in order to help the rural, midwestern Big 8 boost its demographics and television market value via attachment to the Lone Star State. The Longhorns were the big addition to make it happen and were even able to dictate terms to Nebraska. This was followed up by Texas winning the first ever Big 12 Championship with a 37-27 win over the Cornhuskers.

Now, 27 years later, the Longhorns and Oklahoma are leaving the conference for the SEC to transform college football into a sport with two super leagues. This move triggered the major dominoes which will determine the future of the sport. On their way out, Texas won the last ever Big 12 Championship (with founding blue bloods Texas and Oklahoma still around), to bookend the beginning and ending of the Big 12 title game.

You know that has to stick in the craw of the ir8te and all the folks who always despised Texas. The other programs have long hated Texas for its outsized importance in an otherwise lesser league and consistent arrogance despite a lack of titles. This win also puts Texas over Baylor and Kansas State for most Big 12 Championships. The Longhorns will exit with four trophies to the three for those two schools.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, this title says something else about a Longhorn program which wandered in the wilderness for the entirety of the 2010s with a single 10-win season and sole Big 12 Championship appearance before this breakthrough year. It says Texas is back.

Quick thought no. 1: Quinn Ewers was on point

This guy really kills it on the biggest stages. His biggest performances of the season?

•     Alabama: 24-38 for 349 yards at 9.2 ypa with three touchdowns to zero interceptions.
•     Oklahoma: 31-37 for 346 yards at 9.4 ypa with one touchdown to two interceptions.
•     Today: 35-46 for 452 yards at 9.8 ypa with four touchdowns to one interception.

In a big game, there’s not really any question of whether the Steve Sarkisian-Quinn Ewers combination will deliver. Sark drew up a million ways to dice up the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Ewers delivered on virtually all of them. Of course the Texas skill talent was a driving force for this effort and the overall season. Ewers put up huge stats while a number of terrific targets shared the opportunities.

Ja’Tavion Sanders predictably tortured the Oklahoma State safeties, turning nine targets into eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Whittington did something similar early, simply running away from the Cowboys in the middle of the field with four catches for 48 yards all in the first half. Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy did their damage as well with 12 combined catches for 195 yards and a touchdown.

The Cowboys’ lack of catch up speed was also evident on a few well placed flat throws and check downs by Ewers with Keilan Robinson, Jaydon Blue, and Cedric Baxter totaling nine catches on 10 targets for 91 yards at 9.1 ypa and a touchdown. When you’re throwing for nine per every time you target a running back in the passing game (or the run game, obviously), you’re really cooking with gas. Ewers put it all together for the Longhorns and earned the MVP belt from the Undertaker.

Quick thought no. 2: Mike Gundy conceded the point

Oklahoma State game came into this game knowing they’d need to throw the ball around to have a chance to win. Ollie Gordon had only 28 yards on 10 carries in the first half while Alan Bowman had already attempted 23 passes but only for 126 yards at 5.5 ypa with two touchdowns to one interception.

I detailed late in the week how Oklahoma State’s gameplan was going to have to center around moving slot receiver Brennan Presley around to avoid Jahdae Barron and hitting him early and often. Presley finished the day with nine catches for 93 yards and a touchdown but on 15 targets. The Pokes only averaged 6.2 ypa when looking for their star slot. Texas did significantly better than that throwing check downs.

Early on Gundy tried to throw the ball to keep Oklahoma State in the game and loosen things up for the runs later while embracing tempo to try and wear out the big Texas D-line. It didn’t really work and it paired very poorly with Texas using tempo and passing on its own possessions. By halftime the game was basically over and Ewers was already safely over 300 passing yards. The dreaded Ollie Gordon finished with 13 carries for 34 rushing yards at 2.6 ypc with zero touchdowns.

Quick thought no. 3: A terrific gameplan by the Longhorn defense

Pete Kwiatkowski had essentially telegraphed the likely gameplan for this contest in the last two weeks where Texas mixed in more press coverage outside in the base quarters defense. Oklahoma State couldn’t make much against Malik Muhammad or Terrance Brooks in press coverage and the Cowboy passing game was pretty limited despite superficially solid stats.

Bowman finished 22-38 for 250 yards at 6.6 ypa with three touchdowns to a single interception. Not awful but not explosive enough to match Texas nor to free up Gordon. Kwiatkowski had a few tricks for helping Anthony Hill Jr avoid getting left exposed when Presley motioned into the boundary slot, including some safety rotations like the following…

…as well as a few snaps where he dropped the Buck, Ethan Burke, into coverage to reduce space for Presley. On one such play OSU was able to hit a throw underneath only for Hill to strip the ball out with a timely punch and Burke landed on it. Hill lead the team with six tackles, had a sack, and the forced fumble.

Michael Taaffe played well moving back and forth between safety and nickel finishing second on the team with five tackles and a tackle for loss. T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy were their normal dominant selves with their statistical impact best reflected by Gordon’s 34 total rushing yards. Of course, Sweat also scored on a goal line play-action toss after lining up as a fullback.

Quick thought no. 4: How Texas made it back

Mike Gundy overstated the matter when he claimed Texas is always pretty huge and imposing along the defensive line. However, we’ve seen Texas teams in the last decade of title-less football who had some really impressive defensive tackles and played great defense as a result. The 2011 squad with Kheeston Randall? The 2014 unit with Malcom Brown and Hassan Ridgeway? How about the 2017 Horns with Poona Ford? This one was another level beyond but while great defense lead this team, it wasn’t the difference.

Special teams were at another level this season as well. Texas has had some good special teams units in previous years while losing, even fielding some of the best specialists in the history of college football such as Michael “the punter” Dickson or Justin Tucker. The Horns reached another level with overall special teams play this year, but that wasn’t the missing piece either.

The Longhorns are finally flexing their muscle at the skill positions. That’s the big difference. The state of Texas might produce more elite receivers and running backs than any other state in the country and the Longhorns can often pick the ones they like best. Despite this remarkable advantage, it’s been amazingly uncommon for the Longhorns to actually put it on the field.

They got there this season thanks to the transfer portal, where they benefitted from Mitchell being a Texan kid who was looking to get back home.

Sark put together a great defense and special teams unit like some Texas has seen flashes of in the last decade, but he also paired it with the sort of explosive offense you’d expect to see from the flagship program of a pass-happy state. It’s fitting he was able to get the top-rated passer of Texas high school history on campus after a detour in Columbus in Ewers. Setting him up to throw for 452 yards is why Texas was able to finally shoot up the joint in a Big 12 Championship Game before leaving town.

Quick thought no. 5: Alright fine, looking ahead…

It’ll be a terrible shame if the playoff selection committee leaves the Longhorns out. Almost as big of a shame as Derek Williams being suspended for the first half of Texas’ next game because his helmet touched another guy’s helmet while blocking a kick return. If it comes down to it, the committee may need to make a tough judgment call if Florida State squeaks by Louisville with their 3rd string quarterback at the helm.

They could put Texas in over the ‘Noles even with an ACC Championship, we’ll see what happens. The Longhorns would be a tough matchup for anyone they might face in the playoffs. No one wants to face Ewers throwing to this receiving group after a month for Sark to draw up motions and schemes to expose a secondary and work out how to thwart their pressures.

No one wants to have to figure out how to generate offense or weigh whether they can run the ball effectively on Sweat and Murphy. Most teams at the playoff level are used to forcing other teams to reconsider their normal plan by presenting an overpowering D-line. Texas is built to throw the ball around and avoid a dominant D-line from another team and to force the other team to do likewise. They won’t be favorites against most of these teams but they’ll have an outstanding chance. Now we see if they get it. Look out for the boogey-man, college football.

Chris Vannini: Quinn Ewers keeps Texas’ CFP hopes alive with record showing in Big 12 title game

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Texas kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a 49-21 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday. The Longhorns’ conference title, which came in their final Big 12 championship before moving to the SEC, ended a 14-year drought. Texas, No. 7 in the latest CFP rankings, advanced to 12-1 on the season with its only loss coming against Oklahoma on Oct. 7. The CFP field will be revealed Sunday.

Texas racked up 422 yards of total offense and a 35-14 lead in the first half as quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore became the first player with four passing touchdowns in a half in the Big 12 Championship Game, per ESPN Stats & Info — and ended the day with a career-high and Big 12 Championship Game-record 452 passing yards on 35 of 46 attempts.

Ewers surpassed 3,000 passing yards on the season before exiting the blowout midway through the fourth quarter. He connected with star receiver Adonai Mitchell for 109 yards and a touchdown, while running back Keilan Robinson rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns on four carries. Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman went 22-of-38 passing for 250 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Texas’ attention will now turn to the SEC and ACC title games taking place later Saturday as the program’s CFP fate hangs in the balance.

Should Texas make the College Football Playoff?

The Longhorns sure look like one of the four best teams in the country, especially after this championship game demolition. In any normal year, this Texas team would make the field. TCU made it last year despite losing the Big 12 Championship Game. But this was an abnormal year with so many undefeated Power 5 teams. If Georgia and Florida State win their respective championship games, the Longhorns are likely sitting on the outside.

A Florida State loss to Louisville would almost assuredly open the door for Texas to get in. If Florida State wins and Alabama beats Georgia, then we’ll have the fiercest CFP debate in the history of the format. Would the CFP leave out the SEC and put Texas in? The Longhorns would have a road win over the SEC champion, after all. The Longhorns did everything they could on Saturday. Now they need some help. — Chris Vannini, senior college football writer

What does this mean for Oklahoma State?

The Cowboys had been hanging on by a thread since beating Oklahoma in Bedlam. They were blown out by UCF and needed comebacks to beat Houston and BYU to get into this Big 12 Championship Game. It caps an inconsistent but still memorable regular season for Oklahoma State after being picked to finish seventh in the preseason. The Athletic projects the Cowboys to the Texas Bowl against Texas A&M, which would renew an old Big 12 matchup. — Vannini

Highlight of the game

 

 

 

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Steve Sarkisian Big 12 Championship Postgame Press Conference | On Texas Football | Playoffs | SEC

 

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Quinn Ewers Lights Up OSU | Defense Line Dominates Again | On Texas Football | Grading the Horns

 

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Eric Nahlin: Steve Sarkisian has brought Texas to an elite echelon

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12-1. Big 12 Champs. That’s why Tom Herman was fired. It’s also why Steve Sarkisian was hired. The Longhorns, long in search of their next coach, seem to have finally found him. Sarkisian unleashed a barrage of offensive play calls that confounded and befuddled Oklahoma State yesterday, almost every play executed by elite and speedy athletes that Sark himself helped bring to the 40 Acres.

From Quinn Ewers, to Xavier Worthy, to CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue, to Keilan Robinson, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Adonai Mitchell, all explosive and talented, all signed by Sark through either high school recruiting or the transfer portal. Yet we all remember when Sark first arrived in Austin. His scintillating gameplans would help Texas get out to big halftime leads only to see them squandered, the team folding as easily as a piece of paper in a book in the second half.

No more. Just a couple of years later, Sark still has the play-calling acumen, only with even better personnel to execute his offense. But what’s even more different is his defense, a unit that has matured and become the offense’s equal if not surpassed it. In short order, Steve Sarkisian has built a complete football team. No one can say that this Texas team is only the defense or only the offense. Heck, you can’t even leave out special teams.

And you can bet even the College Football Playoff committee took notice of the Longhorns’ completeness, when compared to say a Florida State squad lacking their starting quarterback. Ultimately, what Sark has built is one of the top four teams in the country. And, just like yesterday when Horns fans relished a 28-point demolition of Oklahoma State to claim the Big 12 title, we will rejoice once more at 11 a.m. when the Horns are officially selected as one of the teams in the College Football Playoff.

Whether the Horns play in New Orleans or Pasadena is almost irrelevant. The fact is, Sark will have brought this program to a point where we all know we’ve finally found the coach to move this program forward. He’s built the culture, attracted and retained the talent, and coached them to the Longhorns’ rightful place among the nation’s very best.

(Scipio Tex) 2023 Big 12 Title Oklahoma State Postmortem: Offense

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The Texas Longhorns dominated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 49-21 to cap off a sensational 12-1 Big 12 season, securing the last Big 12 title before saying sayonara, while offering a final parting gift to yet another legacy Big 12 team on the way out. Along the way, they vindicated preseason hopes and predictions (most crucially, mine!) and established a clear program trajectory: 5-7, 8-5, 12-1 (and counting) with tangible title results while displaying a level of resiliency that gave Longhorn fans confidence and joy.

Their readiness for this moment was obvious. Which team played with a chip on its shoulder? Which team played with more violence and fearlessness?

Which staff called the game like they were the underdog?

The game certainly highlighted how much the Horns have grown on offense. Mike Gundy and the Cowboys effectively went with their 2022 approach in Stillwater – albeit with a different base scheme – but blitzes and multiple coverages predominated as if Quinn Ewers were still inexperienced and spiraling, receiving options were scant, Sark was still stubborn, and the offensive line was still unpolished and busting assignments.

Teams get tougher, players get better and coaches get wiser. It didn’t work out well for them. Predictably blitzing linebackers comes at a cost against good offenses that can pass protect. It really comes at a cost when Sark anticipates your entire game plan and then predicts all of your counterpunches in real time. Sark got up in his bag and then got up in the Pokes for four quarters.

Evidence:

•     Texas converted 7 of 10 meaningful drives into touchdowns, with one missed field goal attempt.
•     Texas was 12 of 18 on money downs, including 2 of 2 on 4th down highlighted by brilliant play calls against OSU aggression overreach – a JT Sanders end around and a little flip pass.
•     Texas doubled up OSU in time of possession.
•     The Horns compiled 662 total yards, 33 first downs (to OSU’s 11) and averaged 7.6 yards per play.
•     10 different Horns caught a ball, 7 caught at least two and the main troika of Worthy, Sanders, Mitchell went a combined 20-300 with 2 scores.
•     Longhorn running backs caught 9-91-1td combined.
•     The Horns rushed for 198 yards, largely on the strength of a dominant 2nd half effort (132 closing them out)

Texas scored touchdowns on their first four possessions of the game on drives of 39, 84, 77 and 95 yards featuring a constant and lethal passing game that attacked the edges of the OSU defense with RB, TE and WR screens, murdered them 1 on 1 in man coverage and repeatedly exploited holes in their zone. At halftime, Quinn Ewers was 23 of 31 for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns and the Horns had 422 yards of total offense.

Sark had zero concern with balance in the first half and lit up the Cowboys at will in the passing game. This was a complete domination. On the whiteboard, on the field of play, in game planning, and with respect to in-game adjustments. The Cowboys were fortunate to get away with only 49 hung on ’em.

Quarterback

I saw a more impressive display from Ewers than the halftime Dr Pepper Contest chest passes. #3’s greatest statistical performance of his college career resulted in an extraordinary 35 of 46 for 452 yards (76% – almost Bo Nix level!!!) box score. Generally, when your quarterback starts the game 12 of 12 for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns, this portends well.

Ewers had only one major mistake despite 50 dropbacks (the WTF interception to Nick Martin on a 3rd and long) and he threw some terrific balls. Sark put the yoke on his shoulders and Ewers plowed Oklahoma State for four quarters with little resistance.

Turf monster defended Texas better than the Cowboys. Yes, Sark schemed the whole game up beautifully. Yes, the Cowboys had no hope of covering our guys once we decided to pick at the scab. You still have to make the throws. Ewers made the engine hum with effortless distribution and terrific poise. He was the well-deserved game MVP. Last year’s 19 of 49 in Stillwater feels like it happened decades ago.

Offensive Line

Outstanding pass protection overall and run blocking got markedly better in the second stanza of play once OSU tapped out on effective blitzing and accepted their pummeling. Kelvin Banks dominated in all phases. DJ Campbell got beaten badly by Nathan Latu in the early second half for a sack, but was solid otherwise. Jake Majors was good on the pull and generally did a nice job trying to try track down greyhound linebackers. Continue to love what I see late from Cam Williams, Neto and Cole Hutson in late game scenarios. Those snaps will help them a lot.

362 pound Defensive Tackle

T’Vondre Sweat caught a touchdown in the deep red zone. He was wide open. That kind of separation can only occur with elite athleticism. Sark’s failure to play him at wide receiver or tight end is a coaching failure.

Running Back

CJ Baxter caught the ball well. He also ran through a tackle or two, particularly in goal to go, which was nice to see. Pass pro seemed solid. 13 carries for 43 yards and a score, but 3.3 yards per carry. The difference in juice and acceleration between Baxter and Blue (3 catches, 38 yards), Robinson (4 carries, 75 yards, 2 touchdowns) and even Wisner remains noticeable. A rest will do him good. A strong offseason under the bar will do him better. No, not those bars. Do you ever forget how quick Keilan Robinson is? A good reminder here.

Note the terrific kick out by Banks and the outstanding pull and backside seal by Majors. #65 was moving! Two guys had an angle on Robinson. The second tackler froze like a deer in headlights from a very subtle move that Robinson put on him around the 42. Rewind and look for it. Jonathon Brooks on the field for the Victory formation was pure class and may have made my allergies act up because of winter pollen. Important question: when Brooks was out there, who was holding the team drip?

Wide Receiver/Tight End

There were mismatches on the field and mismatches in the booth, but the Texas WRs vs the OSU DBs were the biggest offensive mismatch from down-to-down. Sanders, Mitchell and Worthy took turns dominating and Worthy would’ve surely broken 100+ to join Sanders and Mitchell in the century club if he hadn’t gotten injured. X Rays negative for X, so let’s hope for the best. Whittington also had a nice game, going 4-48 with some nice 2nd half chain movers. Not much to say. You saw it on the field. If they dropped a pass, I’m struggling to remember it.

Final

Quinn Ewers has a tattoo on his arm. Luke 21:17. That verse reads: “Everyone will hate you because of me.” A message that goes a bit deeper than football or bread and circuses, but I couldn’t help but smile when I looked it up. Ewers as an instrument for delivering victory over the endless detractors, haters and naysayers at every stop in the Longhorn Embrace The Hate Tour. “Everyone will hate you because of me.” When you read on, the verse continues: “Stand firm and you will win life.”

Yeah, that sounds about right. Hook ’em!

Coach V: These special Longhorns are Big 12 Champions

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By Mike Venable: Usually I get a couple of re-watches in order to get a better opinion of individual performances and that carries me into Sunday around noon. If you live in DFW and have U-verse you couldn’t watch the game on their ABC station. Fortunately, I had another tv on rabbit ears but sadly couldn’t tape the game for second and third looks. First look impressions looked this way—might try to add some later once the repeat appears on a station I can actually watch.

Obviously, any 49-21 victory should remain very positive and will attempt to limit less than desirable efforts. I think it’s very fair to lead off with Quinn Ewers (3) who had his best career game on the biggest stage this season. Yes, he had terrific weapons surrounding him but he did have to put the ball where they could do something with it. The three wideouts all had outstanding games. Worthy (1), Mitchell (5), and Whittington (13) not only got open but also made good runs after catch to extend drives. It was fun to watch good athletes dazzle good defensive football players.

Despite not having their leading rusher (Brooks-24) I thought the room held up well. We had a combination of slashers and thumpers carrying the mail. Baxter (4) was definitely a thumper on most downs but I thought he showed he’s still a freshman strength wise as he lost some spring in his legs as he wore down. Red (17) looked very strong in his thumper style as he ran with a contact attitude. Blue (23) is and was a blur but needs to avoid a cutback and settle for the smaller gain. Robinson (7) had his best game period—he’s been as solid as they come and proved it once again today with several big time plays. Wisner (26) ran with conviction once again and was a coverage demon.

Sanders (0) had his best game as a Horn and it was a monster. He had to go over 100 yards and most likely double figure receptions. Helm (85) had a big play catch for a first down and provided good blocking on the edge. Agbo (80) and Sweat (93) were short yardage TE’s and both had good plays. Agbo on the run block and Sweat on a play action scoring pass helped the room to it’s best performance of the season.

That leaves the old unsung warriors left to praise—-you know the guys that get the box lunches coming out of the dressing room while the backs and skinny numbers come dancing around the corner with the pom pom girls on each arm. Banks (78) provided the best block of the morning with a pancake on a counter pull and that set the tone and mood for this old cuss. Conner (76) had a better game but still lacks push in the trench warfare. Majors (65) has been the rock for this group—Jake does so much with scheme, snap count, and huge monsters on his nose that he doesn’t get enough atta-boys from our fan base (in my opinion). Campbell (52) struggled some in the second half and that could have been nicked up oriented. Jones (70) once again had some really good efforts but also lost a little focus along the line.

The second Oline was impressive once they got their chance. This spring will be super interesting because this bunch has enough talent to compete despite their limited experience. Williams (56), Umeozulu (72), and Hutson (52) are poised to make their move and their play illustrates that fact.

Well, the conference’s leading rusher didn’t exactly have his way against this longhorn defense. Sweat (93) and Murphy (90) hammered a brick wall while Collins (95) and Broughton (45) made it stronger. Our edges, Sorrell (88), Burke (91), Finkley (1), and Bush (43) wrong shouldered the counters and filled the alley extremely well. This bunch once again decided the fate of the mindset. We forced their passing attack to go quick and short to limit our pressure and sack total. You know, if you stop the run with sound techniques and big boy attitude the defense can dictate the offensive play calling to a large degree.

I thought Anthony Hill Jr. (0) was the best defender on the field despite lacking solid play in pass coverage. He may not equal Derrick Johnson’s career production but has already started the turnover machine in his play. It’s just a matter of time. Ford (41) was stellar as he makes most of the corrections when we fail to execute. Gbenda (33) has exceeded my expectations for him this year. Blackwell (37) had at least two quality stops. We will miss Ford unless a youngster or a portal shows up ready to excel.

Well, we still have a few shortcomings in our back five. How they can look so good one play and so confused on another beats my two pair. Thompson (28) had several big time hits/tackles to play his best game in a long time. Barron (23) didn’t look anything like himself—he must be limited injury wise. Taaffe (16) had a solid game. Brooks (8) was good until he lost a couple of battles. Muhammad (5) had a good play but injury limited his play. Holmes (9) played very well in a reserve role. Crawford (21) had a great interception along with some spotty coverage in an uneven performance. Williams (2) had a good game going until he delivered a target block on the second half kickoff return—a rule is a rule like it or not.

Big win for the program. It won’t be a long wait to determine our future. We can play with anybody when we play fast and loose. Reading and reacting not so much. We have enough talent when we know what to do. It’s damn near impossible not to yell at them when they play confused. They were really good today. Hey, we are conference champions. You gotta love this bunch.

Mike Venable is a retired coach who had a 30 year career coaching football at Lancaster, Duncanville, Gladewater, Pasadena Sam Rayburn, R.L Turner and The Colony.

 

[satyanash 14281]

(Justin Wells) Top PFF grades from No. 3 Texas' 49-21 win over No. 18 Oklahoma State

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After the No. 3 Texas Longhorns’ 49-21 win over No. 18 Oklahoma State from AT&T Stadium on Saturday in Arlington, Inside Texas takes a look at the Pro Football Focus grades on offense and defense after the Longhorns (12-1, 9-1) clinched their first Big 12 Championship since 2009 and head to the 2023 College Football Playoff to face Washington in the Sugar Bowl.

OFFENSE

QB – Quinn Ewers, 67.6

Ewers saved his best Big 12 game for last. After going 35-of-46 passing, career-high 452 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, the Big 12 Championship MVP broke the Big 12 Championship passing mark and tied the record for touchdown passes in a title game.

RB – Jaydon Blue, 68.0, Keilan Robinson, 89.2

Robinson, Baxter, and Blue all contributed on Saturday in the victory. Robinson notched 75 yards rushing on only four carries, with two touchdowns. Baxter and Blue combined for 76 yards on the ground, and this touchdown catch from Blue.

Robinson also joined the scoring parade, twice.

WR – Adonai Mitchell, 65.5, Xavier Worthy, 68.5

With Mitchell and Worthy, the Texas passing attack was lethal on Saturday. Mitchell tallied 109 yards receiving and one touchdown on six grabs, while Worthy added 86 yards on six catches.

TE –  Ja’Tavion Sanders, 86.6

Sanders was the main target on Saturday, with a team-high eight catches, 105 yards receiving and one scoring catch for the All Big 12 tight end.

OL – Jake Majors, 69.0, Kelvin Banks, 73.8

Offensive linemen Majors (79 snaps) and Banks (79 snaps) anchored the O-line attack up front. Banks led on pass-blocking with 87.7%, while Majors led in run-blocking at 73.5%.

DEFENSE

DL/EDGE – T’Vondre Sweat, 72.0, Byron Murphy, 87.2

Sweat (27 snaps) and Murphy (24 snaps) continued the Texas defensive domination with the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year added four tackles and one tackle for loss, holding the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Ollie Gordon, to 34 yards rushing on the evening. Sweat contributed to his Heisman campaign as well, on offense.

LB – Jaylan Ford, 71.9, Anthony Hill Jr, 66.0

Hill Jr., the Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year, was tremendous with a team-high eight tackles, one sack and one forced fumble on 43 snaps. Hill also added a linebacker-best 82.4% tackling grade.

CB/N – Malik Muhammad, 75.5, Terrance Brooks, 61.2

Muhammad (50 snaps) and Brooks (51 snaps) were big with Ryan Watts missing action on Saturday. Muhammad added five tackles and one pass breakup.

S – Jerrin Thompson, 69.8, Kitan Crawford, 92.0

The safety duo of Thompson (41 snaps) and Michael Taaffe (45 snaps) were solid in most spots, with Taaffe adding six tackles and Crawford grabbing his first interception of 2023.

(Max Olson) Quinn Ewers fulfills his Texas destiny: Longhorns return to top of Big 12, at last

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ARLINGTON, Texas — You’re not going to get tears of joy from Quinn Ewers, nor will you get fiery emotion. After the finest performance and the biggest win of his life, you get the same old Quinn. As he stepped down from the trophy stage, a Big 12 title belt over his right shoulder, he didn’t glance around with glee to see all those fans in burnt orange partying inside AT&T Stadium. He didn’t respond to a childhood dream come true with childlike wonder. He stayed cool, calm and quiet, more pleased than thrilled.

That’s what it took for Texas to utterly dominate No. 18 Oklahoma State. This 49-21 triumph, the Longhorns’ first Big 12 championship since 2009 as well as its last, was Ewers at his very best. He wanted to go out and show everybody what he looks like when he plays what he calls his “true game.” On Saturday, Ewers was absolutely the truth. “I told these guys to come out here and play like no one’s seen us play before,” he said. “Show them what Texas football is really about.”

We were given definitive proof of just how special Texas’ ballyhooed quarterback can be at his best. His career-high 452 passing yards on 35-of-46 passing easily shattered the Big 12 title game record, and four first-half touchdown passes set the tone on a day when the Longhorns had everything to prove and no interest in messing around. “I thought Quinn was lights out today,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.

On this big-time stage, Sarkisian’s offense turned into a scary symphony. The line kept the quarterback comfortable. The backs could break a big run at any moment. The pass catchers constantly created separation. The head coach was deep in his bag of tricks. The quarterback threw with clinical precision. And there was nothing Oklahoma State could do to stop any of it.

The theme of the day, over and over again: Ewers put the ball where it needed to be and his dudes did the rest. Xavier Worthy turned a quick out into a 54-yard gain. Adonai Mitchell caught an Ewers dime in stride after a filthy double move and went for 62. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders was open all day for eight catches and 105 yards. Even their 6-foot-4, 362-pound monster T’Vondre Sweat found a way to get wide open on his goal-line touchdown catch.

Texas’ playmakers combined for 342 yards after the catch Saturday, the most by any offense against a Power 5 defense in college football all season. Ewers connected with nine different players for 18 passes of 10-plus yards. One of the biggest reasons why this team got this far by Year 3 under Sarkisian: Texas has true difference-makers and knows how to use them.

On Monday, the head coach told his team exactly how this game would be won. “He didn’t want us coming out throwing jabs,” running back Keilan Robinson said. “We gotta come out throwing haymakers and uppercuts. We wanted to end it from the jump. And that’s what we did.”

Ewers ensured this game was over well before they hit the fourth quarter. He was the hero without trying too hard to be heroic. When the first read was there, he threw it on time and accurately. When he needed to go through progressions and take his time, not once did he look nervous. That’s what mature quarterback play looks like.

The third-year sophomore has come a long way in his short time at Texas. It was the opportunity for moments like these that made him come home two years ago. “There’s no better feeling, honestly,” Ewers said, “especially for the guys who just dreamed of playing here and coming to their state. Accomplishing something to this magnitude has been just nothing but a blessing.”

Texas has had 10 different starting quarterbacks since Colt McCoy last led this program to a Big 12 championship in 2009. Each and every one of his successors has been burdened by the weighty expectations of not just being The Guy at Texas but the expectation they needed to ascend to savior-level greatness in order for Texas to get back to contending for national titles.

Ewers, the No. 1 overall recruit in his class out of Southlake Carroll, knew what he was signing up for when he committed to Texas in 2020. He knew how it would look when he decommitted two months later. He knew exactly what it meant to this fan base when he transferred home from Ohio State and finally joined the Longhorns in December 2021.

When a fan base puts all of its hopes and dreams on you, making you an icon before you’ve ever played a snap, praying you become the best they’ve ever seen and judging you harshly if you aren’t, then you better be made of the right stuff. It takes a lot more than just thick skin to deal with it on a daily basis. Early on in their careers, it wasn’t always a ton of fun to be Vince Young or Colt McCoy.

There were times last season when Ewers’ confidence could’ve been seriously shaken. He didn’t look like a five-star when he faced Oklahoma State last October in Stillwater. Texas could’ve run away with that one, too, after rolling to a 31-17 lead in the second quarter. But Ewers didn’t have it on that windy day in Oklahoma. He completed just 19 of 49 passes, lost the lead and tossed two interceptions in the fourth quarter in a 41-34 loss that dropped his team to 5-3. If Texas wins that game, it would’ve played for a Big 12 title.

That low point was still fresh in Ewers’ mind this week as he prepared for revenge. But it was the moment when he messed up Saturday that showed his growth. Ewers, backed up to his own 29-yard line, fired a pass to a wide-open Worthy but couldn’t see Oklahoma State linebacker Nickolas Martin lurking. He took the interception down to the 3-yard line, setting up an easy score to cut the Cowboys’ deficit to 28-14.

A year ago, maybe that’s the play that starts the Texas meltdown. Not this time. Ewers went right back out and guided a 10-play, 82-yard touchdown drive to erase any momentary momentum. “His response, like it’s been all year, was tremendous,” Sarkisian said.

When faced with the intense pressure of taking on No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, he stuck to playing his game and lit up the Crimson Tide. When an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder knocked him out for two games in the middle of the season, he came back ready to thrive. He’s completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,246 yards and eight touchdowns over this defining four-game stretch during which Texas had no room for error.

We’re watching him play with more confidence than ever. When that’s the case, you get a Texas team that can play with anybody. This team sent a clear message Saturday that, if they’re let into the College Football Playoff, they’re going to be a problem.

Three weeks ago, word began to get out starting with a report from Orangebloods.com that there was growing momentum behind Ewers returning to Texas in 2024. Perhaps it was the injury setback. Perhaps it was an assessment of the quarterback draft class and the sense that Ewers wasn’t approaching first-round status. Maybe he’s just having a heck of a time in college.

Many took that revelation as a surprise, believing that Ewers going three-and-pro had been the scripted plan all along. But the journey is never as straightforward as we expect, even for five-star phenoms.

After knocking out the Cowboys and taking home the belt, Ewers didn’t speak on what he plans to do next, nor did anyone ask. Sarkisian did not waste much time stumping for why his team belongs in the top four. Why get worked up about the future when you’re a program that has been chasing this very moment every day since 2010?

The kid whom everyone hoped would put Texas football back on top did just that while playing the best game of his life. This year, the hype was actually real. And after a decade of stumbling, at long last, the Longhorns looked unstoppable.

Sam Khan Jr.: Texas is a champion again. And the Horns are here to stay

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Steve Sarkisian stood on a stage in the middle of AT&T Stadium, tens of thousands in burnt orange and white cheering in the stands, multicolored ticker tape falling all around the Texas coach and his team, which was celebrating just below. He held up the Big 12 championship trophy for all to see. The scoreboard ribbons around the stadium flashed “TEXAS WINS.” The UT faithful have waited for this.

“They’ve been starving for a Big 12 championship just like we have,” Sarkisian said of his fans. Then he thanked them, looked to the crowd and held up his left hand with the index finger and pinkie extended. With bass in his voice, Sarkisian shouted, “Hook ’em Horns, baby!”

No. 7 Texas’ 49-21 rout of No. 18 Oklahoma State on Saturday, which secured the Longhorns’ first conference championship since 2009, was truly a moment to cherish. Five years ago, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger got caught up in the moment after a Sugar Bowl victory, uttering two words — “We’re baaaaack” — that have been thrown back in the face of the Longhorns ever since, as if Joe Tessitore’s game-ending 2016 call against Notre Dame — “Texas is back, folks!” — wasn’t enough.

Every Texas unforced error or late-game collapse became a ripe opportunity for critics to use those words as a punchline, even as the Longhorns took legitimate steps forward in the Sarkisian era. But no more. Texas is a champion, and the Longhorns are here to stay.

The coming hours will be filled with debate as to whether Texas is College Football Playoff worthy. But the Longhorns (12-1), regardless of what other results occur this weekend, are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the country. Whether they get into the CFP or must settle for a non-Playoff New Year’s Six bowl is out of their hands.

For Sarkisian, such fodder is secondary to what Texas accomplished this season and consummated Saturday. “I didn’t want this win, and I didn’t want this championship, to be about the College Football Playoff,” Sarkisian said. “This is an accomplishment in and of itself, us winning a championship.” It really is. For the past 13 years, the Longhorns have been a convenient punching bag for opponents, both on and off the field.

Texas, with all of its advantages, from financial resources to highly ranked recruiting classes to its own television network, continuously fell short. The results rarely matched the hype. Texas fans yearned for the days of the program’s peak, when it went 101-16 from 2001 to 2009, appeared in two national championships and won one. Instead, they endured five seasons of at least seven losses, three head coaches and zero championships — until now.

Much of the credit for this run goes to Sarkisian. He has built this program to win not only this year but in the years to come. Yes, the task gets much tougher when the Longhorns join the SEC next year, the conference home to the past four national champions and 14 of 24 since 2000. But watch the Longhorns play, and they look a lot like the teams they’re about to join.

Huge, athletic defensive linemen like 362-pound T’Vondre Sweat or the lightning-quick Byron Murphy. An offensive line that punishes opponents in the running game, like the way left tackle Kelvin Banks treated Oklahoma State linebacker Xavier Benson. Speed all over the field.

Sarkisian recruited one of the most talented quarterback depth charts in the country and supplemented it with elite skill position talent. His play calling — which was brilliant Saturday — maximized every explosive player Texas has. The recruiting emphasis on “big humans,” as Sarkisian likes to call them, has led to Texas being one of the best teams in the country on the offensive and defensive lines. Alabama can attest to that because the Crimson Tide got pushed around by Texas’ linemen in the Crimson Tide’s Week 2 loss.

All those elements came together Saturday for one of the most complete performances the Longhorns have had all season. They started fast, but instead of hitting a typical midgame lull and allowing the Cowboys to creep back in, Texas continued to execute. Quinn Ewers turned in a masterful performance, throwing for a career-high 452 yards and four touchdowns. Texas’ collection of running backs — CJ Baxter, Jaydon Blue and Keilan Robinson — proved effective both in the run game and pass game. The receivers (Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington) and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders appeared uncoverable, at least to Oklahoma State’s secondary. All of them consistently gained chunks of yards after the catch. Texas finished with 14 pass plays of 15 or more yards.

Defensively, Texas allowed a meager 281 yards and only 1.7 yards per rush. The defensive line, led by Sweat and Murphy, did what it has all season — make its opponent one-dimensional. Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, who was once a Heisman Trophy contender and has rushed for at least 120 yards in eight of his past nine games, was held to 34 yards on 13 carries.

And as it has all season, Texas packed a punch. The physical nature it played with Saturday has become emblematic of this squad. This wasn’t the program opponents were quick to call “soft” in years past. Banks and Murphy attribute it to the way Texas practices. Banks said he thinks they’ve changed the image of Texas football. Murphy said the Longhorns pride themselves on getting right back up whenever they get knocked down.

“We changed the program a lot,” Murphy said. “We showed the world what we can do.”

What Texas can do is be a serious factor in the sport again, if the Longhorns continue to recruit and execute at the level they have lately. There isn’t anything missing in their championship equation. The Longhorns seems to have it all: a stable, capable coaching staff; top-10 roster talent; a well-funded name, image and likeness operation; and first-rate facilities.

What has been missing is the right coach to capitalize on all of that. Sarkisian appears to be that man. When he arrived from Alabama in 2021, Sarkisian had a plan for how to get Texas back to winning championships. The Longhorns completed the first step of that.

“I took this job with the mindset we’re going to go here and win championships,” Sarkisian said. “I said that in the opening press conference. I said it to these (players) in my very first meeting. I’ve said it to them in some nicer ways. I’ve said it to them in other ways, which Sweat can attest to. … I’m grateful and thankful for the opportunity. Every day, I’m humbled that I get to be the head coach here. So the fact that we’re able to fulfill this dream of winning a Big 12 championship is awesome. I wish I could say it in a better way or use a better word but, it’s just frickin’ awesome.”

 

[satyanash 14281]

Some reactions from former players:

[LTtxfan 48962]

Dec 4th

Realizing & Exceeding Expectations | Vindication for Sark | On Texas Football | Lunch with the Coach

[pacman 7324]

A 92.0 PFF grade for Kitan Crawford? I imagine the weight of the interception is too high, if that is the case.

Unless I have severely misjudged the OVERALL quality of his play against osu, I believe that ends the argument for usefulness of PFF college grades...

Edited December 6, 2023 by pacman

[satyanash 14281]

(Joe Cook) For Steve Sarkisian and Texas, Sunday was for celebrating. On Monday, the preparation for Washington began.

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Before Sunday’s College Football Playoff selection show, the Texas Longhorns were in a celebratory mood after taking home the Big 12 Championship on Saturday thanks to a 49-21 win over Oklahoma State. Whether that celebration would escalate was the only remaining question.

“Regardless of how today was going to go, I wanted to make sure that we continued to celebrate that,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday. “I don’t want to lose sight of it’s been 14 years since we had won one, and only four in the last 27. What a great accomplishment for this team. Happy for those kids. Now, the cherry on top is an opportunity to go compete for a national championship.” But when the Longhorns saw burnt orange flash on the screen, the party really started.

Sarkisian said he focused on players like Jaylan Ford, T’Vondre Sweat, Jordan Whittington, and Ja’Tavion Sanders during the festivities. To see the joy on those players faces, a few who signed up to play and win for a different head coach, was one of the more rewarding moments of the entire Sunday for Texas. That set off a day of joy for the Longhorns. Texas held its annual team banquet later that night looking back on a banner season that concluded with a conference championship.

But Sarkisian knows his team has its work cut out ahead of the College Football Playoff matchup with No. 2 Washington. “Washington is a great team, as we all well know,” Sarkisian said. “We played them last year in the Alamo Bowl. It’s going to take a lot of preparation. It’s going to take us playing our best football when that game rolls around to try to be successful.”

The celebration lasted until Monday morning, when Sarkisian said his team would go through a lift and run period. The Longhorns will be in that stage for two weeks before putting the pads back on for what Sarkisian believes will be 12-13 total practices ahead of the Sugar Bowl. This time will be key as the Longhorns have endured a 13-game season and need to get healthy, especially players like Xavier Worthy, Ryan Watts, and Austin Jordan.

Sarkisian said Sunday he feels confident in Worthy and Watts being available, but said he’d have to see “how he recovers” when speaking about Jordan. Still, the opportunity to rest up ahead of the Longhorns’ first ever playoff game is one Texas will take full advantage of.

“The fact that we’ll have everybody there and hopefully healthy, and that we’ll have time to get ourselves healthy which has been a little bit of an issue of ours over the last month or so of just little nagging injuries, to get our team healthy and an opportunity to put our best foot forward is huge. It’s going to be needed. Washington’s a very good team, and they’re going to be healthy too.”

And if Texas is at full strength? “I’ve always felt like if we can get in, we can play with anybody in the country,” Sarkisian said. Sarkisian said Sunday in a way similar to previous explanations that while he was at Alabama, he knew he would have the opportunity to become a head coach again. But chasing championships as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator directed his interest to places where he could do something similar.

Texas presented that opportunity to him, and almost three years after taking the job, he’ll walk into the Sugar Bowl with a conference title and the chance to compete for a national championship. The CFP wasn’t just Sarkisian’s hope, it was a goal. And now, it’s a goal within reach. “It’s why I came here,” Sarkisian said.

 

[LTtxfan 48962]

Cross-posting

How Texas Dominated the Big 12 Championship with Explosive Plays

 · 12/4/2023   by Coaches Caviar