Three reasons Texas lost to Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout

It was a frustrating game for the Texas Longhorns as they fell to their rivals 53-45 in an overtime thriller. Our three reason for the loss.

There is a lot to unpack from the Texas Longhorns 53-45 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. Despite falling down by double-digits twice against Oklahoma, Texas was able to fight and claw back into the game. The Longhorns needed this game but ultimately fell short to their rivals to the north.

Early on in this game, it didn’t look much like a shootout given that the game went into halftime tied at 17. Then again tied at 31 as the fourth quarter came to an end. It looked like the Sooners would win the game with under five minutes remaining and a two touchdown lead. However, quarterback Sam Ehlinger and the Longhorns had other ideas.

Clinging to a lead late, the Sooners had an opportunity to put the game away as Texas had no timeouts left. All Oklahoma needed was a first down or two to milk the clock. On third down Lincoln Riley dialed up a pass that fell incomplete. With two minutes remaining, they gave Sam Ehlinger all the time he needed to force overtime in this game.

In the extra session the Longhorns weren’t able to do enough and some mistakes cost them dearly. Texas tried to mount a comeback again in the fourth overtime, they fell short once gain. We breakdown three reasons why the Longhorns lost to Oklahoma.

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners: Final Recap and highlights from 4OT loss

The Texas Longhorns made a ferocious comeback to get back into the game. The Longhorns just couldn’t make enough plays as they fall 53-45.

The final quarter opened with the Texas Longhorns defense forcing the Oklahoma Sooners into a punt to get the offense back on the field. After Sam Ehlinger missed Tarik Black for a deep shot down the seam, the Longhorns would hand the ball right back to Lincoln Riley and his offense down 14.

The offense for Sooners began to pound the Longhorns defense by running the ball. T.J. Pledger and Spencer Rattler combining to get the Oklahoma offense into Texas territory. The defense was finally able to get to the quarterback on their first pass attempt, Alfred Collins was able to get to Rattler for the sack.

Following a punt downed inside the 10-yard line, it was up to Ehlinger to get this football team back in the game with under eight minutes to go down by 14. Facing a third down, Ehlinger had to use his legs to keep the drive going for the Longhorns. After a review, the moved the ball back for a forth and short. With the game on the line Ehlinger runs up the middle for a first down.

Facing another third down and short, Ehlinger finds Bijan Robinson out of the backfield for a long catch and run. After finding some success going up tempo, Ehlinger throws a deep shot in the end zone that was picked off. Woody Washington climbed the ladder to take it away from Joshua Moore. With 5:02 left in the game, the chances for Texas were running low.

After holding Oklahoma  on offense, the Longhorns got the ball back with a short field. Ehlinger led the team back down the field and found Joshua Moore to get this game within one score 31-24. With no timeouts left, Cameron Dicker onside kick was perfect but the Longhorns couldn’t get the ball before it went out of bounds.

Facing a third down and nine, Spencer Rattler needed a first down seal this game. An incompletion  gives the Longhorns the ball with about two minutes left in the game down a touchdown. The Sooners helped Texas by throwing the ball with no timeouts.

With 1:52 and no timeouts, Ehlinger looking to bring Texas back in this game. After a holding penalty gave the Longhorns a first down, Ehlinger used his legs on a 18-yard run to get close to midfield. A hold on Christian Jones put Texas on first and 20. After a 19-yard catch by Moore, the Longhorns get a first on a Keaontay Ingram run.

Sam Ehlinger found Ingram  in the flat all alone for a touchdown. Texas ties the game with 14 seconds left on the clock.

For the second time this year, Texas forces overtime after trailing late in the fourth quarter. Texas would get the ball first in overtime. On third down to extend the drive, Ehlinger finds Jordan Whittington on a 13-yard reception to extend their initial drive of overtime. Ehlinger converted a first down on a run then on the next play runs it in for the lead.

Rattler did his best Sam Ehlinger as he ran the ball on back to back plays to extend their drive. Oklahoma needing a touchdown to force a second overtime against Texas. The Sooners were able to answer when Rattler found Austin Stogner in the endzone. These two teams would head to yet another overtime.

After a big catch and run from Stogner, the Sooners were inside the five. After two incompletions, it was third and goal for Oklahoma. Rattler ran it up the middle for touchdown that would require a review. He was ruled down short of the goal line. On fourth down Rattler punches it in for the 45-38 lead. Ehlinger answers right back on a long run to tie it again.

It would go to a third overtime. Ehlinger faced a third and 10 on their possession. He would get taken down before reaching the line of scrimmage. Cameron Dicker’s attempt would be blocked. All Oklahoma needed was a field goal to win it.

The Sooners knowing they didn’t need much, were able to run the ball on the Longhorns defense. After a first down run, the Sooners sent their kicker Gabe Brkic onto the field for the game winner. He shanked the kick wide left to force another overtime.

On the opening play of the forth overtime, Rattler finds Drake Stoops for the go ahead touchdown. Sooners would have to go for two which was converted. The Texas offense would need to answer in order to get to a fifth overtime.

After finding Whittington, Bijan powers through the line for a first down run. Another penalty on the offensive line pushes Texas back to the 19-yard line on first and goal. After an incomplete pass, on the second down throws an interception to end the game.

Final Game Stats:

Ehinger 30/53 287 yards 2 TDs 2 INTs

Ehlinger 23 carries 112 yards 4 TDs

Joshua Moore 8 receptions 83 yards 1 TD

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners: Third quarter recap

The Oklahoma Sooners outscored the Texas Longhorns 14-0 in the third quarter. Heading into the final stretch, Texas trails 31-14.

The Texas Longhorns start off their second half at the 25-yard line after a touchback. Bijan Robinson was the running back on the field to start the third quarter. After another mental error on the field with a block in the back by Brennan Eagles backs Texas up. Then a sack put Texas facing a third down and 22. The Longhorns would have to punt the ball back to Oklahoma immediately.

A huge return by Marvin Mims into Texas territory set the Sooners up with great field position. Ryan Bujcevski gets called for unsportsmanlike conduct to tack on. Oklahoma and Spencer Rattler started in the redzone. After a long catch and run to T.J. Pleger to get to the two-yard line. He punches it in on the next play as Oklahoma retakes the lead. 24-17.

It was announced by Craig Way that Roschon Johnson was suffering from a shoulder injury and would not return to the game.

After another sack of Sam Ehlinger, the Sooners defense was able to the Texas short of the line to gain. Texas needed to answer and ended up punting it back to Oklahoma with 9:48 left in the third quarter. The Sooners didn’t have issue moving the football against the Longhorns defense.

The Longhorns inability to get any pass rush push up front allowed Oklahoma to get into Texas territory.The defense looked absolutely gassed as the third quarter winded down. After a long run by Rattler, the Sooners were back in the redzone once again. Pledger once again punches the ball in. Oklahoma went 87-yards on a drive that ate up eight minutes. With 1:27 left in the quarter, Sooners led 31-17.

The Texas Longhorns offense goes three and out once again. On the third and one play, Ehlinger overthrew Bijan Robinson on a deep route to force the punt once again. The fourth quarter came to a close with Oklahoma driving once again.

Stats through three quarters

Ehlinger 15/27, 145 yards

Ehinger 10 carries, 13 yards, 2 TDs

Jordan Whittington 5 receptions, 38 yards

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners: Halftime recap and highlights

The Texas Longhorns came firing back in the second quarter to tie the game up at halftime. Sam Ehlinger rushes for two touchdowns.

The Longhorns open the third quarter deep in Oklahoma territory. After being backed up on a third and 16 from the Sooners 17-yard line, Sam Ehlinger rushed down to the marker. However, he was short on the play and a bonehead play by Derek Kerstetter moved Texas back for a Cameron Dicker field goal to cut the lead to 10-3.

Oklahoma would get the ball looking to answer but Spencer Rattler turned the ball over once again on a fumble. Oklahoma once again having issues with protecting the football. Turnovers late have cost the Sooners the last two weeks and is rearing it’s ugly head once again.

The Longhorns would answer once again. After a pass interference on Oklahoma where Ehlinger was looking to throw a touchdown to Cade Brewer, Sam would run it in. The Longhorns tied up the game 10-10 with 11:44 to go in the second quarter.

For the third consecutive drive, the Sooners turn over the football. On a long run by T.J. Pledger, Joseph Ossai punches it out. In the scrum that ensued, the Longhorns jumped on the football. The Longhorns in business once again after falling down 10-0 in the first quarter.

Following a quick three and out, the Sooners block a punt to start within the redzone. The Sooners were able to drive right down on a short field for the go-ahead touchdown run. Tanner Mordecai started his second-straight drive after Spencer Rattler went out with an injury.

The Longhorns were able to drive the field for the first time in the game. After long throw and catch to Tarik Black, the offense got into the redzone. After a pass interference on Trey Brown, Sam Ehlinger powers it in again for the touchdown. The Longhorns tied it back up at 17 with 4:14 to go.

Mordecai stayed in the game for the Sooners as they tried to answer the Longhorns again. After a circus catch from Charleston Rambo, the Sooners had back to back bad plays that put them at third and 16. Mordecai air mails a pass and the Sooners punted the ball back to the Longhorns at the Texas 45.

Facing a third and nine, Ehlinger performed some magic in the pocket to avoid multiple tackle attempts. He would find Joshua Moore who extended the drive with a great effort to avoid a tackle. Facing another third down and two, an incompletion to Marcus Washington forced a fourth down decision. Once again the undisciplined play by Texas with a false start forces a punt.

Texas and Oklahoma head to the locker rooms all tied up at 17.

First Half Stats

Ehlinger 12/23 123 yards

Ehlinger 7 carries, 23 yards, 2 TDs

Jordan Whittington 5 receptions 38 yards

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners: First quarter recap

The Texas Longhorns fell behind early on against the Oklahoma Sooners. Sam Ehlinger and the offense shut out in the opening quarter.

The Red River rivalry started out with the Oklahoma Sooners on offense. They started out going backwards with penalties and a bobbled snap. The Texas Longhorns defense forced a three and out to get the ball in the hands of their offense. On a run by Keaontay Ingram that would have resulted in a first down, he fumbled back to the Sooners. It was his first carry since the fumble against Texas Christian.

On the ensuing drive middle linebacker Juwan Mitchell went down after a run from Spencer Rattler. He would attempt to return to the field but would have sit out one player before returning. Moro Ojomo hit the quarterback late to get the Sooners into a goal to go situation. The defense would stand and force a field goal for the 3-0 deficit after the turnover.

The Longhorns took the field again with Bijan Robinson at tailback this time around. On the first play Sam Ehlinger was picked off but Trey Brown was called for defensive holding to wipe it out. The Longhorns would take a couple of deep shots but wouldn’t hit on either to punt the ball right back to Oklahoma. A terrible punt gives them the ball at the 40.

After two plays Oklahoma was inside the Texas 30-yard line, having no issues with going right down the field. Rattler finds a wide open Marvin Mims running down the field for the easy touchdown. Oklahoma up 10-0 with 6:47 to go in the first quarter.

On third down Ehlinger finds Jordan Whittington to get into Oklahoma territory. Texas having trouble early on from running the football, especially on the interior against that Oklahoma front. Unfortunately for Texas the drive died once they got inside the 40. Texas punts the ball back to Oklahoma.

The quarter comes to a close with a Spencer Rattler throws an interception to DeMarvion Overshown and a return deep in Oklahoma territory.

Stats:

Sam Ehlinger 5/9 45 yards

Keaontay Ingram 1 carry, 13 yards

Jordan Whittington 3 receptions, 23 yards