1950 - fumbled punt snap while holding the lead in the 4th quarter vs OU. Billy Vessels body slams his way into the end zone, and OU goes on to win their first NC. We didn’t lose another game all season. Coach Blair Cherry already decided after the RRS that the pressure was too much and he would resign at season’s end.
1961 - the hit that knocked out Saxton in the first quarter vs TCU, in what looked to many like a dirty hit. We lost 6-0. Doubtful we get shut out with our best offensive player on the field. We were #1 and seemed a shoo-in to finish off our first NC with wins over TCU and A&M.
1964 - failed 2-point conversion for the win vs Arkansas. The pass bounced in front of the receiver, and the Hogs went on to an undefeated national championship season. Not only did we win the rest of our games, we went on to beat AP national champion Alabama in the Orange Bowl.
1983 - muffed punt return vs Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. Only caveat is we’ll never know for certain if Miami would have still beaten Nebraska that night without the national championship at stake, as a win by us would have knocked the Canes out of the running.
2001 - roughing the punter call effectively ending the game vs Colorado in the Big 12 CCG. Major thrived in game winning drive situations, but this time he wouldn’t get the chance. Obviously beating Miami would have been a huge chore, but Texas had elite talent in every phase.
2008 - dropped INT vs Tech. Would have ended the game. Our last major hurdle on the way to an undefeated season and #1 ranking. Texas vs Florida would have been a great NCG matchup.
2009 - the hit on Colt. Nuff said.
2024 - the pitch wide that turned 2nd and goal from the 1 into 3rd and goal from the 8. This will be maybe the most second guessed call in Texas history. Yes, we had two more chances at it, but everyone in that stadium knew the game turned on that 7-yard loss.
To be fair, all four of our nattys also turned on single plays, so luck turns both ways:
1963 - Carlisle’s INT vs Baylor and the A&M fumble after what seemed like a game clinching INT
1969 - Street-to-Peschel vs Arkansas and Street-to-Speyrer vs ND, both 4th down must haves
1970 - Phillips-to-Speyrer miracle game winner in the final seconds vs UCLA
2005 - 4th-and-2 stop followed by 4th-and-5
1961 - the hit that knocked out Saxton in the first quarter vs TCU, in what looked to many like a dirty hit. We lost 6-0. Doubtful we get shut out with our best offensive player on the field. We were #1 and seemed a shoo-in to finish off our first NC with wins over TCU and A&M.
1964 - failed 2-point conversion for the win vs Arkansas. The pass bounced in front of the receiver, and the Hogs went on to an undefeated national championship season. Not only did we win the rest of our games, we went on to beat AP national champion Alabama in the Orange Bowl.
1983 - muffed punt return vs Georgia in the Cotton Bowl. Only caveat is we’ll never know for certain if Miami would have still beaten Nebraska that night without the national championship at stake, as a win by us would have knocked the Canes out of the running.
2001 - roughing the punter call effectively ending the game vs Colorado in the Big 12 CCG. Major thrived in game winning drive situations, but this time he wouldn’t get the chance. Obviously beating Miami would have been a huge chore, but Texas had elite talent in every phase.
2008 - dropped INT vs Tech. Would have ended the game. Our last major hurdle on the way to an undefeated season and #1 ranking. Texas vs Florida would have been a great NCG matchup.
2009 - the hit on Colt. Nuff said.
2024 - the pitch wide that turned 2nd and goal from the 1 into 3rd and goal from the 8. This will be maybe the most second guessed call in Texas history. Yes, we had two more chances at it, but everyone in that stadium knew the game turned on that 7-yard loss.
To be fair, all four of our nattys also turned on single plays, so luck turns both ways:
1963 - Carlisle’s INT vs Baylor and the A&M fumble after what seemed like a game clinching INT
1969 - Street-to-Peschel vs Arkansas and Street-to-Speyrer vs ND, both 4th down must haves
1970 - Phillips-to-Speyrer miracle game winner in the final seconds vs UCLA
2005 - 4th-and-2 stop followed by 4th-and-5
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