In the end, all of the Texas question marks - inexperience, offensive line issues and key penalties - cost Texas a game that it had in its hands, only to let slip away late.
Ultimately, details matter and for the second time this season against a nationally ranked team, Tom Herman's team let a big fish slip off the hook with the worm.
Oklahoma 29 Texas 24
While there are a lot of positives to take from this game, including taking the physicality to the Sooners in the second half, there are no room for moral victories. Not today. Not when a share of the Big 12 lead was on the line and a chance to bury your No. 1 rival.
That being said, there's no reason to dwell on the negatives because the team that Tom Herman has is getting better by the game and if this contest was replayed in December, the outcome might look quite different.
Yet, this game was played in October and the slightly better, more experienced, faster starting-team won the game.
(More thoughts on the game)
* This is Sam Ehlinger's team. There's no reason to ever have another discussion about it. He was thiiiiiis close to emerging from this game as an instant legend and just like against the Trojans, he gave his team a fourth-quarter lead that its defense couldn't keep.
Ehlinger did everything. He ran, pass and willed this team to the verge of victory. Considering his line was quite terrible at times and he has zero running game on which to lean, his performance was borderline incredible. He's the best player on this team right now, freshman warts be damned.
* Ehlinger getting knocked out of the game might have cost this team the win. In his absence, Shane Buechele wasn't poor, but he took a critical sack from the pocket that Ehlinger almost never takes. The Longhorns needed Ehlinger back on the field one play earlier and they might have won the game.
* Ehlinger's reverse-spin move that he uses to get out of trouble is Tony Romo-like. His pocket awareness is sublime.
* The Texas running game is shameful. It might be the worst the school has ever had, at least in the 23 years I've covered the program. Shameful. Chris Warren, Kyle Porter and Toneil Carter rushed for a combined 24 yards on 13 carries. That Ehlinger nearly led the team to a win with that mess supporting him is amazing.
* Baker Mayfield was sensational in this game. Props to the dude. He balled out.
* Texas was literally hurting OU players in the second half with its physicality. Yes, OU knocked Ehlinger out, but the Longhorns pistol-whipped the Sooners for most of the second half.
* What a comeback. The Sooners seemed to have the Longhorns on the ropes coming out of the first quarter and it's a credit to the players and coaches that they ate OU's punches like they were nothing heavy. The Longhorns will be better for playing in this game, much like the USC game prepared them for them last two games.
* The offensive line crumbled in crunch time with one penalty and blown assignment after another. Every guy on that line other than Patrick Vahe made a critical fourth quarter mistake. You can make a case that Texas wins this game with Connor Williams on the field.
* Today was a reality check for the group that played pretty well last week. I wasn't impressed with anyone, outside of Vahe.
* Did we have a Devin Duvernay sighting? What took so long?
* Collin Johnson caught two passes and was mostly a total non-factor. That just can't happen.
* The punting in this game was outstanding.
* I thought the key stat in the game came at the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter when Oklahoma had a chance to separate from Texas and came away with only three points in its final drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half. Three points and a turnover.
* Sam pushing Chris Warren into the end zone was pretty boss.
* Breckyn Hager will never be on the hands team on kickoff returns, but he played the best game of the season in extended action.
* Brandon Jones ... ugh. He will have better days in the future, but today ... ugh.
* Malik Jefferson was up and down today, but when it mattered, he was really good. He struggled at times against OU's power run game, but he made a ton of plays over the course of four quarters. Anthony Wheeler did not sharer the same fate.
* That third and 12 play that Texas allowed for a first down on a simple run play was indicative of the issues Texas had for much of the game, as both Jefferson and Wheeler couldn't get off blocks. The difference is that Jefferson made up for his mishaps in the running game.
* John Bonney needs to play more.
* Kyle Porter igniting the entire team with his kickoff return in the second quarter is the most surprising thing I have typed all season, outside of praising the offensive line last week.
* Thought this was really interesting:
Advice to Sam in the pre-game:
He'll get his chance before he leaves this program to beat the team he hates.
* One last Sam thought that says everything to me. Before the game started, he was at the front of the tunnel with the Texas flag in his hands, leading this team on to the field.
Excuse me.
Leading his team on the field.
Ultimately, details matter and for the second time this season against a nationally ranked team, Tom Herman's team let a big fish slip off the hook with the worm.
Oklahoma 29 Texas 24
While there are a lot of positives to take from this game, including taking the physicality to the Sooners in the second half, there are no room for moral victories. Not today. Not when a share of the Big 12 lead was on the line and a chance to bury your No. 1 rival.
That being said, there's no reason to dwell on the negatives because the team that Tom Herman has is getting better by the game and if this contest was replayed in December, the outcome might look quite different.
Yet, this game was played in October and the slightly better, more experienced, faster starting-team won the game.
(More thoughts on the game)
* This is Sam Ehlinger's team. There's no reason to ever have another discussion about it. He was thiiiiiis close to emerging from this game as an instant legend and just like against the Trojans, he gave his team a fourth-quarter lead that its defense couldn't keep.
Ehlinger did everything. He ran, pass and willed this team to the verge of victory. Considering his line was quite terrible at times and he has zero running game on which to lean, his performance was borderline incredible. He's the best player on this team right now, freshman warts be damned.
* Ehlinger getting knocked out of the game might have cost this team the win. In his absence, Shane Buechele wasn't poor, but he took a critical sack from the pocket that Ehlinger almost never takes. The Longhorns needed Ehlinger back on the field one play earlier and they might have won the game.
* Ehlinger's reverse-spin move that he uses to get out of trouble is Tony Romo-like. His pocket awareness is sublime.
* The Texas running game is shameful. It might be the worst the school has ever had, at least in the 23 years I've covered the program. Shameful. Chris Warren, Kyle Porter and Toneil Carter rushed for a combined 24 yards on 13 carries. That Ehlinger nearly led the team to a win with that mess supporting him is amazing.
* Baker Mayfield was sensational in this game. Props to the dude. He balled out.
* Texas was literally hurting OU players in the second half with its physicality. Yes, OU knocked Ehlinger out, but the Longhorns pistol-whipped the Sooners for most of the second half.
* What a comeback. The Sooners seemed to have the Longhorns on the ropes coming out of the first quarter and it's a credit to the players and coaches that they ate OU's punches like they were nothing heavy. The Longhorns will be better for playing in this game, much like the USC game prepared them for them last two games.
* The offensive line crumbled in crunch time with one penalty and blown assignment after another. Every guy on that line other than Patrick Vahe made a critical fourth quarter mistake. You can make a case that Texas wins this game with Connor Williams on the field.
* Today was a reality check for the group that played pretty well last week. I wasn't impressed with anyone, outside of Vahe.
* Did we have a Devin Duvernay sighting? What took so long?
* Collin Johnson caught two passes and was mostly a total non-factor. That just can't happen.
* The punting in this game was outstanding.
* I thought the key stat in the game came at the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter when Oklahoma had a chance to separate from Texas and came away with only three points in its final drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half. Three points and a turnover.
* Sam pushing Chris Warren into the end zone was pretty boss.
* Breckyn Hager will never be on the hands team on kickoff returns, but he played the best game of the season in extended action.
* Brandon Jones ... ugh. He will have better days in the future, but today ... ugh.
* Malik Jefferson was up and down today, but when it mattered, he was really good. He struggled at times against OU's power run game, but he made a ton of plays over the course of four quarters. Anthony Wheeler did not sharer the same fate.
* That third and 12 play that Texas allowed for a first down on a simple run play was indicative of the issues Texas had for much of the game, as both Jefferson and Wheeler couldn't get off blocks. The difference is that Jefferson made up for his mishaps in the running game.
* John Bonney needs to play more.
* Kyle Porter igniting the entire team with his kickoff return in the second quarter is the most surprising thing I have typed all season, outside of praising the offensive line last week.
* Thought this was really interesting:
Advice to Sam in the pre-game:
He'll get his chance before he leaves this program to beat the team he hates.
* One last Sam thought that says everything to me. Before the game started, he was at the front of the tunnel with the Texas flag in his hands, leading this team on to the field.
Excuse me.
Leading his team on the field.
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