What felt like a coronation of sorts at halftime turned into a less than awesome final 30 minutes.
Although 10-1 is pretty awesome.
Still, it'll be hard not to emerge from Saturday's win over Kentucky with more answers than questions... because there will be a LOT of questions coming out of this one?
How bad is this ankle injury to Quinn Ewers, which limited the offense throughout the second half?
Why didn't Steve Sarkisian replace Ewers with Arch Manning when it became clear that Ewers was really struggling?
Would Sarkisian simply not turn to Manning next week, no matter what? No matter if Ewers is hurting the offense by being on the field? No matter if he starts hobbling around Kyle Field like a man in need of a walking boot?
It was hard not to wonder what today would mean for next week.
That being said, a win is a win is a win.
Against a Wildcats team that wouldn't freely concede an inch, the Longhorns got it done with a 17-point win that probably could have been more... or less. It was that kind of game.
The bottom line is that Texas held serve on Saturday in its quest to get to the SEC Championship game in year one of being in the conference. The defense did its thing. The offense will feel very good about the running game and the way it closed out the game with the final game-clinching touchdown drive.
As has been the case for so much of the season, the talk with center around Ewers and his health.
(Other thoughts on the game...)
* 15 plays, 86 yards, 8:22 possession. Sark will LOVE LOVE LOVE that closeout drive.
* Shout to Tre Wisner for not fumbling. The 158 yards on 26 carries was nice, but the not fumbling part was really nice.
* I was really hoping Ewers would be spectacular today. That's not quite what happened.
* Quinn Ewers by quarter...
1st: 9 of 14 for 84 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT (138.3 rating - 7 points)
2nd: 8 of 12 for 93 yards, 1 YD, 0 INT (159.27 rating - 17 points)
3rd: 3 of 4 for 14 yards, O TD, 0 INT (104.40 rating - 0 points)
4th: 0 of 1 for 0 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT (0.00 rating - 7 points)
* Texas needs to find upgrades at punting and place-kicking next season. Or this season if it could happen.
* Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley looks like a guy with some real upside. Why hasn't he been playing more and earlier?
* Anthony Hill came a long way to record that third down sack in the third quarter. He starts that play coming up the middle in what looked like a run blitz and then chased Boley down after running about 20 yards to get there. Big bounce back game.
* Colin Simmons had another very good game today. Two in a row. Very good development.
* Can we get another season of Trey Moore that looks
* Jaydon Blue has to stop putting the ball on the ground. It doesn't matter if he's the best talent at the position if he can't stop turning the ball over.
* I guess Tashard Choice just isn't going to get this holding on to the football issue under control this season.
* Hell of a player by Jermayne Lole on 4th and one to make the tackle for loss in the third quarter in the red zone. Happy Senior Day!
* That throw that Ewers made down the seam late in the second quarter to Gunnar Helm for the touchdown is one of the best throws he has made all season. More of that, please.
* Oh, and it as a really high-level catch by Helm.
* Holy hell, Jelani McDonald! That's the play a super blue chip can make when it starts to come together. That was one of the best interceptions I have ever seen from a Texas player.
* Idid not have Jahdar Barron getting beat deep for 43 yards by Barion Brown on my Texas/Kentucky bingo card.
* I understand the officials not overturning the Jaydon Blue fumble into the end zone, but I thought the ball came out before he got into the end zone. He's a lucky young man.
* I didn't love the fourth and one play-call in the first quarter that ended with Ewers not having anyone to really throw the ball to. The running backs were averaging more than 7 yards per carry at that point in the game. Just move the chains.
* It didn't take long for Anthony Hill to reassert himself after a quiet week at Arkansas, as his sack on the second play of the game basically ended a potentially promising possession.
* Outstanding opening series for Quinn Ewers. 6 of 7 for 58 yards and a touchdown. That'll do.
* Speaking of that'll do, Matthew Golden catching 3 passes for 53 yards on that opening touchdown drive qualifies.
* I'm really glad that Ewers was able to have this moment. It's much deserved.
