No. 5 Washington got all it could handle against 1-6 Arizona State. No. 6 Oklahoma was pushed to the limit by 3-4 Central Florida. Mack Brown's No. 10 Tar Heels lost at home to a Virginia team that hadn't beaten an FBS team all season. Lincoln Riley's former top-10 team lost to a pig farming back-up quarterback.
Momma always warned there would be days like this, but damn ...
With a little time to process the events of Saturday afternoon, two things matter more than anything else:
a. Texas won its sixth game of the season.
b. Texas lost its starting quarterback to injury.
Everything else is secondary and the latter (not the former) has a chance to define the way the rest of the season is viewed.
While we wait for some kind of word on Ewers, it seems pretty clear from talking to sources in the last 24 hours that we're talking about a multi-week injury. It's just a matter of how many weeks. Plural.
Is it just BYU? Probably not.
It is just BYU and Kansas State? Maybe.
It is more than that? Probably, if the vibe going around means anything.
What it leaves behind is a team that will have to scrap its way to the Big 12 title game from here on out with quarterback play that it can't yet trust. It'll require the best coaching work in Sarkisian's career, which feels a little ominous when you consider that he hasn't been at his best in the last few games.
This team won't be able to qualify for the Big 12 title game without Sarkisian and this staff being on their A-game.
Everything is still on the table. The playoffs? Sure, in theory. A Big 12 title? Yup, just win out. A season that concludes without playing for the Big 12 title? Suddenly, yeah, that, too.
That's where we are. Saturday's game was nothing to write home about, but it's over. What lies ahead will define Sarkisian's three-year era in Austin.
Here. We. Go.
No. 2 - Maalik vs. Arch...
Whatever Sarkisian does this week with regard to a starting quarterback, the decision needs to be made based on who the best option to win the game against BYU is and not based on what might happen in the Portal.
The game is too important. Too much is on the line.
If Maalik Murphy is the guy ahead of Arch Manning, then so be it. However, if Arch Manning is ahead of Murphy, well ... you play to win the games.
This is especially true if Murphy is banged up and limited in any way due to injury, as the Fox crew on Saturday suggested had been the case in practice last week.
Regardless of who plays, the Longhorns will be rolling with a player that is almost completely inexperienced at best. It means that the offensive line has to be on top of its game because teams are going to bring extra men. Running backs Jonathon Brooks and CJ Baxter will have to be on top of their games, especially in pass protection.
More than anything, Sarkisian has to figure out how to keep his offense aggressive and dynamic at a time when things can naturally become very basic by nature.
There's a lot to figure out this week.
No. 3 - Nitpicking Sark ...
I know it's not easy being a major college head coach. I know I could never do the job that Steve Sarkisian does as well as he does. Hell, that goes for all of us outside of @CS and @RLong68.
I'm making these acknowledgments because I have a few responses to comments that Steve Sarkisian made in the aftermath of Saturday's game. Indulge me.
"Houston did a nice job and they played an absolutely different defense than they had shown them all year long."
Steve ... not again. How many times does this have to happen to you in a game before, either ...
a. It doesn't completely undo your offense.
b. You stop admitting it out loud.
From the 12:29 mark in the second quarter when the Longhorns went up 21-0, the Texas offense couldn't score another touchdown for the next 37:12 of game time because the UH coaches moved to a defense that Texas hadn't seen them play this season and that's too much for Sarkisian to deal with?
Against one of the worst pass and rush defenses in the entire country?
I don't mean to be snarky, but is the 3-3-5 truly this much of an issue for one of the best offensive minds in the country that when a terrible defense switches to it, the offense turns into something Tim Beck would blush over?
This is the third time this season that he's confessed to this issue in seven games. Honestly, I'm out of words or actually have 10,000 more on this topic, so I'll just move on ...
"We can play a brand of football that's ultra-conservative. That's kind of not who this team is. We're an attack-oriented team and our players thrive in that and they believe in those calls. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't have called it, but hindsight is 20-20. I don't get to play Monday morning quarterback. I’ve got to make those calls in about 10 seconds."
A scattershot of thoughts ...
a. It didn't take 20-20 hindsight to know that you should have kicked the field goal and gone up 17 points in the second quarter when you otherwise hadn't scored any points at all in three offensive possessions, as opposed to running a fake field goal pass to world-class speedster Bert Auburn on 4th and 2.. I mean 4th and 4 ... wait... it was 4th and 6!!!!!
b. You literally get paid millions of dollars to make smart decisions in tens of seconds on a tens of seconds by tens of seconds basis. That's literally the job. Please don't indicate to us that this is an issue ... even a little one.
c. Being an attack oriented team and aggressive on offense doesn't mean that the team has to do stupid things in the name of forever being attack/aggressive oriented. You already said if you could do it all over again, you wouldn't, so don't try to excuse the initial decision with an identity that you don't completely live up to consistently, anyways.
“First of all, we got to figure out which guys we're going to have back there."
It's week seven of the season. When discussing what the issues are with the defensive backfield, yeah, you and your staff absolutely need to figure out which guys you have available and need to have on the field.
“Some of it’s man, some of it’s zone. If it’s zone, you’ve got to pass those things off. If it’s man, you got to stay sticky in coverage.”
Soooooooo ... everything? Got it.
(Note: Ok, I got it all out of my system, I think.)
No. 4 - More Texas/Houston randomness ...
... Do we count that as a breakout game for CJ Baxter? It was only 42 yards rushing on 6 carries, but he had the game-winning touchdown in crunch time and looked as lively with the ball as he has at any point this season. You have to think that made Sarkisian warm and fuzzy.
... For those keeping score, Jonathon Brooks ranks seventh in the nation in rushing.
... Technically, Ryan Sanborn (108.4) finished with a higher game efficiency rating than Maalik Murphy (79.4) on Saturday.
... Bert Auburn having the same number of receptions in a game as Adonai Mitchell is something I didn't think was possible. Auburn having more receptions and targets than Johntay Cook, one week after Sarkisian said he needed to play Cook more than he did against Oklahoma, also qualifies as something I didn't think was possible.
... @Anwar Richardson was right. Ryan Sanborn's 52.3-yard average on three punts probably warranted a game ball on a day when it was hard to find candidates to give game balls to.
... Jake Majors didn't look like a guy that was coming back six weeks early from a serious injury.
... I'm curious to see what @Alex Dunlap says about it after a review of the game, but I thought Christian Jones might have had as poor of a game as we've seen in a while. There were a couple of times when he just got out-mauled by Houston linemen.
... Michael Taaffe led the team in tackles with eight, while recording the only interception and one of only four pass break-ups by the entire team. I don't know if he was the best safety on the field, but none of his peers outproduced him.
... I thought Anthony Hill had a very sneaky good game. Meanwhile, it feels like it's been a while since we've singled out David Gbenda for excellent play.
... This team needs Ryan Watts to get back asap.
... It felt like Justice Finkley kind of replaced Barryn Sorrell at end on Saturday for a lot of the game. I'm not really sure what to think of the season Sorrell is having, but it's not the big bounce season off of a solid season a year ago that was expected.
... Through seven games, here is how the Jaylan Ford vs. Danny Stutsman battle for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year battle is going ...
Stutsman: 70 tackles (38 solo), 2 sacks, 11.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF and 1 FR
Ford: 46 tackles (20 solo), 1 sack, 7.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FF, 0 FR
Ford has been good this season, but he's not playing at an all-America level thus far in 2023.
No. 5 - Five Thoughts on the Final Five Opponents ...
BYU - Whatever BYU is or isn't, it is better than a Texas Tech squad down to its No. 3 quarterback. The good news for the Longhorns is that Kedon Slovis (127.1 efficiency rating) is still the team's quarterback.
Kansas State - The Wildcats look more and more dangerous as the weeks go by. The rotation of Will Howard and Avery Johnson at quarterback seems to be getting better and they absolutely destroyed TCU this weekend in a 41-3 win that wasn't as close as the score indicates. This team is going to be a handful in two weeks.
TCU - We know that whatever TCU has in it as a team, we'll see it in three weeks in Ft. Worth, but the Horned Frogs embarrassed themselves this weekend. E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-E-D.
Iowa State - Didn't do a damn thing all weekend and yet UT's play in Houston this weekend has the Cyclones looking even more dangerous.
Texas Tech - Lulz.
Bonus thought: Oklahoma State's schedule is so easy that if they beat Oklahoma in two weeks, the Cowboys could legit finish 10-2 and with an 8-1 record in Big 12 play. Meanwhile, Kansas State's schedule looks very, very doable as well. If it beats the Longhorns in a couple of weeks, the Wildcats could finish at 8-1 in conference play. The path to the Big 12 title game re-match is no cakewalk.
No. 6 - If I had a vote that mattered ...
1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Washington
4. Ohio State
5. Florida State
6. Oklahoma
7. Oregon
8. Texas
9. Alabama
10. Penn State
(Heisman Trophy)
1. Michael Penix - QB - Washington
2. Marvin Harrison Jr. - WR - Ohio State
3. Malik Nabers - WR - LSU
No. 7 – BUY or SELL …
(Buy) The schedule is still soft enough to leave the door very wide open, but this team will have to start playing better from week to week.
(Sell) I don't think it'll be tied with just a few minutes to go.
(Sell) This offense MUST remain balanced and able to keep teams honest through the passing game. The starting quarterback can't be incapable of going off in the best ways possible at all times.
(Sell) I hate that line of thinking. How about giving the best effort and focus that the other teams see each week?
(Buy) The offense and defense were out of ideas very early in that game.
(Sell) And I don't think it's close.
(Sell) Texas was a 24-point favorite and was in a 50-50 game late in the fourth quarter after not scoring a touchdown for more than 37 minutes. Is the goal setting high standards or not?
(Sell) He goes to overtime IMO because he had a serious edge at quarterback and Texas couldn't stop them.
(Sell) Missing Watts certainly mattered, but Catalon has mostly been just ok. It was bad play and as an extension, bad coaching.
(Sell) I suppose we need to define what "short leash" means, but Sarkisian has been focused on not losing Murphy via transfer all year.
(Sell) He could get hot, play better than Ewers has been playing and give his coach something to think about if this team is rolling.
(Buy) Certainly yes.
(Triple Buy) Absolutely yes, probably yes and strongly yes.
(Buy) I would put the ball in Manning's hands and let the future become the present.
No. 8 - 3 Quick Texas Volleyball Notes ...
a. It wasn't pretty and it took five sets to finish the deal, but the Longhorns did beat a very game TCU team this week in Ft. Worth. It was one of the gutsiest performances of the season for the Longhorns.
b. Central Florida might have been exposed this week because the Bears beat UCF twice this week in seven sets, which opened up a two-lead for the Longhorns in the Big 12 standings over BYU and UCF. Baylor is the only other team within three games of the Longhorns.
c. The biggest remaining series of the regular season might be on Thursday and Friday at home against the Bears. Thursday's game can be seen on FS1, while Friday's match will be available on LHN.
No. 9 – Scattershooting on anything and everything …
... I'm not really sure how good Ohio State is, but Marvin Harrison Jr. might be the best player in the country. I'm definitely open to the notion. He was the difference between the Buckeyes and Penn State on Saturday.
... Is Florida State going to pull off a 12-0 season? I thought Duke might get them this weekend, but not it's starting to feel like only Florida in Gainesville after Thanksgiving is going to possibly stop them.
... I like this kid.
... I'll be damned, Michael Penix Jr. is mortal.
... Mack Brown losing at home to a 1-5 Virginia squad when he has a first-round draft pick at quarterback is soooooo .... I don't even know. All you can do is shake your head.
... Alabama looked as good in the second half against Tennessee as it has all season.
... Michigan still hasn't played anyone, but they are bashing in the brains of the teams they play for the most part. Ask Michigan State. Actually, don't ask Michigan State. That school has other matters to sort out (see below).
... Michigan State entertaining its pre-game crowd with ... uh ... Hitler trivia ... was certainly a choice.
... Lincoln Riley's coaching is as dried out as his brisket at this point. USC folks think they've been sold a bill of goods. Maybe they have.
... A couple of weeks ago, D'Onta Foreman wasn't even an active player on Chicago's roster. On Sunday, he scored three touchdowns, rushed for 89 yards and had 130 yards of all-purpose offense in a 30-12 Bears win. Life comes at you fast, I suppose.
... Myles Garrett was all-time good on Sunday for the Browns. He was just all over the place in all the best kind of ways.
... Pouring out a little liquor for all of you out there that started Bijan Robinson in fantasy this weekend, only to see him suit up and not get a touch until there were 24 seconds left in the game against Tampa Bay.
... I don't care what anyone says about trash cans, Jose Altuve is some kind of all-time great player.
... Bryce Harper might be my No. 2 favorite baseball player of all-time. It's between him, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
.., Come on Phils, let's close this out on Monday night. Let's not screw around with a game seven.
... Get ready, folks. The NBA season is coming...
... Rest in peace, Bobby Charlton.
... I've got my eye on the Houston Dynamo going into the MLS season. That's a dangerous team.
... Shut up, Sean Dyche.
No. 10 - The List: Martin Scorsese Movies ...
Killers of the Flower Moon is out and although I didn't get a chance to get into a theater this weekend, it felt like a good time to a Top 10 list on the 80-year old filmmaker.
Will KOYFM make the top 10 list? It seems like a sure thing to be Oscars bait in 2024, but it'll take some doing to crack the Top 10 list.
We'll see, but for now ... let's get on with it.
Five that just missed out: The Age of Innocence, After Hours, Cape Fear, Shutter Island and The Irishman.
10. The Aviator
I'm going to guess that I'm the only one that will slot this into the top 10, but I totally dig this movie about Howard Hughes. Leo is fantastic and Cate Blanchett is must-see as Katherine Hepburn. It's a haunting profile of an American original.
9. The King of Comedy
Do I have this one underrated? It's been years since I've seen it. Maybe a rewatch is needed this week.
8. Casino
Sharon Stone might give the best female performance that you'll find in any Scorsese movie. It's not Goodfellas, but it's closer than many will admit.
7. Raging Bull
I suppose it has to make the list, but I think I'd rather just watch The Color of Money and it didn't even crack the Top 15.
6. Mean Streets
This is another one that I haven't seen in years and need to mix in a rewatch with.
5. Gangs of New York
I don't care what any of you say, I love this movie. It's DDL at his absolute best and the film is freaking entertaining, while showcasing a period of American history that is largely forgotten.
4. The Departed
It's a Hall of fame movie with a Hall of Fame cast.
3. The Wolf of Wall Street
Is this the movie with the single most re-watchable scenes? Maaaaaybe.
2. Taxi Driver
You talking to me?
1. Goodfellas
It's in the conversation for best movie of all-time. I wouldn't quite call it that, but it's in the conversation.
