Rapid Reaction: Oklahoma State outguns Texas in a beautifully ugly shootout

With 80 combined points, 1,125 combined yards and four blocked extra points, how else would this game be described other than beautifully ugly?

Like that strangely attractive person in high school, Texas vs. Oklahoma State was a game you could not take your eyes off, and you had no idea why. Sure, there is a certain baseline excitement with the ease that the offenses were moving the ball, but there was something a little off the way it was happening.

Oklahoma State’s 49-31 win was great to watch, but defense appeared to be a Voldemort-like word that should never be said, and the usually ignored special teams became a big factor in this game. What resulted was a potent mixture of big plays, unpredictability and one of the more entertaining games of the week.

Oklahoma State: Big play U

Let’s start with the good.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys took advantage of a struggling Texas Longhorn defense with big plays that resulted in scores. In the Cowboys first two possessions, Justice Hill had a tough 30-yard touchdown run and James Washington turned a short pass into a 54-yard score.

By the game’s end, Oklahoma State would have four touchdowns on plays of 30 yards or more.

These scores were not a result of amazing plays by Oklahoma State, who came into the game 36^th in the country in scoring. A lot of it had to do with blown coverages and missed tackles by the Longhorns.

Texas is still bad at defense

Before Saturday, Texas ranked 107^th in the country in scoring defense, allowing 34.7 points per game. That average will be increasing after allowing 49 points to Oklahoma State.

The Longhorns’ struggles against the pass continued as well. They came into the game 70^th in the nation in passing yards allowed, and Oklahoma State took full advantage.

The Cowboys did most of their damage through the air, with Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph amassing 392 passing yards and dishing out three touchdowns.

Interestingly enough, defensive coordinator Vance Bedford was sent out to address the media after the loss instead of head coach Charlie Strong.

Texas needs to outscore their opponent. Every. Single. Game.

Texas’ defense has been on fritz the entire year, which is a shame because they’re in the middle of a revival on the offensive end after a dreadful campaign last year.

The Longhorns were up to the task in attempting to match the Cowboys scoring, rushing for 329 yards and amassing four touchdowns for the game. D’Onta Foreman had no trouble finding holes in the Cowboys defense, averaging 8.7 yards per carry and punching the ball in twice.

Quarterback Shane Buechele rode the running game against the Cowboys, but was still able to throw for a touchdown and complete 64 percent of his pass attempts. He helped guide Texas to 568 total yards, their highest yard total of the season.

Things are trending up for the Longhorns offense at least.

“Special” teams

Getting the ball into the end zone is one thing, but finishing off the drive with seven points instead of six was another for Texas.

Of the five touchdowns that the Longhorns scored, three of the extra points were blocked by Oklahoma State. One of those blocks was taken back for a defensive extra point, resulting in two points for the Cowboys.

Texas did allow a defensive PAT against Notre Dame, but have been solid for the season otherwise, completing 15-of-16 extra points and five-of-seven field goal attempts. However, confidence may be an issue going forward after a nightmarish performance like this from the special teams. Fans will be anxious to see how they respond next week against hated Oklahoma.

Charlie Strong on the hot seat?

Anwar Richardson’s tweet may be unsettling for a lot of Longhorn fans that have been looking for a little stability. Athletic director Mike Perrin isn’t doing much to help Strong out in that regard.

Yes, Strong’s first two years with the team have been subpar, but he has the team moving in the right direction with their win against Notre Dame at the beginning of the year. In Austin, however, there are certain expectations that come with that head coaching job.

With the team sitting at 2-2 this season, and his record at Texas being sub .500, Strong may need to speed up his progression in order to keep his job.

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