After a disastrous 1-2 start, the Texas Longhorns escaped with a “win†at Iowa State, and then ripped off a monster win against OU under the improbable play of turnover prone senior QB Case McCoy. Signs of trouble had been looming however, as McCoy had began throwing interceptions at an unsettling pace. Some called it “Moxieâ€, some called it “Luckâ€.
Whatever it was, on the day fans were encouraged to #TurnUpDKR, McCoy flipped the script to #TurnOverDKR, throwing three interceptions in a 38-13 loss to Oklahoma State. One was returned for a backbreaking touchdown by Cowboys CB Justin Gilbert in yet another embarrassing blowout under Mack Brown.
Justin Gilbert brought the opening kick off out to mid field, and after trading fruitless drives, the Cowboys went to work. Using the same quarterback running formula which has killed Texas time and again, Clint Chelf gashed Texas for runs of 14, 22, and 18 yards on touchdown drive to put OSU up 7-0.
After a Texas field goal, the Cowboys were threatening to score again when Mykelle Thompson intercepted Chelf in the endzone. The teams traded three more drives and punts before the Cowboys drove 42 yards in five plays, capped off by Chelf’s second touchdown run to go up 14-3. Texas would close to 14-10 on a manly ground and pound drive. Looking like they could get back into it, the Longhorns let the wheels fall off.
Oklahoma State drove 67 yards to go up 21-10 on an 18 yard touchdown pass from Chelf to Tracy Moore, who shook off pass interference to score. Trying to get something going right before the half, McCoy threw a strike to the fore mentioned Justin Gilbert, who returned it 43 yards for a touchdown to put Oklahoma State ahead 28-10.
Coming out of the half, the Longhorns and Cowboys traded field goals, then punts, one drive of Oklahoma State’s extended by a group of Longhorns roughing the Oklahoma State punter. On the following drive McCoy threw another interception which was returned to the Longhorns 21. On the fist play after the turnover, Chelf hit Charlie Moore on a 21 yard touchdown to push the final advantage to 38-13.
McCoy threw his final interception on the following drive, and the teams traded punts until the end of the contest. We did see backup QB Tyrone Swoopes extremely late for a few plays, but the burning of his red shirt continues to baffle many.
The Longhorns were badly out coached and outplayed in all phases of the game today. Oklahoma State ended up with 183 yards rushing, but the big story of this game will be the turnovers by McCoy when it mattered most.
From here, the 7-3 Longhorns will be out of the Top 25 next week and facing a Turkey day showdown with a Texas Tech squad who has fallen on hard times after a 7-0 start. Though still alive for a Big 12 Championship, the Longhorns will not win again without some serious adjustments in play.
