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Another erratic offensive effort, lowlighted by the disappearance of Texas’ ground game, triggered a shakeup in Sunday’s polls that will create angst among a cross-section of Longhorns’ fans.
Texas fell to No. 3 in the latest Associated Press rankings, trading places with Alabama — this week’s new No. 2 — despite Saturday’s 38-14 victory over Colorado that served as a final tuneup for the Longhorns (5-0, 2-0 in Big 12) before this week’s Red River Rivalry.After last season’s BCS controversy, it is understandable if Texas fans cringe about any loss of poll position with Oklahoma looming on the horizon. And the 20th-ranked Sooners (3-2, 1-0), again are front and center on Texas’ radar screen heading into Saturday’s 11 a.m. showdown in the Cotton Bowl.But this is still October. And the polls, from a bottom-line perspective, remain irrelevant for another month.Instead, the Texas-related number that will have the greatest bearing on Saturday’s outcome is 180.That is the number of yards the Longhorns’ defense has given up in its past two games. Combined.Colorado finished with 127. UTEP had 53 during a 64-7 loss on Sept. 26. In those two games, Texas defended 108 plays and gave up 1.7 yards per snap.That marks the lowest two-game yardage total given up by the Longhorns’ defense in school history. It is the first time since 1952 that Texas has held consecutive opponents to less than 130 yards.No one should expect a threepeat against the Sooners. But the numbers suggest that the Texas defense, unlike the team’s inconsistent offense, is peaking as the Longhorns prepare to face an Oklahoma attack led by quarterback Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award winner."We’re playing at a high level," safety Earl Thomas said. "Our defensive line is playing great. They’re helping the whole defense with the way they’re pressuring the quarterback."In recent years, the Oklahoma defense typically has been the headliner heading into this matchup. In the Bob Stoops-Mack Brown era, OU has ruled the low-scoring games. Stoops’ troops have won by counts of 12-0 (2004) and 14-3 (2001). Brown, by contrast, has yet to beat Stoops when his team has scored fewer than 28 points.That could change this year. If Texas cannot find its missing ground game, which managed only 46 yards against Colorado after racking up 304 against UTEP, this defense has shown signs it could carry the day. In a reversal of recent roles, Oklahoma ranks behind Texas in four key statistical areas heading into Saturday’s matchup: total defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and turnovers created.That does not mean the Sooners have regressed. Far from it. They still give up a paltry 8.4 points per game, which ranks ahead of Texas (15.0). But the Longhorns are stingier in terms of total yards (233 per game) and lead the nation in run defense at 46.2 yards per game."They’re awfully good in their defensive front and their run support in the back end," Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Sunday. "That presents a major challenge."Texas also adjusts well on the fly. After Colorado moved 66 yards for a touchdown on its first possession, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp made some sideline tweaks and huddled with his players.The Buffs’ offense managed only 61 yards on its final 49 plays, with Colorado losing yards on its final four possessions."Our kids are growing up and making adjustments," Muschamp said. "I’m proud of the way they responded after that first drive."In particular, Muschamp liked the fact that Colorado failed on its last 10 third-down conversions, finishing 3-for-15."Third down was huge for us," Muschamp said. "We got off the field on third down 100 percent [of the time] in the second half. That just shows you how important that down is."It figures to come up frequently in the Cotton Bowl. For the first time in several seasons, the Longhorns may have the defense best equipped to handle it.Jimmy Burch, 817-390-7760
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