Texas may have won only five games this season, will not play in a bowl game, fielded its worst defense statistically in school history and has lots of question marks heading into the offseason, but the Longhorns can at least say they upset Big 12 powers Oklahoma and Baylor on the road.
Advertisement
The Texas Longhorns are showing signs that they might just be able to sew a silver lining onto what has been a coal-black season. This left them with third-string quarterback Chris Johnson and, what do you know, he too was hit by the injury bug against Texas. Texas gave up only 84 passing yards and came away with two interceptions.
Baylor offensive tackle Spencer Drango, standing left, leads his teammates in a prayer on the field after losing an NCAA college football game to Texas, 23-17, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Waco, Texas.
Two of the four came on first-half interceptions thrown by Baylor receiver Lynx Hawthorne, who inherited the quarterback duties after Johnson left the contest.
Meanwhile, the offense went into hyper-conservative mode with a hobbled Tyrone Swoopes after abandoning an ineffective Jerrod Heard in the first half. And hey, if there’s a chance you’re going to get punched, why NOT take off the thick encasing that protects your head.
The Bears trailed 20-0 at halftime, making it five consecutive quarters in regulation without a score. Although the Bears started off rocky against the rush, they gradually improved.
Baylor ventured into Texas territory eight times.
Texas has looked outstanding in flashes this season. Those first downs helped control the clock and flow of the game in Texas’ favor. Stidham broke his ankle in the first half of the game against Oklahoma State and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
“Flashes” aren’t good enough. That made it 7-0, marking the third game in a row Texas scored the first points (the other two were losses).
Things got a little dicey in Waco after a kind of rough, and late, tackle on the Texas sideline.
Just like Briles drew it up, the defense got a quick three-and-out on the opening series of the third quarter. The Longhorns also got several big plays from quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, who threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to tight end Caleb Bluiett, scored on a 9-yard TD run and kept the offense turnover-free for the first time since a 23-9 victory over Kansas State on October 24.
Advertisement
Want to hope for better things next year? It’ll be interesting to see if Briles sticks to what’s worked or uses up a scholarship moving forward to adjust for the unlikely, but clearly possible. Andrew Billings, Jamal Palmer, and Shawn Oakman set the tone in what might be the last game all three play at Baylor, and they were simply marvelous.
