Ever since the Texas defense gave up a total of 822 yards rushing in consecutive losses to BYU and Ole Miss earlier in the season, the Longhorns have done a solid job of keeping opposing runners under control.
In the six-straight Texas wins since the loss to the Rebels, the Longhorns have allowed just 740 rushing yards and an average of 3.2 yards per carry.
But the specter of the BYU game is rearing its ugly head in the first half of Saturday’s game with Oklahoma State in Austin. Cowboys quarterback Clint Chelf is doing his best impression of Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill (who rushed for 259 yards and passed for 129 against the Longhorns) by putting up 75 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries on the ground and 132 yards passing and another score in the air as the Cowboys have jumped out to a 28-10 lead at the break.
Meanwhile, the Texas offense has resembled a plodding workhorse, totaling 189 yards on 43 plays, an average of just 4.4 yards per play. To make matters worse, Case McCoy gift OSU’s fourth touchdown by throwing an interception with 18 seconds left in the half that Justin Gilbert took to the house for 43-yards.
Texas is going to need an all-hands effort to come back in the second half, or the boo-birds might once again be on head coach Mack Brown’s case.