Regionally, Texas lost a huge opportunity when they lost to Oklahoma State before their bye week. Whatever the reason for the loss. All that truly matters is that momentum toward a Big 12 Championship game is hanging by a thread. The recruiting explosion that could have come is back to a wait and see approach from high schoolers. Although, it’s still attainable with the two biggest dominoes up next. On the road against Kansas State and home against TCU the next weekend.
Texas Lost Opportunity in Recruiting
The main three targets are on the defensive side and Texas needs to bolster its 2023 recruiting class on the defense. The most likely to flip is Colton Vasek. He’s probably the closest to Arch Manning behind wide receiver commit Johntay Cook. With the noise that he wasn’t even invited to the Kansas versus Oklahoma game the day he went to Texas versus Iowa State. If the Longhorns finish strong, he could be a good candidate.
Sitting right down the road at Austin Westlake High School is wide receiver and Notre Dame commit Jaden Greathouse. He’s being recruited heavily by Texas players who went to Austin Westlake. Texas is still going after the two defensive big dogs in the state. Texas’ biggest lost opportunity after Oklahoma State was possibly the ears of Anthony Hill and DJ Hicks. Right now Steve Sarkisian has them listening and the fortune of the school they’re committed to is seemingly in an endless free fall of bad press and bad play. Over the bye week, the new Texas standard must return and be shown that’s who Texas is now.
Other Offensive Recruits
As bad as Quinn Ewers looked against Oklahoma State, Ja’Tavion Sanders quietly had 6 catches for 76 yards. If they return to their standard, the star tight end could have a loud game against Kansas State. It’ll be great for the Texas program. Without 2023 number one quarterback Arch Manning there to help recruit the 2023 number one tight end Duce Robinson. It’s even more important that Ja’Tavion Sanders looks good and dominant within an offense that looks the same. Two other wide receivers that Texas is targeting are Temple High School receiver Mikal Harrison-Pilot and Oklahoma commit Jaquaize Pettaway. Losing Jonah Wilson to Houston this month has opened a need at receiver for this class. Getting back on track with the receiving group will be key as TCU is coming strong towards Harrison-Pilot and Oklahoma is sputtering offensively in year one under defensive head coach Brent Venables.
Capturing Lost Opportunity on the Field
Whether you believe that Texas lost to Oklahoma State because Quinn Ewers had a broken nail and couldn’t grip the ball as well as he normally would be able to, or that communication with the receivers was just off that day. Or even that Steve Sarkisian said that he didn’t stick with run plays that were working in the second half long enough. Against a fast paced team where Oklahoma State ran 98 plays and Texas ran only 81. The number one thing is balance and that could help Texas in its second half struggles. Texas needs balance by being able to execute what they want, and when they need to do it. Winning covers everything and with a late bye week, Texas can win all four of its remaining games. However, they must play to the standard they’ve set.
Standing Race
With the loss and the setup of the schedule, Texas can move into third place by winning at Kansas State. After Kansas State, assuming that Texas wins the last three games on the schedule. They would need Oklahoma State to lose two games or for TCU to lose one game. Oklahoma State has two road games against the Kansas schools, a tough Iowa State defense, then on the road for Bedlam against Oklahoma. Before finishing with West Virginia at home. TCU is at West Virginia, home against Texas Tech, goes to Texas, then Baylor, and finally finishes at home against Iowa State. A 3-1 finish could be what Texas needs to get its recruiting boom for the 2023 and 2024 classes. But its postseason goals fall on going 4-0 and getting some help from the bottom of the conference.
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