Longhorns search for positives in lost season
AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns’ trip to Manhattan, Kan., wasn’t supposed to be this inconsequential.
Back in August, when the Big 12 released revised schedules, Texas (5-3, 4-3 Big 12) learned it would conclude the regular season against Kansas State (4-5, 4-4). That finale was going to be a leadin to the Big 12 championship in Arlington, a game the Longhorns felt certain they’d be a part of given the program’s returning talent, the overhauled coaching staff and the lack of a classic Oklahoma juggernaut standing in the way.
Now, after Iowa State eliminated the Longhorns from the title chase, the team’s goals have grown hazy.
Embattled coach Tom Herman is desperate to salvage something from these final two games — the Nov. 21 game at Kansas was postponed to Dec. 12 because of a combination of injuries and COVID-19 contact tracing — though a pair of wins over the Wildcats and Jayhawks won’t extinguish the fire. Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger can keep making moves in the program’s record book while trying to convince NFL scouts he can perform at the next level. And it’s an ideal time for the untested underclassmen to get some extended playing time in preparation for next year, though a coaching staff likely on its way out might not be looking to the future of Texas football.
“Extremely disappointed and heartbroken, especially for our seniors in the outcome of last week’s game,” Herman said Monday. “But you know, the sun came up. And our guys are very resilient group. And they understand we’ve got a job to do here, which is to prepare to make the most of an opportunity to go 1-0 in Manhattan, Kansas.
“We’re still fighting for some really good bowl games. We’re fighting for a really, really good record. And we’re fighting to give the seniors an opportunity to go
out with four straight winning seasons, and hopefully four straight bowl game wins as well.”
Sure, Texas can clinch its third straight eight-win season for the first time since 2011-13. It can win its fourth bowl game in four years, something not done since Mack Brown’s Longhorns reeled off five straight from 2004-08. It can finished three games above .500 in conference play for just the third
time in 11 seasons.
But Texas won’t be playing in the game that matters most to this title-starved program, the one held at AT&T Stadium to determine who hoists the Big 12 championship trophy. Which has taken the air right out of a frustrating season that still has a few weeks remaining.
That deflating outlook has already lead to a mini exodus within
the program. Texas won’t have starting left tackle Sam Cosmi (NFL draft preparation), starting free safety Caden Sterns (NFL draft preparation) or junior tailback Keaontay Ingram (recovery from ankle injury) for the remainder of the year after all three opted out.
That’s going to make winning in Manhattan even more difficult. Especially if senior center Derek Kerstetter (ankle) is unable to play.
The Longhorns two seasons ago snapped a five-game losing streak at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, winning an ugly melee in which the teams combined for 33 points and 556 total yards. But no matter what state Texas happens to find the Wildcats in when they travel to Manhattan, the game always feels like an uphill slog for the visitor.
That could be the case this season, too, even with the Wildcats riding a four-game losing streak after opening the Big 12 season with consecutive wins over No. 3 Oklahoma, Texas Tech, TCU and West Virginia.
Putrid as Kansas State’s offense has been — No. 9 in both scoring offense total offense — the defense is expected to add linebackers Justin Hughes and Elijah Sullivan back into the mix after both missed a pair of games after contracting COVID-19. The last time those two played, K-State limited Oklahoma State to 256 total yards in a 20-18 loss.
“Our guys will be motivated; they’re competitors,” Herman said. “This is what they do. They’re resilient, they’re young, and all they want to do is win and prepare to win. And I don’t think this week will be any different.”
There is still importance in these last two games, even if the primary goal went up in flames.
The athletes are playing for pride and for a better future. The coaches are trying to avoid the embarrassment of dropping a pair of games to beatable teams in the state of Kansas.
Herman likely understands winning out won’t alter the conversation, but it’s better than the alternative.
“I’m extremely focused on beating Kansas State, not worried about winning my way out of anything, not worried about the die being cast or anything like that,” Herman said. “We are full steam ahead in preparation mode to try to win a conference game.”