Can the Texas Longhorns Save Their Sorry Season Against Oklahoma?

AUSTIN, TX — This wasn’t supposed to be the football season from hell for the Texas Longhorns, which has made this year all the more painful.

The Longhorns began the season ranked No. 1 in the country, with aspirations of being national champions. Five games later, they’re not even in the Top 25 after last week’s 29-21 loss to Florida.

And just to rub it in a little more, longtime rivals like Texas A&M and Texas Tech are both undefeated and in the Top 10. 

No player has taken more heat for the Longhorns’ poor start than quarterback Arch Manning, who was a preseason Heisman favorite but simply hasn’t lived up to all the hype.

After falling flat in a 14-7 loss at Ohio State, Texas was less than impressive in wins against overmatched teams like San Jose State (38-7) and UTEP (27-10).

The Longhorns ran over Sam Houston State 55-0, but they needed a statement win against Florida to prove they actually were a real contender.

Instead, they trailed the entire game in a stunning loss.

And yes, despite how underwhelming they’ve been, the Longhorns could turn everything around with a win against their biggest rival, No. 6-ranked Oklahoma, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Or it could just be the next gut punch for Texas fans.

The Sooners are off to a 5-0 start with wins over big-name programs like Michigan (24-13) and Auburn (24-17). 

Oklahoma QB John Mateer, who has emerged as a Heisman favorite, is expected to return from a hand injury that forced him to miss the last game.

Texas crushed Oklahoma 34-3 last year on the way to the national semifinals, and it’s not impossible for a win Saturday to spark a season-saving turnaround.

Both of these teams have elite defenses, so that gives Texas a chance. But the Longhorns’ offense absolutely has to show up, and it needs to be led by Manning.

Maybe this team has been written off too soon. Maybe the Longhorns will still deliver on all of that preseason promise. Maybe they save their season Saturday.

Just don’t get your hopes up Texas fans.