It’s easy to say that the reason Texans lost to No. 12 Washington on Thursday night in the Alamo Bowl was because Bijan Robinson and Rasheon Johnson sat out to save themselves for the NFL draft. Yes, this is probably the biggest culprit.
Without Robinson, their Doak Walker Award winner, and Johnson, the team captain and versatile running back, the Longhorns’ bread-and-butter running game has become stale in San Antonio. Quinn Evers had a strong first season as Texas’ starter, and the defense did enough to take Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. out of his game, but the defense’s letdown and lack of running backs were too much to overcome. .
Our takeaways from Texas’ 27-20 loss:
What does this loss mean?
Texas finishes the season at 8-5, which isn’t good at 9-4. That means the No. 20 Longhorns will finish the season outside the Top 25. The running back and quarterback, who have been Texas’ two best players all season, are question marks. Whether it’s modern players like Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington going elsewhere, or whether the Longhorns bring in ready-to-play starters at running back, running back, and defensive end, we’re going to see heavy portal action. That means Steve Sarkisian’s first year could be 5-7 and his second year a bowl loss. That means the Big 12 is now 1-5 with two games remaining.
Who will be the leader of Texas in 2023?
There’s a very good chance he’s not even on campus yet. Five-star running back Cedric Baxter Jr., the No. 1 high school prospect in the country in 2020, like Bijan Robinson, decommitted from Florida State last week, and who knows how Steve Sarkisian is doing. transfer portal.
Keelan Robinson started with questions about his durability and finished with 8 carries for 27 yards. Jonathon Brooks, who was expected to be Texas’ leading rusher, had 18 yards on six carries. He averaged 3.0 yards per rush despite being flashy with 34 yards.
Robinson’s absence was felt throughout the night. Rather than run behind the line of scrimmage like Bijan did in the first half, Sarkisian threw slant passes on fourth-and-1. Then on 3rd and 1, Keilan Robinson was stuffed for no gain. The longhorns struck.
Three big games lost tonight
Fourth down tricks. What a game call. With 10:30 left in the third quarter, Washington had a fourth-and-1 from its 34. It didn’t make any sense, with a 13-10 lead, Michael Penix Jr. lining up under center for the first time all night, then the Huskies moving all kinds of players, then Penix running down the clock, an obvious ploy to jump the Longhorns offside. looked like. But just when you think that’s the call, the Huskies cut them off and Penix gets a first down. They hit a touchdown to go up 20-10.
Wayne Taulapapa’s 42-yard run. Not only did it put Washington up 10-3, but it was the Huskies’ first big offensive moment of the night. And it turned out to be one of the only people.
The Downfall of Xavier Worthy. And the fall of Xavier Worthy. With Texas only down 20-10, the Longhorns really needed an answer in the third quarter. But on back-to-back plays, Quinn Ivers found an open Worthy for a 35- to 40-yard throw, both of which were caught by Worthy. Ewers’ positioning on both passes was spot on. And Worthy’s second down should have gone for a 66-yard score.
Texcetera
Quinn Ewers was 31-of-47 for 369 yards and one touchdown. Casey Kane (4-106) and Gunnar Helm (1-19) bowled well. Ja’Tavion Sanders had five catches for 36 yards.
