After stumbling against Oklahoma in last weekend’s Red River Rivalry, the Longhorns looked to avoid their first back-to-back losses since the 2021 season. Texas got off to a hot start Saturday, but Florida weathered the early storm and rallied for a 27-24 road win in Austin.
The Good
Fast starts have been hard to come by for the Longhorns this season. Against Florida, however, they came out firing. Raleek Brown opened the scoring with a 32-yard touchdown run, followed by a Gianni Spetic field goal and a Ryan Niblett punt-return touchdown. Those plays gave Texas a 17-3 lead early in the second quarter.
The Bad
Then the momentum shifted.
Texas went for it on fourth down near midfield before halftime but failed to convert. Florida took over and executed its two-minute offense, capping the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Tramell Jones Jr to Lacota Dippre with just 18 seconds left in the half.
Texas could have entered the locker room with a 14-point lead or more. Instead, the failed conversion and late touchdown left the Longhorns clinging to a one-score lead at halftime.
Unfortunately for Steve Sarkisian’s squad, things only got worse.
The Ugly
Florida dominated the second half and controlled the clock, holding the ball for 21:51 compared with Texas’ 8:02. But the Gators did more than run down the clock. They turned their extended possessions into points, adding 17 in the second half to secure the 27-24 victory.
Texas’ offensive struggles proved too costly to overcome. The Longhorns have struggled to sustain drives all season, and those problems resurfaced Saturday. They managed just eight yards of offense in the third quarter, leaving the defense to shoulder the burden.
As the game wore on, Florida wore down the Texas defense. The Gators ran 46 plays in the second half, keeping the Longhorns on the field and limiting their chances to mount a comeback.
Texas briefly showed signs of life late in the game, but Arch Manning’s fumble in the pocket with about two minutes remaining effectively sealed the loss. The turnover ended the Longhorns’ comeback hopes and raised serious questions about the direction of their season.
Looking Ahead
Texas still has time to turn its season around, but the window for a potential Cinderella run is closing.
After the game, Sarkisian told reporters that he would evaluate every aspect of the offense, including his own play-calling. His comments suggest that significant changes could be on the table as the Longhorns look to get back on track.
Next weekend, Texas will try to right the ship when Ole Miss comes to Austin. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
