Texas vs Oklahoma report card: Arch Manning, special teams grade low in Longhorns 1st loss

DALLAS – Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell nailed a 47-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Sooners to a stunning 27-24 win Saturday over Texas football at the Cotton Bowl.

The loss spoiled a perfect season for the Longhorns (4-1, 1-1 SEC), who will tumble from their spot atop The Associated Press rankings. It suddenly adds extra importance to each remaining SEC game if Texas wants to return to the College Football Playoff for the third time in the past four years.

GOLDEN: Arch Manning, Texas play themselves into the middle of SEC with loss to Oklahoma | Golden

The win by Oklahoma (3-2, 1-1) also exposed some recurrent flaws for Texas, especially involving special teams, penalties and a pedestrian running game. Up next will be a home game with Florida then a clash with top-10 Ole Miss.

Here’s how the Longhorns graded out in the three-point loss to Oklahoma:

Quarterback: C

Arch Manning has to carry a heavy load for an offense that can’t sustain an effective ground game, and two glaring mistakes in the fourth quarter negated an otherwise superb afternoon for the fourth-year quarterback. Manning (19-of-31 passing, 260 yards, three TDs) threw two interceptions, including a pick-six with 6 minutes, 32 seconds left in the game that tied the game at 24-24. His second interception came with 19 seconds left in the game, which gave OU time to get into range for the winning field goal.

Season average: C+

Running backs: C+

The return of starter Hollywood Smothers (12 carries, 39 yards) didn’t do much for a mediocre running game that averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. Freshman Derrek Cooper showed the most juice out of the backfield with eight carries for 41 yards, but he inexplicably only had two carries after halftime.

Season average: C+

Wide receivers: B+

Auburn transfer Cam Coleman had his best game as a Longhorn with five catches for 110 yards, both season-highs. He also hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass. Running mate Ryan Wingo also flashed his big-play ability with 57 yards and a touchdown on two catches, and freshman Jermaine Bishop Jr. continues to flash with his first career touchdown. Tight end Nick Townsend returned from an injury and added three catches for 18 yards.

Season average: B-

Offensive line: B

At some point, an offensive line that has enjoyed enviable health all season has to take accountability for the sluggish running game. But the unit did muscle out 382 yards of offense against one of the better defenses in the SEC, and the two sacks allowed came when Manning held onto the ball after going through multiple reads.

Season average: B+

Defensive line: A-

Colin Simmons had a sack and a tackle for a loss on the game’s first series, but Oklahoma adjusted and only gave up two more sacks to the Longhorns all game, one of which came on an intentional grounding by quarterback John Mateer. But the Texas front still dominated while holding OU to 238 yards of offense. Maraad Watson (five tackles, one sack) and Hero Kanu (five tackles, a half-tackle for a loss) continue to impress from the tackle spots.

Season average: A-

Linebackers: B

Rasheem Biles, a Pittsburgh transfer, had 12 tackles and two tackles for a loss while Justin Cryer added four tackles. But the ball-hawking unit from early in the season hasn’t shown up over the past two games since the Longhorns didn’t get a takeaway for the second straight game. Biles also had a costly roughing-the-passer call that negated an interception by Bo Mascoe.

Season average: B+

Defensive backs: B

OU quarterback John Mateer (18-26, 155 yards) reverted to screens and swings while getting the ball out of his hands with alacrity. He did test the Texas secondary late and completed two crucial passes on the sidelines that set up the winning field goal. Cornerback Kade Phillips also had a late pass interference call in the end zone that set up the first of two Sooner touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Jelani McDonald (seven tackles) remains a punisher at safety.

Season average: B+

Special teams: D-

Mistakes big and small continue to pile up on special teams. The Longhorns allowed a blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown for the first time since 2009. Kicker Gianni Spetic missed a 53-yard field goal that would have given Texas the lead with 1:54 left in the game. One kickoff sailed out of bounds. Two timeouts were spent after alignment issues in the kicking game. A 29-yard punt by Mac Chiumento helped lead to a Sooner touchdown. This unit continues to stymie the Longhorns.

Season average: D+

Coaching: C-

Head coach Steve Sarkisian remains loyal to special teams coach Jeff Banks despite all of the unit’s mishaps, and after the game he dismissed any talk of demoting Banks. But Sarkisian still doesn’t have a handle on his team’s penalty issues after eight flags for 61 yards. And Sarkisian went surprisingly conservative on a fourth-and-2 call at the Sooners’ 35-yard line with about two minutes left in a game tied at 24-24. Sarkisian picked a long field goal try that Spetic missed; if he makes it, Texas could have won and this grade would be a letter better.

Season average: C+

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This article originally published at Texas vs Oklahoma report card: Arch Manning, special teams grade low in Longhorns 1st loss.