Texas had every reason to treat last week’s loss to Oklahoma like a wake-up call. Instead, the Longhorns walked back into Austin and turned in another rough one, dropping a 27-24 decision to Florida on Saturday afternoon.
What makes it sting even more is how it unfolded. Texas briefly seemed ready to claw all the way back in the fourth quarter, but the comeback never got off the ground for real, and the Longhorns ended up with their second straight loss to an unranked opponent.
Arch Manning gave Texas a jolt late when he hit Emmett Mosley V on a 62-yard completion on fourth down, then found Cam Coleman for a touchdown a few plays later. For a moment, it looked like momentum had finally swung.
It didn’t last. Manning’s day ended with 14 completions on 20 attempts for 173 yards, one touchdown and a game-sealing fumble in the fourth quarter. He took plenty of heat, too, getting sacked three times as Florida kept pressure on him throughout the game.
Texas’ offensive issues weren’t the only thing that buried it, though. The third quarter was the real backbreaker.
Florida controlled that stretch almost completely, piling up 22 plays while Texas managed just six. In the second half, the Gators also had nearly as many third-down conversions - five - as Texas had total yards, which was eight.
Florida backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. looked far too comfortable for a second-year player with limited experience. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, and he added 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground. The finishing touch came on a quarterback keeper, when he shook free from the Texas defense to seal it.
Jones wasn’t operating alone. Jadan Baugh helped Florida keep the chains moving and the offense on schedule, as the Gators put together long drive after long drive on their way to going 8 of 19 on third down.
The one thing that kept this from becoming a full-blown home blowout was Ryan Niblett’s 63-yard punt return touchdown in the first half. Without that score, Texas might have been staring at a much uglier result in its own building.
And maybe the strangest part of all: Jeff Banks’ unit ended up being the brightest spot.
In Other News...
Texas May Be Getting A Very Different Florida Offense Than Expected
Floridas quarterback situation is suddenly a major subplot for the Longhorns, with Aaron Philo trending toward sitting out the upcoming game because of a shoulder injury. If he cannot go, Texas would be preparing for a different look entirely, with sophomore Tramell Jones lined up to make his first career start in a game that already carries plenty of weight for both teams.
Jones was a four-star recruit and has flashed efficiency in limited action this season, enough to draw praise from head coach Jon Sumrall as a potential starting quarterback. For Texas, that means the film and the plan may need a late adjustment, because the offense coming to Austin could be shaped as much by inexperience as by the usual Florida personnel. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Colin Simmons Problem Fans Will Fear
Colin Simmons gave Texas everything it could want from its star edge rusher before the game turned sideways against Florida. He had already piled up eight tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack when he went down with a lower-body injury early in the fourth quarter, a sequence that immediately changed the feel of the Longhorns defense.
Simmons was taken off the field for further examination, and Texas felt the effect almost right away as Florida moved ahead on a field goal while he was out. For a defense built around his disruption, the bigger concern now is how much time the Longhorns may have to manage without the player who had been driving their pass rush all game. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Have A Colin Simmons Problem They Can't Afford
Texas got a scare in the fourth quarter against Florida when Colin Simmons, its star pass rusher and the nations sack leader, went down with an apparent leg injury. He was helped off the field and taken for further evaluation, leaving the Longhorns with an immediate concern about one of the most important players on their defense.
Simmons has been central to everything Texas wants to do up front, giving the Longhorns the kind of edge pressure that can change a game in a hurry. Any absence would put extra pressure on a defense that leans on him to disrupt opposing quarterbacks, and it adds another layer of urgency as Texas waits to learn more about the extent of the injury. [Read more 🡒]