What We Learned: Texas Longhorns 'Embrace Hate' in Big-12 Championship Beatdown
For the first time since 2009, the No. 7 ranked Texas Longhorns are Big-12 champions as they handed a farewell 49-21 beatdown to the No. 19 Oklahoma State Cowboys.
It was a historic performance for the Longhorns as they hope to show the college football playoff committee that they belong in the top-four. But before the Longhorns turn the page on their blowout win over the Cowboys, we'll empty our notebook.
Quinn Ewers Delivers Record-Breaking Performance
Dec 2, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) holds up the WWE Big 12 championship belt after the win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
"What could have been" may be the biggest question following the blowout farewell win in the Big-12 championship that saw Ewers break records with his performance. Following Texas's Week 2 win on the road against the Alabama Crimson Tide, the talk of winning a Heisman started to pick up steam for Ewers.
However, an AC joint sprain seemingly ended that conversation as Ewers was forced to watch from the sidelines for two games. If not for those two games on the sidelines, it is very possible Ewers would be in prime position to be one of the four finalists for the most prestigious individual award in college football after leading the Longhorns to a conference title.
In the game where he became the first Texas quarterback to win the Big-12 championship since Colt McCoy, Ewers completed 35 of his 46 passes for 452 yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception.
Ewers made program history and broke Big-12 records, surpassing former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford's 384 passing yard record while tying Baker Mayfield's touchdown record.
Balanced Attack
It wasn't just the passing game for the Texas offense that carved up the Cowboys' defense. While Ewers finished with a Big-12 championship record of 452 passing yards, the Longhorns run game also got plenty of action.
Texas finished with 195 yards rushing as former Alabama transfer running back Keilan Robinson led the Longhorns in rushing with 75 yards and two touchdowns on four carries as the Longhorns put together an efficient and balanced attack.
The Texas offense finished with 663 yards of offense as they bid farewell to Oklahoma State with a beatdown.
Hate Embraced
"Embracing the hate" was the mantra for Texas as they played through their final season before moving to the SEC. Even after a heartbreaking loss in the Red Rivalry to the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas didn't lose sight of its goal, winning the Big-12.
After picking up some close wins after their lone loss, they refound dominance in the last two games, beating Texas Tech and Oklahoma State by a combined score of 106-28.
Will this dominant victory prove enough to see the Longhorns play in the college football playoff?
With Oregon's loss to Washington in the Pac-12 championship and the Longhorns' win, it seems that Texas is the committee's best one-loss team. However, in order to get into Texas, I will need help elsewhere. If the Crimson Tide manage to knock off the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs, then with a head-to-head win over Alabama, Texas would certainly have a strong case to get in.
Another scenario for the Longhorns would be if Louisville upset Florida State in the ACC championship. Either way, the Longhorns delivered a statement to the committee that they have a case to be considered one of the "four best teams" in the country.
