Issues and QB controversy stem from the Texas Longhorns’ loss to Georgia

Were the first seven weeks fool’s gold? Do the Texas Longhorns just beat bad teams and capitulate when they encounter quality?

A new one First and 10 by USA TODAY Sports Writer Matt Hayes examines the Horns and uncovers many UT problems.

The Georgia Bulldogs were the Longhorns’ baptism of fire. Really the first good team Texas faced. In the preseason we thought the defending champions would be Michigan or maybe the Oklahoma Sooners. But no. Neither is very good at all.

It’s not Texas’ fault that the schedule has become inherently easier. But it might have covered up some flaws.

“I don’t want to be the guy who has to state the obvious, but here’s this: Texas has played three games in its new conference, and the Longhorns are nowhere near the weekly meat grinder that this is Eat Eee SeeSon.

Texas played the SEC’s best team at home last weekend, losing by 15 to Georgia. The Longhorns also played the SEC’s worst team (Mississippi State) and second-worst team (Oklahoma).” — Matt Hayes

Now the path becomes more difficult. Texas will be on the road for much of the second half of the season.

“At some point you have to get out there and deal with it. We’ve reached the fourth week of October and Texas finally gets its first true SEC road game – against former lightweight Vanderbilt. An incredibly beneficial (and certainly fortuitous) planning move by the league office.” — Matt Hayes

USA TODAY Sports writer believes Texas coach Steve Sarkisian may have sparked his own quarterback controversy.

“Sarkisian made a mistake when he pulled starting quarterback Quinn Ewers against Georgia, and no amount of “There is no controversy” can hide the fact that there absolutely is.

Self-created, no less.

Look, no one — and I mean no one — would play well against Georgia’s ferocious pass rush. Once that defense is on point, once Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has convinced his group that this is the most talented and worst defense in college football in the world, the quarterback on the other side is usually in big, big ones difficulties.

Ewers didn’t play well, and I know this will shock everyone (sarcasm, people), neither will Manning. But here’s the key: By benching Ewers in difficult situations, Sarkisian made it clear that he will make it.

This is just as harmful as the bench press itself.

Because now Ewers knows a bad district on the road in the SEC – where there’s a good chance it will happen – and he could sit there and watch Manning. No matter what Sarkisian said afterwards.

Ewers went from playing loose and free and knowing the team (and the position) was his to just one bad series away from losing it again. The quarterback who was one step away from leading the Longhorns to the national title game in 2023 is now constantly feeling the pressure and looking for the catch.

That’s a bad way to play football.” — Matt Hayes

All in all, this means the Longhorns have no margin for error from here on out. They need to get into playoff mode already.

“The margin for error has disappeared for Texas. Of all the consequences of this humiliating beating at the hands of Georgia, nothing is more important. …

Texas may not be able to afford another loss against a schedule that features Vanderbilt (no gimme putt), Florida, Arkansas (former Southwest Conference rival), Kentucky and bitter rival Texas A&M – which has been waited for more than a decade another shot at Texas.

The path to “attack them again” is about as safe as “there is no quarterback controversy.” —Matt Hayes

Texas travels to Vanderbilt on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT.