Oklahoma Football: 3 takeaways from Red River Shootout win over Texas

2. Texas is a legitimate contender in the Big 12 if Sam Ehlinger is healthy

It feels like losses to Maryland and USC occurred in another season. In another way, those non-conference defeats did occur in another season. The way Texas has played since Big 12 play began, it is like they are a new team. That can be credited in large part to the play of Sam Ehlinger at quarterback.

Ehlinger, remeber, came into the second game of the season and immediately led the Longhorns to eight touchdowns in a 56-0 romp of San Jose State. He was instrumental in Texas taking Pac-12 South front-runner USC to double overtime. And he has been a critical component of the Longhorns’ run to 3-0 to begin Big 12 play.

Against Oklahoma, Ehlinger was 19-of-39 for 278 yards and a touchdown. He added 106 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Ehlinger suffered a big hit late in the fourth quarter, though, as the Longhorns were quickly driving to retake the lead while down 29-24. Shane Buechele came in and completed two passes, but he lacked the run-pass option that Ehlinger brought to the game and Texas came away without points.

Ehlinger had one last stab at beating the Longhorns, but a few sideline pass rulings went against the Longhorns and the upset bid ran out of time. It was nevertheless a solid effort that bodes well for the future of Texas football, as long as Ehlinger is the guy at quarterback.