Texas Football: 3 takeaways from shocking upset loss to TCU

For a second straight week, Texas football was on upset alert as TCU held a late lead over the Longhorns. What did we learn from this thriller?

Wow. What a year it’s been for the Big 12 in the worst way. Right when you think Texas might be the final hope for the conference to make a run at the College Football Playoff, the Longhorns are tripped up at home to a young TCU team, 33-31.

For the sixth time in eight meetings since joining the Big 12, the Horned Frogs have beaten the Longhorns and Tom Herman has to be sick to his stomach.

This also marks the second straight week that Texas played down to its opponent and this time it came back to bite the Longhorns. Texas struggled with Texas Tech a week ago and won in overtime, but it didn’t have the same luck this time around.

Maybe Texas just isn’t the team we thought it was. Or maybe it’s still early.

What did we learn from Texas’ tough loss to TCU?

3. The defense is just not good

Texas is struggling right now. For a second straight week, the defense was playing the bend-but-don’t-break strategy, but this time around, it broke. Last week, the Longhorns allowed 56 points to a Texas Tech team that is still searching for relevancy and this week, it surrendered 33 to a young TCU squad which wasn’t expected to contend on Saturday.

The Longhorns struggled against Max Duggan, surrendering 231 passing yards on 20-of-30 completions and he added 79 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He was able to move the ball with ease and broke 300 total yards on the game.

That wasn’t it, though. Texas surrendered 226 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on 50 carries which is nothing short of unacceptable.

If Texas wants to win the Big 12, it needs to have a pulse on defense. Right now, it doesn’t have one.