How does Texas football regain focus?

By Colby Gordon

AUSTIN, Texas — It would take a miraculous series of events for Texas to reach the Big 12 championship game following a loss to Iowa State that dropped it to 4-3 in games against conference opponents.

As a season that started with high expectations has devolved into one in which they now are fighting for a mid-tier bowl game, Longhorn players [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]at the weekly media availability addressed disappointment at what has happened and how to move forward.

“You don’t prepare to lose games,” offensive lineman Zach Shackelford said. “Obviously, the season hasn’t (lived up to expectations). What we can do is get back to work and do everything in our power to win games.”

Texas has played nothing but two-possession Big 12 games since the start of 2017, something Shackelford noted was due to a simple explanation.

“I think people get fired up to play Texas,” he said.

The Longhorns’ offense was somewhat disappointing in the 23-21 loss to the Cyclones, as it only had success on the arm of quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns, while the running game was stuffed for 54 yards on 26 carries.

It marked the third straight game away from Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in which the run game has struggled.

“I’m not sure (why the run game has struggled away from home),” Ehlinger said. “If I knew, I’d try to fix it.”

While the reaction from the fanbase has been one of anger at the current 6-4 campaign after Saturday’s loss, Ehlinger noted that the team takes losing very hard.

“There’s definitely a high level of frustration because the standard of what we believe we’re capable of has not been attained as players,” he said. “But you can’t control the past and you have to concentrate on the future.”
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