Texas exits Big 12 with title, makes case for CFP

Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff WriterDec 2, 2023, 03:56 PM ET Close Dave Wilson is an editor for ESPN.com since 2010. He previously operated at The Dallas Early Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.ARLINGTON, Texas– Texas ended its Big 12 period the method it started in 1996: with a conference championship.The No. 7 Longhorns ended a 13-year conference title drought– the longest in the program’s history– with a 49-21 win over Oklahoma State behind the right arm of Quinn Ewers on Saturday. The sophomore quarterback completed his first 12 passes en path to setting the Big 12 national championship record for most lawns(452, likewise third-most in a game all-time at Texas )and connecting the mark for goal passes(4 ). In the very first half, he tossed for the most yards (346) by any player in a half in a conference championship game in the past twenty years, putting on a show for the College Football Playoff committee watching 20 miles away in Grapevine. Ewers left the game in the fourth quarter, paving the way to Maalik Murphy– and later on, Arch Manning– after finishing 35-of-46 passes.”I thought Quinn was lights out today, guy,”Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said, later on stating it was part of their tactical plan to be aggressive on offense. Texas had 6 plays for 20 or more yards, including 2 for a goal.”We wished to come out and begin quickly,”he stated.

“We truly wished to come out and throw our finest punches. This was not a game that we wished to throw jabs and feel it out. We wished to go for it. “Editor’s Picks The Longhorns’title-clincher was the culmination of a breakthrough season for Sarkisian, who won five and 8 games in his very first two seasons in Austin before going 12-1 this year, eclipsing 10 wins for the first time in his decade as a head coach and putting Texas in contention for a CFP berth. “Hopefully when individuals sort of take a look at the totality of the body of work, it’s not practically the record, it’s about the quality of the team,”Sarkisian stated.”I think that’s the intent of the College Football Playoff is putting the 4 best groups in that playoff. Do we believe we are among those? For sure we do. But this isn’t a vote. We do not wish to get to the election cubicle and vote, so it’s in their hands. “From the start of the season, Sarkisian told the Longhorns to “welcome the hate “before heading to the SEC next season. His team reacted, beating every group they’re leaving behind however suffering the one loss at the hands of SEC-bound Oklahoma, which drove 75 lawns in 1:17 to beat Texas 34-30 on Oct. 7. In three of the next 4 weeks, the Longhorns made it through tight games at Houston( 31-24), home versus Kansas State(33-30)and at TCU (29-26 )before a 10-point win on the roadway over Iowa State. But last week, Texas destroyed Texas Tech 57-7 and followed it up with a dominant victory over the Cowboys.”We’ve been discussing being champs since this summertime, “Sarkisian stated. “We haven’t backed off of it and I challenged them. I made it really known publicly that’s what the season had to do with. … We most likely played our best football in the last two weeks and we played 2 really excellent total games.” The Longhorns led from wire to wire, rolling up 662 yards of offense, holding Oklahoma State to 281 lawns and limiting Ollie Gordon II, the nation’s leading rush who got in the game with 1,580 lawns and 20 goals, to simply 34 lawns on 13 carries, an

average of 2.6 backyards per carry.Two different receivers– Ja’Tavion Sanders( 8 catches, 105 backyards and a goal )and Adonai Mitchell (6-109-1)– reviewed the 100-yard mark. Texas star Xavier Worthy added 6 catches for 86 backyards, however he went out with an injury in the second half and returned on

the field on crutches and in a walking boot.Sarkisian stated after the game that Worthy’s X-rays were negative and he feels great about the time he has to recover before Texas plays another contest.The Longhorns even tossed a touchdown to 6-4, 362-pound defensive take on T’Vondre Sweat, who celebrated with a Heisman pose.”We did it Thursday, and coach informed me that it was gon na be our first play we call when we get in goal line,”Sweat stated.” And he wasn’t lying, he did it. It was fantastic.”Sweat had actually been freely lobbying his coaches

this season for an opportunity at a goal, and Sarkisian said it was constantly part of the strategy. However there was one small concern.

“He bobbled it the other day in practice. I stated,’Male, do not mess with me,”Sarkisian stated.”Then I stated don’t get a penalty. Get your behind to the sideline and commemorate to the sideline. Very cool minute.”At the end of the game, Sarkisian put Jonathon Brooks, who suffered a season-ending injury in Texas’Nov. 11 win over TCU after running for 1,139 backyards and 10 touchdowns

this year, in at running back with a large brace on his knee. After Manning kneeled for the final play, he turned around and handed the ball to Brooks.While the last seconds ticked away, Texas fans at AT&T Stadium shouted “SEC!”

However for today, the Longhorns declared their 4th Big 12 title, 2nd to Oklahoma’s 14, to end an era.As Sarkisian and his players awaited the prize presentation, Huge 12 commissioner Brett Yormark was drowned out by boos and chants from the Texas fans as Sarkisian tried to peaceful them. In the middle of the booing, Yormark told the crowd that he thought Texas had actually shown it was worthy of remaining in the CFP field.Sarkisian said despite if they get in or not, this season has been a success.”I didn’t want this win and I didn’t want this championship to be about the College Football Playoff

,” Sarkisian said.”This is an accomplishment in and of itself, us winning a championship.”But he still stated that his group will”play any person in the nation … If we get into this competition, we’ll play anybody and we’ll discover if we suffice or not.”However initially he has to wait on the committee.”Ideally we put in their minds, male, what would it look like if Texas was in a four-team playoff?”Sarkisian said.”I think it would look pretty good. We’ll see what they think.”