Big 12 Power Rankings: Baylor, Kansas, and Oklahoma State All have Big Weekends

Nov 16, 2013; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback

(6) reacts against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Oklahoma State beat Texas 38-13. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

5. Texas Longhorns

Record: 7-3 (6-1)

Previous Ranking: 2

Last Week: OSU 38, Texas 13

This Week: Bye

Next Week: vs Texas Tech (Thanksgiving night)

The loss of Jonathan Gray may have been the final injury to officially doom Texas as Case McCoy is now forced to win games for the Longhorns. That did not work out so well on Saturday.

McCoy threw three interceptions and finished with a 29.8 QBR in the loss to the Cowboys. Two of those interceptions turned into 14 Cowboys points.

OSU forced McCoy to throw by grabbing to early lead and loading up the box against the run. Texas averaged only 3.5 yards per carry with Malcolm Brown averaging just 2.9 yards per carry. Without Gray there to give Texas the productive running game, Texas was left in the bad position of having to ask McCoy to make good decisions in the passing game. That did not happen.

This poses a huge problem for the Longhorns in the final two games of the season against Texas Tech and Baylor. Both teams are going to post a lot of points if given 12 possessions like what Texas gave Oklahoma State. The best way for Texas to limit those possessions and prevent a situation where they have to get in a shootout is to have an effective running game. Is that something Texas can get figured out by Thanksgiving?

If not, Texas is staring down an 0-3 finish to the regular season, a five loss season, and a lower quality bowl bid. In fact there is a chance Texas finishes with a worse overall record than five Big 12 teams. One would think this would be enough for Mack Brown to be out of a job by season’s end.