Texas needed a win over Baylor in rivalry week to stay alive to make the Big 12 Championship Game and the Longhorns pulled through in Austin.
The Texas Longhorns in recent years have made a bad habit out of letting fans down in the moments when they need to show up. So with a chance to stay alive for the Big 12 Championship Game on the line as they welcomed rival Baylor to Austin on Friday in the regular-season finale, there was always going to be a worry that the team would fall short.
Late in the game, it seemed as if that might indeed happen. With the Longhorns up 24-19, Quinn Ewers was sacked and stripped, which Baylor took to the house and then converted the two-point try to make it 27-24 in favor of the Bears.
That’s when Texas got to the gameplan they needed with running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson paving the way with the ground game. Both stars found the end zone as the defense stepped up as well and that secured the 38-27 win for Steve Sarkisian’s team.
CFB media reacts to Texas running over Baylor in shootout
College football media members were quick to applaud the Longhorns for getting the job done.
Texas would have a losing record if it didn't have Bijan Robinson.
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) November 25, 2022
Texas didn’t play particularly well and won by 11.
— Burnt Orange Nation (@BON_SBNation) November 25, 2022
Horns finished the final stretch 3-1; 8-4 for the year. Not a full blown success — but tangible progress in the presence of significant meltdowns happening at a few of the neighboring programs.
A lot of reasons to be excited
Bijan, Roshon, Overshown. Senior leaders icing this game for the Longhorns. Sark has been begging for this type of fourth quarter performance.
— Mike Craven (@CravenMike) November 25, 2022
It was an uneven season for Texas at times, but it did get better in all areas under Steve Sarkisian from Year 1 to Year 2:
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) November 25, 2022
Record: 5-7 to 8-4
Yards per play: 6.35 to 6.38
Yards allowed per play: 6.03 to 4.9
Average Scoring Margin: 4.2 to 14.5
Texas beats Baylor and the Longhorns can still go to the Big 12 title game if Kansas beats K-State.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) November 25, 2022
Believe Texas ended the game with 24 consecutive run plays. Longhorns beat Baylor 38-27 to improve to 8-4 on the year. Baylor at 6-6.
— Mike Craven (@CravenMike) November 25, 2022
With today's win over Baylor, Texas football finishes the regular season at 8-4.
— Ryan Autullo (@AutulloAAS) November 25, 2022
That's as good or better than any reasonable preseason prediction.
Texas didn’t play particularly well and won by 11.
— Burnt Orange Nation (@BON_SBNation) November 25, 2022
Horns finished the final stretch 3-1; 8-4 for the year. Not a full blown success — but tangible progress in the presence of significant meltdowns happening at a few of the neighboring programs.
A lot of reasons to be excited
Kansas football has certainly generated a healthy amount of ridicule against Texas football after what happened in 2016 and 2021.
— Dean Straka (@DWStraka49) November 25, 2022
But tomorrow? Every Longhorn fan is a diehard Jayhawk fan for one day.
Texas is still not in the Big 12 Championship Game after this win as they never controlled their own destiny. The Longhorns need Kansas State to lose to Kansas on Saturday in that rivalry matchup to secure their date with TCU for the conference title.
As for the game on Saturday that clinched an 8-4 season for Burnt Orange Nation, though, it was a fitting final home game for Robinson as he dominated with 179 yards on 29 carries and with two touchdowns. Johnson also added 13 carries for 77 yards and two scores and Ewers also had a rushing touchdown to his credit as well.
Now Texas fans have to put on their Rock Chalk hats and become the biggest Kansas fans south of Lawrence the world has ever seen.
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