Texas’s hopes of a storybook ending to their season were dashed on Saturday night in a heartbreaking 27-25 overtime loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
It was a game of missed opportunities for the Longhorns, who led for much of the game but couldn’t quite put the Bulldogs away. Georgia, meanwhile, showed why they’re the defending national champions, rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime and eventually win the game.
Texas’s offense was firing on all cylinders in the first half, scoring touchdowns on three of their four possessions. But in the second half, the Longhorns’ offense sputtered, managing just one field goal in their final eight possessions.
The Longhorns’ inability to sustain drives in the second half was particularly costly in overtime, when they went three-and-out and gave Georgia the ball back with a chance to win the game.
Georgia’s defense was simply outstanding in the second half, holding Texas to just 87 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs also forced two turnovers, including a crucial interception in overtime that set up their game-winning field goal.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was harassed all night by Georgia’s pass rush, and he was sacked six times. The Longhorns’ running game was also ineffective, as they managed just 75 yards on the ground.
“This loss is going to hurt for a while,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game. “But we’re going to learn from it and we’re going to get better. We have a lot of young players on this team, and they’re going to benefit from this experience.”
Texas has a lot of talent, and they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future. But they need to learn how to win close games and execute when it matters most.
The Longhorns will have a chance to bounce back in the Cotton Bowl on January 2nd against Southern Cal. It’s not the Rose Bowl or the College Football Playoff, but it’s still a great opportunity for Texas to end the season on a high note.
Texas’s loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game was disappointing, but it’s important to remember that this is a young team with a lot of potential.
The Longhorns have a lot to learn from this experience, and they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
