Oklahoma State Cowboys

Texas Football: Embarrassing Effort in Loss to Oklahoma State Turns Up Heat on Charlie Strong

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With two weeks to prepare for their Big 12 opener, expectations were high for Texas football against Oklahoma State. However, the Longhorns laid an egg in Stillwater, losing 49-31. The way they lost will have ramifications for Charlie Strong and the coaching staff moving forward.

There were already calls for change on the Texas coaching staff following the Week 3 loss at Cal. Strong vowed to evaluate every coach on the staff during the bye week. This evaluation had little impact, though, as Strong stayed committed to his staff heading into Week 5.

That commitment was not rewarded. Texas looked flat and confused on both sides of the ball but particularly on defense…again. Players moved in slow motion, defenders missed a ridiculous number of tackles, and the offense struggled to develop much of a rhythm. Things only got worse when Chris Warren and D’Onta Foreman left the game with injuries.

For this team to follow up their bumbling effort at Cal two weeks ago with another uninspiring effort against Oklahoma State is inexcusable. There was endless talk about how things would improve and the coaching staff would get their players in position to succeed. If anything, the team looked worse despite the extra time to prep for the Pokes.

Mason Rudolph torched the Texas secondary, much like Davis Webb did two weeks ago. He finished the game completing 19 of 28 passes for 392 yards with three touchdowns. Texas continued their dismal streak of not forcing turnovers, forcing zero against the Cowboys. The only thing that slowed down the Oklahoma State offense was themselves when they slowed their tempo in the second half.

Any positive momentum this team had after the season opening win against Notre Dame is gone. The way that the Horns have lost two straight games puts Charlie Strong squarely back on the hot seat. While he avoided making changes to his staff during the bye week, this performance could force changes on the Forty Acres ahead of the Red River Rivalry.