Texas offense matched Georgia's output against Oklahoma, On3 comparison finds

Texas lost 27-24 to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, and some Longhorns fans and even some credentialed media members started asking whether Steve Sarkisian should give up play-calling. A side-by-side look at how Texas and Georgia fared against the same Sooners defense says those calls are coming too early.

In an analysis for On3's Inside Texas, Justin Nash laid the Texas offense's day against Oklahoma next to the one put up earlier by Georgia, which On3 calls the new No. 1 team in the country. The Bulldogs rank No. 2 nationally in scoring offense and No. 16 in total offense. Texas ranks well below average in both yards and points.

Against Oklahoma, though, the two offenses looked about the same. Texas scored one fewer offensive touchdown than Georgia, and its special teams set up a field goal. The Longhorns gained more total yards and more passing yards than the Bulldogs did and finished seven rushing yards behind them. Both teams had similar success on third and fourth down, and both lost two turnovers to the Sooners.

The drive numbers were close too. Texas had one more possession than Georgia and the same number of drives that went 70 yards or more. The Longhorns also did slightly better in time of possession per drive, plays per drive, yards per drive and drives that lasted under a minute.

Nash points to field position as the real difference. Texas needed Arch Manning to move the ball at least 35 yards on an average drive just to get into field-goal range. Georgia needed only about 20. Nash adds that three of the five teams Texas has played have strong defenses, which helps explain the season-long numbers.

He does not let the offense off entirely. Nash says a coordinator change would be worth considering if Texas keeps stalling once the schedule gets easier. For now, he concludes, "patience is the more data-driven approach."

What's next

At 4-1, Texas gets a chance to test that argument right away. Florida visits Austin next Saturday, and Nash expects a home stretch against defenses that have been shaky for much of the season. Texas is favored at -335 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game. The best sportsbook price on the Longhorns is -310 at FanDuel. Full prices are on the Florida at Texas odds page.

Texas has more at stake than a single result. After a rivalry loss that cost the Longhorns their grip on No. 1, the debate over the offense won't settle until it scores consistently against weaker opponents. If it doesn't, the questions about Sarkisian's play-calling will get harder to dismiss.

Unbeaten Georgia (6-0) hosts Auburn on the same day. The Bulldogs are favored at -1011 on Novig with a spread of 18.5 points, and Fanatics has the best sportsbook price at -1400. Prices are on the Auburn at Georgia odds page.