'It Sucked!': Texas Longhorns Coach Steve Sarkisian Determined to Solve Goal Line Woes

The Texas Longhorns' failures at the goal line vs. the Oklahoma Sooners played a major role in their loss on Saturday. And Steve Sarkisian is determined to fix it.

AUSTIN, TX -- The Texas Longhorns lost in heartbreaking fashion against the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday in Dallas. 

But, it didn't have to end that way.

Were the Horns able to convert on just one of their four attempts inside the five-yard line in the fourth quarter, the outcome at the Cotton Bowl could have been wildly different. 

And Steve Sarkisian knows it. 

“It sucked. I don’t think it was toughness at all," Sarkisian said. "The first downplay, their kid makes a really nice play. He shoots the gap and gets into Jonathon Brooks’ legs... If I could do it all over again, I might have changed the third-down call and ran what I ran on fourth down on third down. It wasn't effective enough."

The Longhorns were 'held' to just 30 points on Saturday - their lowest output of the season. 

But were it not for missed opportunities across the board, including but not limited to the failure at the goal line, that total could have been much, much higher. 

Jonathon Brooks tries and fails to push across the goal line vs. Oklahoma / USA TODAY Sports

The Longhorns had 527 yards of total offense. 

BUT, they were penalized nine times as a team.  

Quinn Ewers completed 31 of 37 passes for 346 yards and a score. 

BUT, he turned the ball over three times. 

Jonathan Brooks had 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. 

BUT, the Longhorns could not gain a yard on the ground when it mattered most. 

And those were all major issues.

“Our ability to move the ball wasn’t in question but our ability to put the ball in the end zone was," Sarkisian said. "Conversely, they have six trips into the red area and they score 34 points. Just look at it that way and do the math, that was an issue.”

Fortunately for the Horns, they have the bye week to figure these issues out. 

And Sarkisian and his staff already have a plan in place to combat their struggles in the red zone and elsewhere. 

“I feel very comfortable in the fact we’ll have a good plan for the second half of the season for the players," Sarkisian said. "Like I told the staff we’re moving the ball too well offensively right now not to have more points on the board.”

Texas will take the field again on Oct. 21 when they hit the road to take on the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium.