Texas Looks to Fix Penalties and Special Teams Before Oklahoma Clash
Texas enters the Red River Rivalry hoping to correct mistakes that nearly cost it a road win at Tennessee before the bye week. The Longhorns rank 89th nationally in penalty yards per game and have continued to struggle with discipline. Special teams is another area the staff likely emphasized during the off week.
Texas returned from its off week still trying to reduce self-inflicted mistakes before meeting Oklahoma in Dallas. The Longhorns sit 89th nationally at 62.5 penalty yards and 6.3 flags per game, better than last year's 69.7 yards and 8.3 flags but short of the offseason aim.
Special teams remain a concern after Tennessee recovered a fourth-quarter onside kick that the SEC later ruled illegal. Texas' defense kept the Volunteers from turning it into points by denying field-goal range. Coach Steve Sarkisian has emphasized responsibility following social-media moments involving Colin Simmons and Raleek Brown.
A cleaner performance by Texas could shape fan confidence and recruiting buzz around the program, while penalties and special-teams mistakes may fuel criticism from alumni and media. The rivalry's national audience could also affect how the team is perceived in the SEC race, with local businesses in Dallas potentially benefiting from increased game-day attention.