Steve Sarkisian, Mike Gundy reveal what adjustments are needed for second half

After an exciting first half, Texas led Oklahoma State 31-24 at the beginning of the third quarter on Saturday. As the second half kicked off, ESPN sideline reporter Tom Luginbill provided a summary of what both Cowboys coach Mike Gundy and Longhorns head man Steve Sarkisian said heading into the locker room.

“I was talking with Mike Gundy going off the field and into the locker room and he kind of chucked and said, ‘We’ve got to stop the counter,'” Luginbill said. “He looked up at the score and said, ‘As many bad things that have happened, I’m pretty pleased with our football team team.’

“Texas, conversely, Steve Sarkisian says they’ve just got to calm down. Quinn Ewers has been a bit off, then when he’s been on, someone else has been off. They just haven’t been able to connect the way they’ve been in rhythm the last couple of weeks. He wants everybody to settle down on the Texas sideline.”

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Oklahoma State committed a pair of miscues in the first half, including an interception from quarterback Spencer Sanders that led to a touchdown on the Longhorns next drive. However, Gundy believes the biggest issue was its defense, which allowed touchdowns of 42, 41 and 52 yards in the opening half.

Sarkisian, on the other hand, wants to see more consistency out of freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers. Ewers finished just 11-of-24 passing in the first half for 190 yards, compared to 161 for the Texas ground game.