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Texas Football’s Turning Point: It’s Texas vs. Texas for Everyone

by: Charlie Williams09/03/25
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Texas Longhorns (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

After a tough loss to Ohio State, this is the final moment to reflect before Texas turns its full attention to San Jose State. The truth is simple: Texas had every opportunity to win that game, and they let it slip away.

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Ohio State played conservatively. They didn’t fully trust their young quarterback Julian Sayin to take over the game. Instead, they leaned on the clock, short drives, and the occasional deep shot. It wasn’t about winning with dominance—it was about surviving. And in the end, Texas played right into their hands.

Turnovers, penalties, miscues, and poor adjustments piled up. Every mistake became another obstacle. Ohio State’s plan was clear: keep the game short, make it ugly, and force Texas to beat itself. That’s exactly what happened.

Now the mindset has to shift. From this point forward, it must be Texas versus Texas. A true man in the mirror mentality. This is no longer about the name on the other sideline. It’s about cleaning up mistakes, taking accountability, and playing to the standard this team is capable of.

Leadership on the field will matter just as much. This is where players like Arch Manning and Michael Taaffe step in, along with Anthony Hill and Colin Simmons. These are the guys who can steady the team and make sure execution improves week to week. It also helps when your leaders are playing well because it lifts everybody else up. And for this team to reach its goals, the five-stars have to play like five-stars. Without that, this thing doesn’t work.

That accountability doesn’t stop with the players. Coaches have to look themselves in the mirror too. Just like players can’t beat themselves, coaches can’t out-coach themselves either. Adjustments matter. Recognizing what the opponent is doing and responding in real time matters. This is a chance for self-scouting, for taking a hard look at play-calling, substitutions, and game management, and asking: are we putting our players in the best position to succeed?

Texas is loaded from top to bottom. The talent is undeniable, and the work ethic is in place. The confidence, the heart, the will to win—those qualities aren’t missing. What has been missing is clean execution, sharper adjustments, and capitalizing on opportunities. That’s what separates wins from losses.

The path forward is clear. Every player has to commit to the details, and every coach has to demand discipline while being willing to adapt. Texas doesn’t need to reinvent itself. It simply needs to be itself, at its best. If this team plays with consistency and focus, it has the ability to win every game left on the schedule.

The loss to Ohio State was a wake-up call, a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough. But with the right mindset, it can also be the turning point. The message is simple: it’s not about Ohio State, San Jose State, or anyone else. From here on out, it’s Texas versus Texas.

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