What Texas players said after UT's 49-21 Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State wanted to send Texas out of the Big 12 Conference with a loss. Texas thought otherwise. The Horns moved to 12-1 and won the 2023 Big 12 Championship after destroying the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Saturday in Arlington.

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Texas prevailed on offense behind outgaining Oklahoma State, 622-281, in the final Big 12 victory for the Longhorns. Here’s what the players had to say in their last Big 12 contest.

Quinn Ewers, QB

What are the qualities of this team that you feel like have gotten them to this point?

“I think today, like I said earlier, I think we showed that how well we play and how well we come together in the championship games like we did today. And like Coach Sark was saying, how complete we are. We can win a game in any three phases, whether it’s defense, special teams or the offense making plays. And
today I think we came out here and showed that we’re capable of doing all three and playing together as one.”

This game was broadcast at Times Square and in 140 countries throughout the world. Could you share
with Texas Longhorn fans around the globe, what does it feel like to be champion playing football at the University of Texas?

“I’ll start. There’s no better feeling, honestly, especially for the guys who just dreamed of playing here and coming to their state. And accomplishing something to this magnitude has been just nothing but a blessing. I didn’t know that it was broadcast in all those places. So to hear that, it’s pretty cool, especially, I tell these guys come out here and play like no one’s seen us play before and show them what Texas football is really about and what we believe in and all that stuff. But that’s a pretty cool stat you said there.”

Did you think about the game against Oklahoma State last year and how far this team has come since then?

“100 percent. It felt awesome to be out there, super confident in my teammates to make plays and confident my abilities to get the ball in my hands. Sure I thought back during this week to what happened last year. I didn’t play my best game. I threw three interceptions. To come out here against the same group of characters was awesome to go out there and play what I believe is my true game.”

Quinn, Big 12 record in passing. You’ve talked about it. How have you improved as a quarterback since kind of early in the season?

“Like Coach said earlier, just the way I’m able to keep a level head and stay poised even though maybe things aren’t going our way, like that pick. We harped on not giving these guys a short field and I end up giving them short field and not focusing on the negativity, but focusing on what we’ve been doing good and how can we attack this after putting one in.”

Keilan Robinson, RB

On scoring two touchdowns and his time in Austin?

“It really felt great. Really thanks to all my teammates for paving the way for me, you know, thank God for allowing me to do what I had to do, but it’s so great, man.”

Sarkisian said you were like a conduit between him and the team, especially when y’all first got here. Like what does that mean to you? What did you communicate to your teammates?

“Oh, I feel it’s good. I mean, just communicating. I like his coaching style, like the way he coaches, the way he goes about things. I like the way that he wants to do things, like how we practiced this week. So just showing these guys his style, you know what I mean. And just the expectations and all that.”

Why does Texas deserve to be in the playoff?

“Texas deserves to be in the playoffs because look around the country and look at our strength of schedule. Look how we went 12-1. Look how many ranked wins we have. We clearly are one the best teams in the country. So that’s why I think we deserved to be in the deal.”

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T’Vondre Sweat, DL

How much lobbying did you have to do to get a pass thrown to you? And why do you deserve
the Heisman?

“Well, I mean I was going to Coach Flood all the time and Coach Sark waiting on this opportunity to get this touchdown. They told me during the game, I was going to get the touchdown, and it happened. And the Heisman, I mean, I’d love to go to New York.” SARKISIAN added: “Nice pose, though. I like the pose.”

My question for both T’Vondre and Coach Sark, what were you thinking when you knew that was the play and you saw the ball in the air? And, Sark, why was this the game to showcase that part of his game?

“Well, first we started, we did it Thursday. And Coach told me that that was going to be the first play we call when we get in goal line. He wasn’t lying. He did it. It was amazing, though. It was amazing.”