Oklahoma State vs. Texas: 5 Halftime Adjustments the Longhorns Must Make

Texas is coming off its first loss of the season in embarrassing fashion last week against arch rival Oklahoma. Things don't get any easier in Austin today against the sixth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. 

The Longhorns need a big bounce-back win to stay in the Big 12 title hunt. To pull out a win, the defense will have to be on their toes against a ferocious OSU offense. So far, they are hanging in there and looking good overall; they just need to get some more points on the board!

Here are the five big halftime adjustments Texas needs to make to beat Oklahoma State:

1. Stay Out of 3rd-and-Long

The offensive line has struggled recently, allowing eight socks in the loss against Oklahoma last week. That's troubling enough, but putting themselves in long conversion situations today will not help matters. The last thing the Longhorns want to do is put their QB in a situation where great protection is necessary.

Even if this strategy calls for a couple short, easy passes or runs to eat up yardage, so be it. Facing a third-and-long is tough for any team. But as the shaky offensive line and an inexperienced quarterback will be in charge, it would benefit them to stay away from the situation in general.

2. Contain Justin Blackmon

We haven't seen Blackmon a lot yet today, but we will. He's a consensus first-round pick in the NFL Draft, and has the size, speed and hands to be a game breaker. That's by far the Cowboys' most dangerous weapon on offense.

So, taking him out of the scheme as best as possible will limit the damage Oklahoma State can do. Doubling him will be big, but if it has to be one-on-one coverage, he needs to be hammered at the line and stuck with as tight as possible. It's guaranteed that they will take shots downfield at Blackmon today, and if they succeed, the young Texas secondary is in for a long game.

3. Slow it Down

Oklahoma State's offense is like Oregon's; notorious for moving the ball quickly and running a no-huddle plan. They will complete a 10-yard pass play, then be up at the line within ten seconds snapping the next one. To avoid getting tired out by the constant pace, Texas needs to force incompletions and be ready to go at a faster pace than usual.

If the Cowboys get comfortable in this fast-paced system, they will thrive. It's a huge advantage when your team is just plain faster than the defense. So far, the Longhorns have done an admirable job forcing them out of their comfort zone and playing at a slower pace.

4. Move the Ball on Offense

Last week against the Sooners, Texas ran 81 offensive plays. Of those, 35 went for zero or negative yards. Almost half of their snaps went nowhere. That's absolutely unacceptable for an offense with so many weapons. Aside from the first drive, we've seen that trend reverse today.

But, the Longhorns need to make sure they continue to push the ball. Running effectively to open up the passing game, and then making crisp, sound passes is what it's going to take to keep moving the ball downfield. If they can get themselves in the red zone and control the possession, Texas is looking at a great chance to pull off the win.

5. No Turnovers

Texas turned the ball over five times last week and three were returned for scores. Against any elite team, turnovers are going to kill you. This is especially true in the case of Oklahoma State, who leads the Big 12 and is sixth in the nation in takeaways. If they are given the ball for free, they will score.

That was never more evident than on OSU's first score, when they turned an interception into six points in the blink of an eye. The Longhorns need to win the turnover battle today and not be forced into any big mistakes. Not only will it keep those unnecessary points off the board, but it will keep the home crowd rocking and rolling and giving them momentum all afternoon.