Steve Sarkisian Plans Halftime Changes As Texas Looks To Fix Alarming Trend

Texas spent the first half against Ole Miss looking like a team capable of competing for a national championship. By the fourth quarter, the Longhorns were fighting to avoid one of their most embarrassing collapses of the season.

Steve Sarkisian has seen enough of that pattern ... and he's considering changes to prevent it from happening again.

The No. 11 Texas Longhorns (5-2) welcome Mississippi State (4-3) to Austin on Saturday night, looking to build on last weekend's 34-27 victory over the nation's seventh-ranked team.

But beating the Bulldogs isn't the only objective.

READ MORE: Longhorns vs. Mississippi State: How To Watch As Texas Aims To Continue Streak

Sarkisian wants to address a third-quarter problem that has followed Texas for nearly the entire season. And considering the numbers, it's difficult to blame him.

After scoring 21 third-quarter points against Texas State in the season opener, the Longhorns have managed just six over their next six games. Opponents have outscored Texas 37-6 during that stretch, including a 31-3 margin in SEC play.

Against Ole Miss, those struggles nearly proved catastrophic.

Texas carried a 24-3 advantage into halftime before surrendering 21 unanswered points, allowing the Rebels to tie the game early in the fourth quarter.

The Longhorns gained just 19 yards in the third quarter, while an Arch Manning strip-sack fumble resulted in an Ole Miss defensive touchdown.

Something has to give.

During Monday's press conference, Sarkisian explained how his coaching staff traditionally approaches halftime.

Coaches meet to identify what's working, discuss necessary adjustments, review film with players and establish the offense's opening calls for the second half.

It's a process that's worked throughout Sarkisian's coaching career.

"It just hasn't been that way this year," he admitted.

Sarkisian indicated that Texas would probably make subtle changes to its halftime routine against Mississippi State.

But the problems go beyond what happens behind closed doors.

Against Ole Miss, Texas committed 14 penalties for 134 yards, turned the ball over three times and converted just three of 13 third-down opportunities.

Sarkisian also acknowledged that penalties and negative plays on early downs have repeatedly forced Manning into difficult third-and-long situations.

Those issues aren't necessarily fixed by changing the message at halftime. They require better execution once the players return to the field.

And Texas has already demonstrated that it's capable of delivering exactly that.

Raleek Brown rushed for a season-high 157 yards against Ole Miss, helping provide an offensive balance the Longhorns have struggled to maintain consistently.

When the Rebels tied the game, Texas responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive consisting of six consecutive rushing plays.

No complicated adjustments. No desperate attempt to manufacture something that wasn't there.

Just an offense imposing its will when the situation demanded it.

That's what makes these third-quarter struggles so frustrating. Texas has shown it can execute at a high level against quality competition. It simply hasn't sustained that level of play.

Mississippi State arrives in Austin riding a three-game losing streak and without starting quarterback Kamario Taylor, who's sidelined for the remainder of the season following toe surgery.

READ MORE: Texas Defense Gets Major Advantage as Mississippi State Loses QB

The circumstances favor the Longhorns, but the stakes extend well beyond Halloween night.

With road matchups against Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M still ahead, Texas can't afford to keep relying on fourth-quarter recoveries to salvage performances that should've been under control.

During Thursday's media availability, Sarkisian emphasized the importance of carrying the same intensity, focus and physicality from the first half into the second.

That's the real challenge.

Sarkisian can change the halftime routine. He can adjust the messaging, the preparation and everything else that happens behind closed doors.

But none of it matters if Texas continues emerging from the locker room looking like a different football team.

Saturday isn't just another opportunity for the Longhorns to win. It's an opportunity to prove they've finally figured out how to stop getting in their own way.