Texas Finally Gets Its Easy Win, But Steve Sarkisian Has a Bigger Problem

Texas finally got to use its depth for the right reason Saturday night.

With a 31-3 victory over Mississippi State comfortably secured, Steve Sarkisian took off his headset with two minutes remaining and watched his younger players finish the game.

For a team that had spent much of October making life unnecessarily difficult, that was a welcome change.

The problem? Several replacements had already been needed long before garbage time.

Five key Texas Longhorns players failed to finish Saturday's contest, turning what should've been a relatively stress-free evening into another round of uncertainty ahead of November.

Wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, running back Hollywood Smothers and defensive backs Kade Phillips and Graceson Littleton all exited prematurely.

And considering the injuries Texas was already dealing with ... that's a concerning list.

"The severity of all those guys is unknown at the moment," Sarkisian told reporters.

The Longhorns expect to have a better understanding of their availability by midweek.

What's frustrating is that Texas was supposed to be getting healthier.

Coleman and Smothers were both removed from the injury report ahead of Saturday's game after dealing with shoulder injuries the previous week.

Coleman wasted little time making an impact, catching two passes for 61 yards and a touchdown on Texas' opening possession.

Then he was gone.

Smothers, who missed the Ole Miss victory entirely, returned to action but managed just four carries before exiting again.

Neither player's latest injury has been fully detailed publicly. But returning two important offensive contributors only to see both leave another game is hardly encouraging.

READ MORE: Longhorns RB Hollywood Smothers Expected to Return From Injury vs. Mississippi State

Wingo's departure only complicates matters further.

Texas has the receiving talent to survive an absence or two. Emmett Mosley V demonstrated as much Saturday, catching four passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

But there's a difference between having capable replacements and being comfortable relying on them for an extended stretch.

And Sarkisian's concerns extend well beyond the offense.

Phillips and Littleton both failed to finish, creating additional uncertainty in a secondary that could be forced to make adjustments.

Following Littleton's exit, Texas shifted Warren Roberson to outside cornerback and Bo Masco into the slot, according to Texas Longhorns On SI.

That's the kind of reshuffling that becomes considerably more difficult when multiple players in the same position group are unavailable.

And remember, Texas entered Saturday already without star pass rusher Colin Simmons and left tackle Trevor Goosby, who is out for the season.

This isn't one position group dealing with an isolated injury.

It's an offense adjusting without its starting left tackle, a receiving corps facing questions about two major contributors, a running back room with lingering health concerns and a secondary potentially needing another round of adjustments.

That doesn't mean all five players will miss next weekend's game against Missouri.

But it does mean Sarkisian has some important decisions ahead of him ... and not much time to make them.

READ MORE: No. 11 Texas Dominates Mississippi State 31-3 Behind Defensive Masterclass: Recap & Takeaways

Texas visits Missouri on Nov. 7 before traveling to LSU the following weekend. After hosting Arkansas on Nov. 21, the Longhorns conclude their regular season against Texas A&M on Nov. 27.

Three road games in four weeks, with a College Football Playoff berth still very much in play.

There's something to be said for how Texas handled Saturday's circumstances.

Despite the departures, the Longhorns allowed just 187 total yards, produced seven sacks and never let Mississippi State seriously threaten their lead.

That's encouraging. It speaks to the talent Sarkisian has assembled and the depth available when circumstances demand it.

But beating a depleted Mississippi State team at home isn't the same challenge as navigating the final month of an SEC schedule.

Texas has enough talent to overcome injuries. What remains to be seen is how many it can absorb before the losses start affecting results.

Saturday proved the Longhorns can make a football game look easy.

It didn't prove they can afford to keep losing important pieces.

And before Texas worries about beating Missouri, Sarkisian needs to find out how much of his roster he'll actually have available to do it.