A historic defensive masterclass nearly evaporated in a flurry of late-game blunders and penalties, leaving the top-ranked Longhorns clinging to a frantic victory ahead of the Red River Rivalry.
A sigh of relief. But also signs of doubt.
Because in an ugly, lucky win in Knoxville on Saturday, the Texas Longhorns’ collapse was almost as bad as their Ohio State comeback was good.
For all but one series - when defensive coordinator Will Muschamp inexplicably called off the dogs and went in to a prevent - Texas smothered Tennessee. The Longhorns produced 10 sacks (including a school record-tying five by Colin Simmons) and over a nine-possession stretch held the Volunteers to seven punts and two turnovers on downs.
Somehow, it was barely enough. Despite its dominating defense and a 10-point lead with 90 seconds remining, Texas didn’t clinch this 20-17 victory and hang on to its No. 1 ranking until safety Jelani McDonald knocked down a Hail Mary pass in the end zone as time expired.
You usually don’t complain about an SEC road win against the No. 14-ranked opponent. But … the glass-half-empty crowd has a lot of juice for the upcoming Bye week before the Oct. 10 showdown against OU.
Special teams were awful, allowing a punt return for a touchdown and botching an onside kick. The offense wasn’t much better, producing only 262 yards and allowing five sacks of quarterback Arch Manning. And the lack of discipline and detail was glaring, evidenced by a whopping 11 penalties for 115 yards.
The Longhorns had this game comfortably won, leading 20-10 in the final two minutes. Then … a comedy of errors unbecoming of supposedly America’s best team.
*Cornerback Bo Mascoe fell asleep and didn’t find the football to allow a shocking touchdown catch.
*Ryan Wingo let a drop-kicked squibber squirt through his hands on the ensuing kickoff.
*Edge rusher Zina Umeozulu grabbed the facemask of Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon, turning 3rd-and-19 into a first down and the last-gasp chance for the Vols.
*And what in the world was Simmons thinking when on one his sacks, on third-and-13, he pantomimed urinating on the Vols' field?
In the end, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian took puffs off a cigar in the postgame press conference ... saying he was honoring a Tennessee custom.
"It's just a little bit of tradition here in Tennessee," Sarkisian said. "We got cigars or somebody had cigars in there. I'm not certain."
In fact, smoking cigars after a victory is a tradition famous in the rivalry between the Vols and Alabama.
Blowing a 10-point lead to Tennessee would have negated every drop of positivity - no victory cigars allowed - earned from the 20-point rally over the Buckeyes.
The Longhorns held their breath, then walked out of Neyland Stadium holding their nose.
