Once the excitement of Wednesday’s double-overtime win abates, Texas coaches will go back to the drawing board about the offensive woes that nearly cost the Longhorns dearly in the Peach Bowl.

The Horns didn’t run the ball well, netting just 53 yards. It caused real problems in the second half and fourth quarter, prompting coach Steve Sarkisian to go away from it completely and pass when the situation called to bleed the clock.

“We knew coming into the game that they were a tremendous ball possession team,” Sarkisian said after the 39-31 win, “and they do a great job of taking care of the ball.”

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The stagnant run game couldn't help the Horns get off the goal line midway through the third quarter after a strong defensive stand. Matthew Golden missed his block, an ASU defender smashed into Quintrevion Wisner, who lost the ball and Ewers grabbed it before being tackled. 

If Texas could have run the ball better, the offense could have likely closed out the game in regulation.

Quinn Ewers delivered biggest throws of his Longhorns’ career in double-overtime Peach Bowl stunner over Sun Devils

It felt like the perfect setup to a blowout victory. Texas was in total control in the Peach Bowl, and ESPN reported that Cam Skattebo was “vomiting profusely” on the Arizona State sideline. And somehow, Skattebo led the Sun Devils out of a 16-point hole. Texas’ Bert Auburn missed a potential go-ahead field goal late, […]

The Horns got the ball back with five minutes left at their own 35-yard line. Ewers had completions of seven, 16 and 14 yards to move downfield, even navigating around two Cole Hutson false start penalties.

With the ball at the Arizona State 35 with two minutes left, the Horns should have run the ball and ran some clock. Instead, the Horns ran three consecutive passing plays — two incompletions to Matthew Golden and a broken play that led to a five-yard scramble by Ewers.

Those three plays took 16 seconds total off the board.

Facing fourth-and-10 from the Arizona State 30, Sarkisian sent kicker Bert Auburn onto the field to attempt a 48-yard field goal, a distance he’s struggled with all season. Auburn came into the Peach Bowl 6-for-13 on field goals from 40 yards or longer.

With a chance to hit a go-ahead field goal, Auburn missed.

The defense forced a punt, so the Horns got another chance, starting at their own 20. This time, Texas had to pass with 57 seconds left. Big completions to Gunnar Helm and Ryan Wingo got the offense moving, and Quintrevion Wisner’s seven-yard catch got UT closer. But Auburn missed again, this time from 38 yards, as his potential game-winning field goal hit the left upright.

Ewers’ thrilling double-overtime throws masked the problems up front. That must change against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, or Texas will have no chance.

The Buckeyes have the nation’s fifth-best run defense, five spots better than the Longhorns. Oregon finished with minus-23 rushing yards in a 41-21 loss in the Rose Bowl.

Sarkisian lamented his team’s offensive woes against the Sun Devils. But the Horns are at least still alive in the College Football Playoffs. The Ducks are going to the offseason.

Something has to change in the Cotton Bowl.

“Just we didn't have a lot of opportunities, and we weren't taking advantage of things on first and second down to stay ahead of the chains. We were getting in third and longs. We were punting the ball, and it got difficult.