The Texas running game didn’t just magically change itself the last two weeks. What happened against Kentucky and Texas A&M was the result of a month-long challenge laid down by coach Steve Sarkisian.

Running back Quintrevion Wisner posted back-to-back career highs to close out the regular season. His 158 rushing yards against Kentucky was the highest total any Longhorn had put up all year.

Then, Wisner ran for 186 yards on 33 carries in another banner day for him and the Longhorns at Kyle Field. His rushing set the second-half tone as No. 3 Texas closed out a 17-7 win over No. 20 Texas A&M and clinched a spot in the SEC championship game.

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‘They physically annihilated us’ — Longhorns showcase SEC championship-caliber defense vs. Aggies

Used to be, the Aggies’ three most hated words were “Hook ’em Horns.” That’s been replaced with a new phrase. After further review. As in, after further review, No. 3 Texas has an SEC-championship caliber defense and an exceptional running back in Quintrevion Wisner. After further review, Arch Manning indeed got the ball over the […]

“Man, the standard is the standard. Every game is an SEC championship game,” Wisner said. “So every week, we’re not just coming out there fiddle-dazzling around. We’re coming out there to get better and to compete at a high level.

“Every week that we come out and no matter who the opponent is becoming, we're coming for everything.”

This is all the result of Sarkisian refusing to accept mediocrity.

The Longhorns were averaging 189 rushing yards during the first six games of the season. Then came a dreadful performance against Georgia. The ground game managed a paltry 29 yards, allowing the Bulldogs to pin their ears back and come after quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Then, Texas had 104 yards against Vanderbilt. Yes, the Horns won in Nashville, but it was closer than most burnt-orange observers felt it should have been. Texas won 27-24.

The Horns had the following week off knowing they were about to embark on a critical four-game closing stretch that would decide their SEC and College Football Playoff fate.

“About a month ago coming out of that bye, I really challenged the offensive line, the tight ends, the runners, the receivers blocking downfield,” Sarkisian said. “We got to get our running game going, and it’s got to be a real factor for us to be the offense that we want to be. And boy, they responded.

Texas had 210 rushing yards in a win over Florida and 139 against Arkansas. But the Horns were simply dominant on the ground against the Wildcats, putting together a 15-play drive with 15 consecutive running plays to essentially run out the clock and win 31-14.

Sarkisian turned Wisner loose in the second half against the Aggies, too. Texas did it with backup left tackle Trevor Goosby, a redshirt freshman, who stepped in when projected first-round draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr. left the game with an ankle injury. It appeared Banks was accidentally leg-whipped by an A&M defender making a separate move.

The Horns finished with 240 yards on the ground, the second highest total the Aggies have allowed all season. Wisner was seen on a stationary bike toward the end of the game trying to move his legs. He was exhausted. But a winner.

“Tre Weisner has taken this ball and he is running with it,” the coach added. “He’s running with it with a mentality and an attitude and a toughness that I think then energizes the offensive line and the tight ends and everybody else, and part of that is because of the teammate that he is.

“I think they know how much he cares for everybody else. Man, what more can I do for this guy, to give him an opportunity to find a crease, to create a run?”