After a promising start to the season, the Longhorns have dropped two straight games to SEC opponents. Those losses came in disappointing fashion as Steve Sarkisian's team collapsed in the second half. While a lot has gone wrong, Sarkisian highlighted one area when speaking with the media earlier this week.

When asked about the Longhorns' play in critical situations, Sarkisian gave a blunt response.

"Really poor in critical situations of the game," Sarkisian said. "That's on us as coaches and players executing. I'm not pointing the finger at anybody. It's all areas involved."

Over the last two weeks, Texas has failed to make critical stops or put teams away. They have also turned the ball over and given opponents great field position as the game winds down.

Because of the Longhorns' recent play, everything is on the table heading into this weekend's matchup with Ole Miss as they have dropped out of the top ten. Changes have already been on display in practice this week, as redshirt freshman quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. will reportedly get more first-team snaps. While Arch Manning is still projected to start, Sarkisian is giving Lacey more opportunities to prove himself. 

For the Longhorns to get back on track, they will need to better with the game on the line. That includes Arch Manning, who has come under fire for his inability to protect the football. If he can fix that issue, then the Texas offense should be in good hands. 

This weekend will be a good opportunity for the Longhorns to redeem themselves as Ole Miss is ranked seventh in the nation. A win over a top ten team would help Texas move closer to the top ten and boost their playoff resume. However, it will all come down to how this team performs in crucial moments and responds to their coaches' blunt, spot-on assessment of their recent play.