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Coming home on your shield: The best Longhorn performances in losses

by:RT Young•02/27/25
Sam Ehlinger
Sam Ehlinger (Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images)

Tre Johnson’s 39-point performance in last night’s overtime loss at Arkansas was one of the best I’ve seen from a Longhorn in defeat. 

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Sometimes, a great individual effort in a loss can inspire as much as a win. I’m reminded of the ancient Spartan warriors who died valiantly in battle, then were carried home on their shields. 

Here are the best performances by Longhorns in losing efforts that come to mind. What are yours?

2004: Derrick Johnson vs. Oklahoma

The last Red River game I can remember being played in the rain. Texas lost 12-0 to an Oklahoma team that went on to play for a national championship, but DJ was everywhere. He had 16 tackles, an interception, and landed one of his signature uppercut punch forced fumbles on Jason White in a play that should have paved the path to a Golden Hat.

2007: Kevin Durant vs. Oklahoma State

Like Johnson last night, KD had a monster game in a losing effort—37 points in a triple-overtime thriller at Oklahoma State. One of the greatest back-and-forths in Texas basketball history, it was a reminder of Durant’s innate scoring ability that still wows nearly 20 years later.

2015: Jerrod Heard vs. Cal

I was in the north end zone, right behind the field goal where Nick Rose missed the game-tying extra point against Cal. For a brief second, parts of the stadium cheered like he made it—then reality set in. For one night, it looked like Texas had finally found its quarterback. Heard put on a show, rallying Texas from a three-score deficit to Jared Goff’s Cal squad with 527 total yards, breaking a Vince Young record. This one still stings.

2020: Sam Ehlinger vs. Oklahoma

One of the worst viewing experiences ever, pregame, in-game, and postgame. The socially distanced Red River was a cruel reminder of just how different life was in 2020. The game was a frustrating mess until Sam Ehlinger decided he wasn’t going out quietly. Joel Klatt said on the broadcast that Texas hadn’t played well at all but was still in it because of Ehlinger’s “will.” Six touchdowns and four overtimes later, he left the rivalry on his shield.

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Honorable mentions: Wane McGarity vs. Texas Tech (1998), Malcolm Williams vs. Texas Tech (2008), almost all of D’Onta Foreman’s 2016 season, Mike Antico vs. Mississippi State in Omaha and Jahdae Barron’s games vs. Georgia this past season.

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