Texas vs. Kansas State is not a game to overthink. Texas lost the game because K-State is a much better team.

There are games this season that Texas should have won (West Virginia and TCU) and games in which Texas should have been more competitive (Oklahoma). But this game was neither of those.

The Longhorns did not get out-coached. As good as Kansas State's head coach Bill Snyder is — and he is one of the best in the country — Mack Brown delivered a game plan that kept the Longhorns close through three quarters. By the fourth quarter, the Wildcats simply overwhelmed the Longhorns.

Texas was out-played by better, more experienced players who executed flawlessly and had much more on the line. The Longhorns’ youth and lack of experience got the best of them again.

A silver lining
For a full three quarters, the Longhorns offered a glimpse of how good they can be. Texas led at the half 10-7 and were down only by four, 21-17, going into the fourth quarter.

The Longhorn defense scarcely allowed the Wildcat offense to score in the first half, and the Texas offense put the ball in the hands of play makers Daje Johnson, Jaxson Shipley, Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Grey. All made an impact, and all are either freshmen or sophomores.

Case McCoy, a rising senior next season, made his first start of the season — and it was a slow one. Actually, he started horribly. McCoy's first pass fell incomplete, and his second was intercepted for what would have been a pick-six touchdown had K-State's Nigel Malone not blundered by dropping the ball a half-yard before crossing the goal line. No matter: Collin Klein made it a touchdown in the next play.

McCoy straightened up though, completing his next 17 passes — a Longhorn feat also achieved by his older brother Colt.

Kansas State scored on the first possession of the second half and the game was on, with both teams trading touchdowns through the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Kansas State took control. Another McCoy interception, a Quandre Diggs fumbled punt, a Nick Jordan missed field goal and, much like the loss to West Virginia, another missed opportunity to win the game.

Eyes on the future
Still, given losses by Oklahoma State and TCU, Texas appears to be headed to the Cotton Bowl against LSU. It's the best possible scenario — an in-state game against a very good SEC opponent will push this football team to pay attention and set the standard where it needs to be.

This is not a time for heads to roll. Texas still owns the youngest football team in the nation (shared by TCU), and coaching changes will only set these youngsters back.

Texas needs Mack Brown to own this program now more than ever. The Longhorns need a personality. They need consistency. The team has play makers — lots of them — and they will have a larger senior class next season that includes Case McCoy. That said, they still need a better quarterback.

If Longhorn nation wants to compete for a BCS berth and another national championship, then patience is the best word to describe what Texas Longhorn fans need right now.