Inside the Numbers: Collin Johnson cements his status as one of the best

Texas Longhorns players, coaches, and fans are all disappointed by the come-from-behind loss to their hated rival, the Oklahoma Sooners. A combination of penalties and a high third-down conversion percentage kept the Oklahoma offense on the field too long, which is a killer when pitted against the No. 1 offense in the country.

However, in spite of the loss, a few Texas players had exceptional games against the Sooners and moved their names higher in the record books and prove they are among some Texas greats.

Time of Possession: Oklahoma +4:00

For all but one game this year, you could look at the time of possession for the game and tell whether the Texas Longhorns won or lost.

This is just the third time all year that Texas lost the time of possession battle. Those other two games? The season-opening loss against the Maryland Terrapins and the upset loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys to end Texas’s six-game winning streak. Texas is a remarkable 9-1 this year when coming out in the positive in time of possession, the only blemish being the last-second loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Heading into the fourth quarter with the game tied, Texas actually led the time of possession battle by 3:09, with Oklahoma holding the ball for just 20:51 of the game’s 45 minutes to that point. Oklahoma then held the ball for 11:09 of the games final 15 minutes. Much of that came on the six-minute drive capped off by an 18-yard touchdown to Grant Calcaterra, but Oklahoma also held the ball for the first 2:29 of the quarter, setting the tone for the late-game slowdown.

Collin Johnson: 8 rec, 177 yards, TD

After a few quiet weeks and finding himself left off of the All-Big 12 lists completely, Collin Johnson reminded everyone why he is one of the most dangerous weapons in all of college football.

His 177 yards breaks not only the Big 12 title game record, but it also becomes the highest total any Texas receiver has put on the Sooners in school history. The performance once again puts his name among some of the best in school history, tying Tony Jones, Jr. for No. 12 on the single-game yardage list.

With a bowl game left against the Georgia Bulldogs, Johnson has the opportunity to cement himself as one of the top receivers to ever wear Burnt Orange. His 945 yards this season already put him at No. 8 on the all-time list, and with just 45 yards against the Bulldogs, he will become just the 10th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season. His 2,025 career receiving yards put him at No. 9 all-time at the University of Texas, ahead of Limas Sweed.

He and Lil’Jordan Humphrey are also on pace to be one of the most prolific pairs of receivers in school history. If Johnson manages to pick up the 45 yards he needs against UGA, he and Humphrey will become just the second pair of receivers to eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season. The only other pair to do so was Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby in 2008. Johnson and Humphrey are just 129 combined yards from having the second-best season by a pair of receivers in school history.

Sam Ehlinger: 23-36, 349 yards and four total touchdowns (two passing, two rushing).

During the postgame, Sam Ehlinger put much of the blame on himself and the offense for Texas’ struggles, but the sophomore quarterback had yet another incredible game and continues to put his name among Longhorn legends.

With his four total touchdowns, he has now accounted for 38 total scores on the season, tying him with Vince Young for the second-most in school history, who he will presumably pass in the bowl game. No. 1 appears to be safe for now, barring a tremendous performance, as Colt McCoy’s 45 total scores in 2009 will likely not be touched this year.

Ehlinger sits just one rushing touchdown behind Young, Roosevelt Leaks, and three others for the No. 9 spot for single-season rushing touchdowns. Two against the Bulldogs will tie him with D’Onta Foreman’s Doak Walker Award-winning season.

His performance means he now sits at No. 6 for single-season passing and completions, No. 5 for total yardage in a season (passing Major Applewhite), No. 7 in career passing yardage, and No. 8 in career total yardage (passing Cedric Benson).

Wh a trip to the Sugar Bowl looming on the horizon and a tough matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs, the first team out of the College Football Playoff, Texas will likely need big performances from Ehlinger, Johnson and everyone else on the team. However, for those who came to Texas to bring it back to prominence, they have definitely put Texas back in the national spotlight in a positive light for the first time in a long time.