AUSTIN, Texas — Facing a top-10 team and potential Big 12 champion on the road Saturday, the BYU Cougars knew they would need a big-time performance from veteran quarterback Kedon Slovis to hang with the No. 7 Texas Longhorns .
They simply didn't get it.
Slovis couldn't spark a BYU offense that has been sluggish all season and committed three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble while being strip-sacked — in BYU's 35-6 loss in front of 101,670 fans at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium and a national television audience (ABC).
Cries for head coach Kalani Sitake to give backup QB Jake Retzlaff a chance when the offense obviously needed a jolt rang out on social media, but the eight-year coach says he never considered making a change.
"I think everybody thinks the easy answer is just to get another quarterback in there. How about let's just protect for him first? And you know, give him a chance," Sitake said when he was asked if either he or offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick talked about making a change.
"When he is getting hit, that's not his fault. That's a protection (issue). We had issues with the protection breaking down," Sitake said. "He was managing the game the way we wanted him to."
In fairness, neither interception was totally Slovis' fault. On the first one, his pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. On the second one, receiver Darius Lassiter got his hands on the high ball but it skipped off them and a Texas linebacker snagged it.
"We just weren't converting on plays. Again, Texas had a say in that," Sitake said. "They have a really good defense and they made things difficult on us."
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) tries to side step BYU safety Raider Damuni (33) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas' Xavier Worthy (1) returns a punt for a touchdown against BYU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis (10) throws under pressure from Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell (88) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas' Xavier Worthy (1) returns a punt for a touchdown against BYU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) breaks up a pass intended for Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) looks to throw against BYU during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his team prepare to take the field for an NCAA college football game against BYU in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) lunges for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis, left, is upended by Texas defensive end Tausili Akana, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) is upended by BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) catches a pass in front of BYU safety Raider Damuni (33) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis, left, is upended by Texas defensive end Tausili Akana, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) runs past BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, left, argues a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU place kicker Will Ferrin (44) celebrates his field goal against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) is hit by BYU safety Raider Damuni (33) on a run during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU safety Crew Wakley, left, tips away a pass intended for Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (0) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU cornerback Eddie Heckard (5) breaks up a pass intended for Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (0) makes a catch over BYU safety Crew Wakley (38) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is upended by BYU safety Crew Wakley (38) on a run during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is upended by BYU safety Crew Wakley (38) on a run during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) makes a catch against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (0) is tripped up just short of the goal line by BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas defensive end J'Mond Tapp (17) breaks up a pass intended for BYU running back Miles Davis (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. Tapp was called or pass interference on the play. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks (24) dives over BYU safety Ethan Slade (26) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas running back Keilan Robinson (7) runs past BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) is lifted by teammate Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) after he scored a touchdown against BYU during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, right, runs for a touchdown against BYU during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. | Eric Gay, Associated Press
Slovis did make some good throws, such as one that Lassiter hauled in despite getting interfered with, drawing a flag. He finished 24 of 39 for a passer rating of 93.7.
"I believe in our players. I believe in Kedon. I believe in our guys. We just didn't make enough plays," Sitake said. "When people are looking for sparks and things like that, you lose your players once you start looking for sparks all over the place."
Slovis didn't take the loss on his shoulders, as he did in the 44-11 loss at TCU two weeks ago. He praised BYU's defense, saying that unit kept it reasonably close and gave the offense plenty of opportunities to get going.
"They gave us a chance, kept us in the game," Slovis said. "We have to make the most of it when we get the opportunities."
The Cougars were 2 of 13 on third down and 2 of 3 on fourth down, once again falling behind the chains time and again and putting Slovis in tenuous third and long situations.
"I want to be aggressive," Sitake said. "… If the offense isn't progressing down the field, if we are not scoring points, it is an 11-man problem. It is not just one guy.
"It is also a problem with us coaching getting our guys in the right spot," Sitake continued. "So (let's) address the issues and the deficiencies — let's make it better — and not make something up when it is not even there."
Crew Wakley's first half interception and return to the 10 seemingly put the Cougars in excellent shape, but Max Tooley was flagged for a block in the back and BYU lost 50 yards of field position.
Wakley and Slovis both said the final score isn't a good reflection of how competitive the game was.
"If you look at the score and you didn't watch the game, it looks like we got our butts kicked more than we did, I feel like," Wakley said. "But there is no panic mode (in this team) by any means."
Said Slovis: "I think at times we had a lot of success. I don't think the score necessarily reflects it. We were in the game late with a chance. Kind of one play in a drive killed us. … And really they are a great team."
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Although he was sacked twice and pressured several other times, Slovis praised BYU's offensive line, saying it "did a good job handling them" and called the Texas defensive line "one of the best I've been around, if not the best."
So what was the problem? Why can't this team move the football and score more points?
Sitake said the Cougars aren't doing the little things needed to win.
Slovis said the team's unity will pull it through.
"This team has done a great job sticking together through adversity. There is no finger-pointing. I love these guys. We love each other," he said. "Defense, offense, regardless of who is having their day, this teams sticks together for the most part."
And Sitake is sticking with his starter — at least for the time being.
