For once, the red zone offense was not the problem for Texas but Steve Sarkisian reveals what he believes to be a simple solution

Everyone has criticized Steve Sarkisian's red zone efficiency over the years. And for good reason. Texas entered Saturday's game versus Florida 104th in third down conversions (35.8 percent), 99th in red zone conversions (77.3 percent) and 127th in penalty yards per game (78.3 percent).

This seems to be a product of a lack of cohesion, balance, and rhythm. Texas is committing too many penalties, getting behind the sticks, and forcing a first-year quarterback with an offensive line replacing four starters to do A LOT.

This is not going to work for seven more games. But, Sarkisian thinks he has an idea.

Figuratively, Texas is still alive in the CFP. But there's a very thin margin.

"You know, there's a lot of lot of football left to be played. We have got seven conference games to be played. You know, I'm not going to sit here and give us the poor me's the woe is us. We'll get back. We'll get ready to go," Sarkisian said. "Obviously, got a big, pivotal game next week against a rival opponent in Oklahoma, very good football team.

"We need to get ourselves ready to play and focus on next week. I think one of the mistakes we can make is to look big picture. We need to focus on this week and put our best foot forward and to get ready to play against a good football team."

Arch Manning has been bad in big spots. No way around it. The offensive line has struggled, the run game is nowhere to be found, and the wide receivers are just not making the plays they did last season.

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For whatever reason, the big game continues to elude Steve Sarkisian in the SEC.

CBS Sports' Chip Patterson wrote about this after Saturday's loss.

"Texas is 3-7 against the combination of Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State under Steve Sarkisian. He's a whopping 41-19 overall but well below .500 in some of the highest-profile games as Longhorns coach. Saturday's loss to Florida doesn't really connect to that fact, but what is now a 9-15 record in one-score games certainly does. 

"There's this notion that will get some traction that Texas has annually fielded one of the more dangerous teams in the country in the last couple of years under Sarkisian. But the feeling that more could have been won or accomplished will come back to the anecdotal notion that the wheels aren't screwed on quite tight enough for the Longhorns to win the big races. 

"The failures on third down showed up again against the Gators, and so did the back-breaking penalties and the inconsistency on offense. Texas was given multiple opportunities to climb back into the game and perhaps even steal one in enemy territory, which is something that the best teams will do often when playing on the road in conference play."

This Texas team has yet to live up to the hype.

From media darling in the offseason to preseason No. 1 team in the country to the biggest brand with the biggest name under center, Sarkisian's program is now in desperate need of some answers. And there's no study guide for this test. The defense has been great, but its stars, for the most part, have been absent.

Colin Simmons looks like a shell of himself, Anthony Hill Jr., has had to do a lot on his own and looks exhausted. Michael Taaffe and the back end have been solid, but they can only cover people in space for so long. The defensive line has GOT to get pressure AND get home.

This season has a real chance of getting off the rails. The Longhorns still have the entire season to figure it out. But it better hurry.