Welcome to The Reheata weekly recap of the previous day's game, straight out of the microwave. Look for it every Sunday, rain or shine.

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Over the years, I've been told by my friends waving pom-poms, getting haircuts and chanting SEC chants that such a thing exists SEC grind. After four games in a new conference, I'm not sure I agree with that doctrine, but maybe I do if part of the effort is intentionally making things harder for yourself.

Texas and Quinn Ewers picked up a win against ranked Vanderbilt in Nashville, but could have won by much more. Stop me if you've heard this before, but what stopped you? Steve Sarkisian Deadly penalties, turnovers and a lack of complementary football on offense and special teams kept the team coming away with a comfortable win.

At this point I'm starting to worry that this is a feature of Sark's teams – something he will solve not through better recruiting, sound quarterback play or experience, but by looking within. Tom Hermann had a penchant for close games because he was too much of a control freak and forced inferior teams to play in a phone booth.

But Sark wants bankruptcy; He wants to blow every team off the face of the earth, take a 28-3 lead in the first half through game plan, physicality and team speed, then run the ball, burn up the clock and win 31-6. I think the way Texas won against Michigan was Sark's fantasy, his version of the Princess Leia outfit. But all too often, the second half of Texas games feels very different than the first. Without a Bijan Robinson or Jonathan Brooks Relying on the running game to wear down a defense doesn't work – especially when the offensive line commits five holding penalties, especially on long runs that negate shots on goal.

Ewers threw beautiful touchdown passes Matthew Golden And DeAndre Moore Jr. and was better overall yesterday despite two picks on batted balls. He still avoids midfield after his injury. I can only think of two successful pocket step-ups against pressure that resulted in completions Gunnar Helm And Silas Bolden in the middle. That's where Quinn felt most comfortable, where he destroyed teams last year. It's as if Tim Duncan suddenly became afraid of the bank shot from the left side and refused to take it.

After the disaster in Stillwater, Oklahoma two years ago, I thought Sark and Ewers resembled the couple you know should break up because they both believe the other will change. They're the couple who leave dinner with a large group to argue in the parking lot, yet stay together even though their friends tell them they're not right for each other. Normally this relationship ends in disaster, but Sark and Quinn made it work admirably by compromising.

Yesterday was a case in point: Sark devised a swing-pass game plan that allowed Quinn to get comfortable and let his receivers and backs work in the open field. Once he settled in, he worked well on the sidelines. But it's still not the offense we saw before the injury. It barely takes advantage of the freshman phenomenon Ryan Wingoand the production of Golden also came at a price. If this isn't Sark's ideal attack at the moment, he needs to find ways to win that don't require onside kicks. The chances of winning big are still there – they just might look different than he dreams.

Texcalibur will need a trip to the local sword sharpener as the Longhorns' defense has forced six turnovers against solid SEC quarterbacks in the last two weeks Carson Beck And Diego Pavia. Unfortunately, the Texas offense rewarded that defense with just 10 points, which is the equivalent of saying thank you to a close friend by giving them the Williams-Sonoma Panini press you got for your wedding.

Meanwhile, the Texas offense has turned the ball over to the point where it is responsible for 31 of the 54 points given up, while the special teams inability to turn the field has made it much easier for opponents to get into field goal range, than it should be. And when the Horns took a three-point lead to a double-digit lead, a pick-six and 17-point win was erased because of fifth-year defensive tackle Vernon Broughton hurled into Pavia's head.

Santa Claus, if you're listening, can the three sides of the ball play well at the same time? Please.

The Longhorns have not performed at their level in the last four games and have four more to go. Last year, Texas looked shaky toward the end of the season before getting it right and dominating as it progressed. Let's hope for it again.

It's a good time for a bye week.

Fire the cannon for: Quinn Ewersfor a solid away performance after the worst game of his career. He will be a case study in introductory psychology textbooks once he is the one you find among examples Confirmation bias. Ewers' critics blame him for everything and see what they want to see. If he's released, the boos will blame him for not reaching into the pocket, even if the running backs and offensive line didn't pick up a lightning-quick linebacker. When the offensive falters, they throw him under the fan bus. I didn't see Quinn pinning any Vanderbilt defenders, for what that's worth.

On the other hand, Ewers advocates (which I certainly can be) look the other way when it's obvious the defense is feasting on the fact that Quinn doesn't want to get hit in the moment. Luckily, the combination of Quinn and Sark can beat you in other ways, and hopefully the time off and a game against a toothless Florida Gators team will allow the Longhorns to get their full arsenal of plays and weapons back.

Full of offense for: DeAndre Moore Jr. I wish I could repeat my People's Champ predictions from the summer.

Defend yourself for: Michael Taaffe.

Bevos bucket for: I have a template for it The warm-up to make it easier for me every Sunday. I'm just going to start putting “punishments” in that category until Sark and company prove me wrong.

Schadenfreude of the week: Brian Kelly And because LSU was as deceitful as Kelly's fake Southern accent, it robbed Texas fans of a perfect Saturday, so we'll have to settle for Oklahoma continuing to fester. But we need to start a letter writing campaign for Texas fans to Norman soon: “Please don’t fire Brent.”

This hot take burned the roof of my mouth: The Aggies' brief trip to cloud nine crashes and explodes next Saturday in Columbia.

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Hype train level: I'm looking forward to the bye week.