DALLAS – So much for the nation’s No. 1 football team.

Texas entered Saturday’s Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma undefeated, nationally celebrated and supposedly ready to make a serious run at the College Football Playoff.

Instead, the Longhorns walked out of the Cotton Bowl with a stunning 27-24 loss, two costly interceptions from quarterback Arch Manning and a whole lot of explaining to do.

And maybe it’s time to admit something uncomfortable.

Texas simply hasn’t looked like the best team in college football, regardless of what the rankings said.

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Manning’s two interceptions proved devastating, particularly the final one that helped Oklahoma steal the game in the closing seconds.

With the contest tied at 24 and Texas trying to position itself for a winning field goal, Manning forced a throw toward Cam Coleman that Oklahoma intercepted with 19 seconds remaining.

The Sooners took advantage, moving into field-goal range before Tate Sandell drilled a 47-yard winner with five seconds left.

Game over. Undefeated season over. And perhaps the illusion of Texas being college football’s best team over, too.

But Manning had already put the Longhorns in trouble earlier.

With Texas leading 17-10 in the fourth quarter, Manning threw an ill-advised pass that Oklahoma safety Peyton Bowen intercepted and returned 42 yards for a touchdown.

That pick-six helped flip the game’s momentum and eventually gave Oklahoma a 24-17 advantage.

Manning deserves credit for responding with a touchdown pass to Jermaine Bishop that tied the game.

But let’s not confuse recovering from mistakes with avoiding them.

Championship quarterbacks can’t keep putting their teams in positions where spectacular comebacks are necessary because of their own decisions.

And Manning’s struggles weren’t exactly a surprise.

Before Saturday, Texas had averaged just 22 points against Power Four opponents. The offense had repeatedly leaned on its defense to compensate for inconsistent quarterback play and an inability to sustain drives.

Those aren’t characteristics of an unquestioned national championship favorite.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian deserves criticism, too.

This is his offense, his quarterback and his responsibility.

Texas has recruited elite talent, assembled an expensive roster and entered the weekend ranked above every other program in America.

Yet the Longhorns couldn’t put away an Oklahoma team that entered Saturday with two losses.

The defense certainly wasn’t flawless, and special teams contributed to the mess with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

But Manning’s turnovers were the defining mistakes.

Texas is still talented enough to compete for the SEC championship and a playoff berth.

However, there’s a significant difference between having championship talent and consistently playing championship football.

The Longhorns have spent much of this season benefiting from the reputation that comes with being ranked No. 1.

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Saturday, Oklahoma exposed the difference between reputation and reality.

Texas wasn’t beaten because it lacked talent. It was beaten because it made careless mistakes at the most important moments.

And the biggest mistakes came from the most celebrated player on the roster.

Arch Manning may eventually become the quarterback everyone expects him to be.

But Saturday, he looked nothing like the leader of the nation’s best football team.

And neither did Texas.