AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Longhorns have reached a critical point in the season. It’s time to start winning to risk getting shut of a bowl for the second time in five years. The Longhorns (2-4, 1-2 Big 12) need at least four wins in their final six games to qualify for a bowl in Strong’s first season. The only time Texas didn’t play in a bowl under former coach Mack Brown was 2010 when the Longhorns crashed to 5-7 the season after playing for a national championship.

The Longhorns are home Saturday night against Iowa State (2-4, 0-3). Texas played arguably its best game of the season in last week’s loss to Oklahoma. But big issues remain, including poor special teams and a habit of poor starts in the second half that have doomed Texas in all four losses.