Kansas scored 48 points against Texas on Saturday in a loss. That’s a fact most probably already know, but that number is striking enough that it’s worth additional examination. For those new to this college football thing, Texas is Goliath and Kansas is David. This is traditional heavyweight versus a program that’s long been among the worst in the FBS.

Texas went a combined 36-28 between 2011-15, among the darkest stretches in school history, and still managed to finish 5-0 against Kansas. Note that 5-0 number: The Longhorns allowed just 50 total points in that stretch!

Thus, there is a feeling of woe in Austin despite a thrilling, last-second win.

The Jayhawks gave Texas fans four-dozen reasons to worry. Yet that 48-point barrage is merely the continuation of what’s been a season-long issue for the Longhorns. Seven games into the 2019 campaign and this Texas defense is on pace to be the worst in school history.

With all things, however, context is critical. In this case, the Longhorns were started nine underclassmen Saturday. Injuries have so beset Texas’ defense,it feels like the count of walking wounded exceeds even the team’s missed tackle count – maybe not, but it’s close. Remember, this wasn’t an experienced defense coming into the year with three returning starters. You can overcome youth and you can overcome injuries. Dealing with both is an altogether different sort of challenge.

Any calculation with this defense is tricky. How does one judge a historically bad defense that’s dealt with a near unprecedented rash of injuries? To Texas head coach Tom Hearman there's no need to weigh context.

“I don't think you do," Herman said. "We've had some of these guys two years, three years for some of them. It's our job to develop them. There's a standard of performance at The Univeristy of Texas that's acceptable and regardless of who you put out there you've got to meet those standards."

From an evaluation standpoint, it’s hard to argue with numbers. Examine it any way you choose, this defense is struggling at a historic rate. Here’s a smattering of critical stats with Texas’ all-time worst listed on the left and the 2019 results to the right.

Yards Allowed Per Game: 452.6 in 2015 | 469.9 in 2019

Points Allowed Per Game: 33.3 in 1997 | 30.7 in 2019

Yards Allowed Per Play: 6.65 in 1993 | 6.42 in 2019

Yards Allowed Per Rush: 5.52 in 1956 | 4.62 in 2019

Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 277.8 in 2007 | 310 in 2019

Opponent Completion Percentage: 60.7% in 2016 | 63.3% in 2019

Not great. It’s not as if inflation helps those numbers, either. Texas ranks 93rd or worst nationally in all six of those categories. The yards allowed per play number is particularly of concern. The Longhorns slot 113th nationally in the FBS, and only three of the 17 teams behind them have winning records. Note, Texas’ 2018 defense, hardly an elite unit at 61st nationally, allowed 5.6 yards per play.

The Longhorns (5-2) are winning because of a prolific offense. But a dreadful defense doesn’t leave much margin for error they saw in shootout losses to LSU and Oklahoma.

At the same time, Texas’ defensive injury report would make the core of a pretty strong starting 11. Just look at the spattering of Longhorn defenders who were out Saturday: Chris Brown (redshirt junior starting safety), Jeffrey McCulloch (senior starting linebacker), Josh Thompson (junior starting DB), Jalen Green (sophomore staring cornerback) and Caden Sterns (sophomore starting safety). Overall, more than half of the team's usual starters were out for at least part of Saturday's game.

That sounds bad. It also hasn’t been unusual for the Longhorns during a campaign in which injuries have flared week after week.

It also bears mentioning Kansas entered coming off a bye and an offensive coordinator switch. Brent Dearmon, previously at Bethel University, didn’t provide Texas much FBS film to study; he’d served as a senior offensive consultant at Kansas early in the season.

In summary: Texas defense is historically bad despite a defensive coordinator, Todd Orlando, who makes $1.7 million a year and talent that slots it among the most naturally gifted in the country. Yet … that talent is inexperienced and mostly injured.

Does one outweigh the other?

Probably. College football coaches are paid for results, and Texas’ backups have a higher ceiling than 80 percent of starting depth charts nationally. That Texas is on pace to be the worst defense in school history is a problem, especially when you consider this team entered the 2019 campaign with College Football Playoff hopes.

"We started nine, from an eligability standpoint, freshmen or sophomores the other night," Herman said. "But at a place like Texas that’s never going to be an excuse. We recruit well enough and should develop well enough that nights like Saturday night don’t happen. We’ve got to do a better job on our end as coaches.”

Yet that issue seems to have a clear solution – health.

Like all things, this evaluation is a balance. The Longhorns’ defensive circumstances look dire. But by season’s end, with a more experienced and less banged up defense, the calculus alters considerably. If you feel the need to call for coaching scalps – and many a message board poster already are, starting with Orlando – that’s the fair time to do so. Being patient is a tough thing in college football. Given the circumstances, however, it’s the only rational thing to do in Austin.