Texas fell to No. 20 Oklahoma 45-40 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday.

Here are five takeaways from the Longhorns’ third-straight loss.

Longhorn defense still nowhere to be found

Head coach Charlie Strong promised results after taking over the defensive play-calling duties from Vance Bedford. The team entered the game giving up more points than any team in the Big 12.

And it was more of the same from the burnt-orange defense. The Longhorns surrendered 45 points and 679 yards, with 31 points coming in the second half.

Sooners junior quarterback Baker Mayfield torched Texas with 390 yards — a record in the rivalry matchup -- and three touchdowns. He connected early and often with senior receiver Dede Westbrook, who recorded 232 yards and three touchdowns on 10 receptions — also a record for receptions in the rivalry.

The Longhorns also failed to stop the run. Oklahoma junior running back Samaje Perine racked up 214 yards and two touchdowns against a seemingly overmatched Texas front.

The contest marked the fourth game this season where the Longhorns surrendered over 40 points.

Texas finally forces turnovers

Despite another abysmal defensive performance from the Longhorn defense, the unit finally found a way to force some turnovers -- Texas entered the day with just one takeaway on the season.

Senior safety Dylan Haines made a splash early with two interceptions in the first quarter -- though one came on a controversial no-call on a potential pass interference. Senior defensive tackle Poona Ford later contributed to the effort in the second quarter, forcing a fumble on a run by Sooners sophomore running back Joe Mixon.

The Longhorns added another turnover in the third quarter on a muffed punt by Mixon.

Texas failed to capitalize on the takeaways with just three points off turnovers. Still, the turnovers marked a little bit of progress after failing to record an interception in the first four weeks.

Strong and company have a lot of work to do to clean up the defense through the rest of the season. But the newfound ability to force turnovers is still a positive for the unit.

Foreman makes impact despite injuries

Texas running back D’Onta Foreman looked hobbled throughout the contest after injuring his abdomen against Oklahoma State last Saturday.

The junior didn’t show his usual burst early in the game and struggled to break tackles -- his signature skill.

But Foreman found a rhythm and ended up making a big impact for the Longhorns. He scored two touchdowns in the contest and still averaged a healthy 6.4 yards per carry. He finished the day with 159 yards to extend his streak to four 100-yard games in four contests this season.

Texas will count on Foreman to keep making plays this season. The junior usually splits carries with sophomore running back Chris Warren, who is sidelined six-to-eight weeks with a knee injury.

Foreman clearly wasn’t 100 percent in the Longhorns’ loss to Oklahoma, but Texas fans should still be encouraged by his performance.

Kicking game finds a rhythm

Texas’ kicking game made big strides on Saturday.

Senior kicker Trent Domingue went 2-2 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points in the loss. The field goal unit missed four total field goals in last week’s loss to the Cowboys, including three blocked extra points.

Special teams has been a source of problems for Strong over his three-year tenure. The Longhorns lost a pair of games last season on a missed extra point against California and a botched punt against Oklahoma State respectively.

The Longhorns look to keep their special teams mistake-free going forward.

A mixed bag for Buechele

Texas freshman quarterback Shane Buechele looked like ... a freshman in Texas’ loss to the Sooners.

He frustrated Texas fans with missed throws and poor decision making on some drives, while igniting big plays on others.

Buechele finished the day with a respectable line: 19-37 for 245 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. However, the Longhorns had a number of ugly drives, including five three and outs. He also turned a gift from Oklahoma -- a muffed punt inside its own 30-yard line -- into a turnover, throwing an interception on a corner route inside the 10-yard line.

Buechele still managed to lead the Longhorns to a 40-point performance. But his struggles serve as a reminder that Texas is still a young offense.

More coverage

Box score

Why Texas still needs Charlie Strong to stay on through the season

National reaction OU-UT: Strong's atrocious defense, 'Charlie's gone' chants, Bob Stoops doesn't impress either

Just how hot is Charlie Strong's seat now?

Malik Jefferson on Texas' defense: 'That's not fixed'

5 takeaways: Defense absent as Longhorns fall to Oklahoma for third-straight loss

5 takeaways from Oklahoma's 45-40 win over Texas: Westbrook is one of the game's deadliest WRs

After helping OU put up stats not seen in Showdown history, Baker Mayfield was entitled to a flag-waving moment

Texas RB D'Onta Foreman: It's 'unfair' for Charlie Strong to get criticized

News, notes

Different play-caller, same result for Longhorn defense in 45-40 loss to Oklahoma

Buechele doesn't come away with a win, but he nabbed a Texas record

Former Sachse standout Devin Duvernay's first college TD for Texas comes close to home

Baker Mayfield on Oklahoma receivers: 'When the ball was in the air, they were coming down with it'

Dede Westbrook sets Oklahoma record for receiving yards in a game

Oklahoma CB Michiah Quick expected to miss six weeks with MCL sprain

Oklahoma's Jordan Thomas makes the most of 'magic moments' vs. Texas

Westbrook, Perine combine for over 200 yards as OU leans on its workhorses

Oklahoma S Ahmad Thomas leaves Red River Showdown after taking a knee to the head

Photos: Game action | pre-game scene

Video

WATCH: Baker Mayfield connects with Dede Westbrook for 71-yard touchdown

WATCH: Texas gets away with pass interference, Baker Mayfield throws second pick

WATCH: Texas receiver Dorian Leonard makes juggling circus catch for a touchdown against Sooners

Other stuff

Gov. Greg Abbott's sports jinx strikes again; prediction Texas will beat OU falls flat

Can't make it to the Texas-OU game? Experience the environment right here

Replay: Oklahoma outlasts Texas 45-40