Arch Manning just dropped three touchdown passes, leading the No. 7 Texas Longhorns to a 34-20 win over No. 18 Missouri on Saturday, pushing their record to a solid 7-2. You’d think that’d be all sunshine and high-fives, right? Not according to head coach Steve Sarkisian, who flat-out claimed after the game that “Nobody believed” his team would even win.
Sarkisian Heard the Doubts, Even on the Plane
Sarkisian’s post-game comments, reported by On3.com’s Jonathan Wagner, painted a picture of a team feeling seriously disrespected. “Our guys, they’re not naive to noise,” he said. He wasn’t just talking hypothetically, either. He could “hear the talk getting on the plane yesterday,” and even “when we got here.” He kept emphasizing the “nobody believed” part. It wasn’t just about winning, it was about toughness too. “Nobody thought we were tough enough at the line of scrimmage. Everybody thought we’d get pushed around,” Sarkisian stated. Imagine being a coach and hearing that kind of chatter, even after you just notched a win against a ranked opponent.
The Longhorns Were Favored, So What Gives?
Here’s where it gets interesting, or maybe just a little confusing. While Sarkisian is out here saying “nobody believed” in his team, FanDuel Sportsbook actually had Texas favored to win this game. So, the narrative of being total underdogs doesn’t exactly line up with the betting odds. Regardless of the pre-game skepticism, real or perceived, Arch Manning absolutely showed up, slinging those three TDs and helping secure that 34-20 victory. It’s a huge win to move to 7-2, especially over a No. 18 team like Missouri.
So, Texas moves to 7-2 with a big win and a star quarterback stepping up. But the real story might be this lingering question of “belief” from their own coach. What does Sarkisian really think is going on here, despite the win? We’ll have to keep an eye on how this perception plays out for the Longhorns.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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