Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian just dropped a bomb, telling reporters Monday that Ohio State absolutely *should not* get punished for their gut-wrenching 24-23 loss in Austin this past Saturday. It’s a wild take from the winning coach, especially with the College Football Playoff Committee always looking for reasons to ding teams early in the season. Sarkisian says he hopes the Buckeyes avoid any fallout from what was an incredible game.
The 100-Degree Grudge Match That Sarkisian Won’t Forget
That game Saturday night was a certified slugfest, ending with Texas pulling out a nail-biting 24-23 victory. Ohio State lost in the final moments, scoring with only 25 seconds left on the clock. Sarkisian was quick to defend the Buckeyes, emphasizing the brutal conditions and the sheer competitiveness of the matchup. “I hope Ohio State does not get punished for that game Saturday night,” he told reporters. “They played a heck of a game. I mean, it’s 24-23. They lose scoring with 25 seconds to go in the game.” He wants the Committee to appreciate the fact that Ohio State “came to Austin, Texas, in September when it was 100 degrees and played us in that environment and played a heck of a game.” The man even went so far as to say, “They should not be punished. Quite frankly, Ohio State should be rewarded for playing in this game against us.” Talk about gracious!
From No. 1 to No. 6: The AP Poll’s Immediate Reaction
While Sarkisian’s comments sound super generous, there’s definitely a hint of pointed strategy there. Last season, Texas lost 14-7 to Ohio State in Columbus, ultimately finishing the regular season 9-3 and ranked No. 13, which left them out of the College Football Playoff. That team also took a bad loss against a 4-8 Florida squad, a result that likely soured them in the eyes of voters. Two-loss Notre Dame and BYU also missed the CFP that year, even though three-loss Alabama did get in (but their third loss came in the SEC Championship Game). Now, fast forward to this weekend: the Associated Press voters didn’t go easy on Ohio State, dropping them from the No. 1 spot all the way down to No. 6 after the loss. Texas, meanwhile, leaped from No. 4 to claim the No. 1 ranking.
Ohio State’s Gauntlet is Just Beginning
Here’s the thing for Ohio State: their schedule doesn’t get any easier from here. The Buckeyes have a brutal Big Ten gauntlet ahead, with huge matchups against Iowa, Indiana, USC, Oregon, and Michigan still on the horizon. All five of those teams are currently ranked in the top 25. This means Ohio State doesn’t have much margin for error left this season. They’re absolutely loaded with talent, but one loss this early in such a tight race means every single game going forward is going to be critical. Sarkisian is adamant that a close, hard-fought loss in Austin shouldn’t be the thing that ultimately sinks their season. The CFP Committee has a big decision to make, and Ohio State’s path to the playoffs is suddenly looking incredibly tough.
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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