Steve Sarkisian is 0-5 against championship-level programs like Ohio State and Georgia since 2024, and now the No. 1 Buckeyes are rolling into Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. This isn’t just another game; it’s the defining moment for Sarkisian and the No. 4 Texas Longhorns. They’ve spent five years building to this, and if they want a signature win, Saturday is it.
Sarkisian’s Signature Win Drought Is Getting LOUD
Look, the numbers don’t lie. Since 2024, Sarkisian’s Longhorns are a stellar 24-1 against pretty much everyone else. That’s a fantastic record! But when they line up against the best, specifically Ryan Day’s Ohio State and Kirby Smart’s Georgia, they’re getting shut out. Zero wins, five losses. This isn’t their first rodeo with the Buckeyes either; it’s the third straight season they’ve played, and the prior two were described as “terrible, frustrating losses marred by coaching and execution errors.” This isn’t just a tough schedule, it’s a pattern, and for a program that’s been working for half a decade to get here, this game against No. 1 Ohio State is everything. Sarkisian simply cannot afford another loss here.
Texas Is ALL IN For Arch Manning’s Likely Final Ride
After narrowly missing the College Football Playoff last season, the Longhorns pushed all their chips to the middle. Why? They’re maximizing what’s expected to be Arch Manning’s final year, and they left nothing to chance. They invested heavily, convincing left tackle Trevor Goosby, defensive tackle Hero Kanu, and safety Jelani McDonald to return. Then, they hit the transfer portal hard, snagging wide receiver Cam Coleman, who’s already seen as the No. 2 receiver in college football after coming over from Auburn. Linebacker Rasheem Biles and running backs Raleek Brown, a 1,000-yard rusher from Arizona State, and Hollywood Smothers, who was close to that mark, also joined the squad. They even brought in Wake Forest transfer Sterling Berkhalter for key depth. On top of that, they made a major coaching change, replacing Pete Kwiatkowski with Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator. Texas State coach G.J. Kinne even told CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz that Manning’s setup “kind of reminds me when Joe Burrow had Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. He’s got elite weapons around him and he’s really talented.” This roster is nearly unimpeachable, stacked with playmakers and multi-year program leaders. They are built for this moment.
This Saturday, No. 1 Ohio State comes to town, and it’s the ultimate test for an “all-in” Texas team. For Sarkisian, Arch Manning, and the entire Longhorns program, this is the game to prove they can contend with the best. What happens on that field is going to tell us everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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