Steve Sarkisian isn’t taking Mississippi State lightly, even with the Bulldogs dealing with injuries and a three-game skid heading into Week 9.
Texas got what it needed last week, holding off Ole Miss 34-27 at home after watching a 24-3 lead slip away. It was the kind of win the Longhorns had to have after dropping two straight, and now they’ll try to build on it against Mississippi State.
That challenge comes against a team that opened the year 4-0 before running into a rough stretch against Alabama, LSU and Oklahoma. Sarkisian pointed first to what Mississippi State already proved early in the season.
“They got off to a tremendous start this season. You think about their ability,” Steve Sarkisian said.
“Minnesota turned out to be a pretty good football team, and their ability to win at Minnesota. South Carolina turned out to be a pretty good football team.
Their ability to win at South Carolina. Missouri turned out to be a pretty good football team, beating that Missouri team.
Obviously, they’ve gotten hit with the injury bug here a little bit, but they’ve still got very talented players.”
One of those injuries is Kamario Taylor, who could be out for the rest of the year. Fluff Bothwell has also missed time, adding to the list of setbacks Mississippi State has had to absorb.
Even so, Sarkisian made it clear he expects a sharp, difficult opponent on Saturday.
“They’ve got really good schemes on offense and defense,” Sarkisian said. “I have a ton of respect for Coach [Jeff] Lebby and Coach [Zach] Arnett and what they do on offense and defense.
It’s a little unique. They challenge you from a preparation standpoint.
I think they play with a lot of belief. We felt that last year when we were there at Starkville.
I’m sure they’re going to give us all they got Saturday night here at DKR.”
Texas enters the matchup with little margin for more mistakes. With two losses already and road games still looming against Missouri and LSU, the Longhorns need to handle business against Mississippi State on Saturday.
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