Steve Sarkisian is already sounding the alarm about what could happen if Texas stumbles again against Ohio State.
The Longhorns have dropped each of the past two meetings with the Buckeyes, and last year’s loss hit even harder because it helped send Ohio State on its way to a national championship. Texas also lost in Columbus last season, and now the Buckeyes are headed to Austin for this year’s Week 2 showdown.
Sarkisian was asked about the College Football Playoff during an interview with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, and he made clear he wants the system to account for teams that schedule heavy non-conference games.
"Hopefully, to your point, they can figure out this College Football Playoff sizing of the number, how many teams, but also rewarding us, not just us, but all of the teams that play in these games."
That comment fits with the frustration Sarkisian showed last year after Texas missed the playoff. He complained then about being left out after the Ohio State game, even though the Longhorns also lost to Florida.
This year, the concern is still there because the matchup with the Buckeyes is back in front of him. If Texas wins, the conversation changes fast. If it loses again, the playoff math gets messy in a hurry.
Texas has at least made a habit of scheduling real non-conference tests. The Longhorns have lined up Alabama before the move to the SEC, Michigan, and Ohio State, which puts them among the few SEC programs willing to take on major opponents outside the league.
Last year, though, Ohio State controlled the game and held Texas to seven points in the Buckeyes’ win in Columbus. Sarkisian is now hoping Arch Manning doesn’t have another night like that when the teams meet again.
Ryan Day, for his part, has been consistent about wanting more of these matchups. He has said he wants to keep playing big non-conference games, and Ohio State has future series with Alabama and Georgia scheduled after the Texas series ends.
Day views those games as valuable for recruiting and for the playoff picture, and this season the Buckeyes face the eighth-toughest schedule in the country. A big reason for that is the trip to Austin, but he appears focused on getting his team ready for it.
If those future series ever disappear, the source of the problem won’t be Day. Ohio State has made it clear it wants to keep playing elite programs, while the article suggests Georgia or Alabama might be the ones to back away now that they must play nine conference games.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Is Pushing For A Receiver Role Sooner Than Expected
Ohio States freshman receiver room is already drawing attention in camp, and Brock Boyd has been one of the early names to watch. He and Chris Henry Jr. both had their black stripes removed, a small but meaningful sign that each is moving forward in the program, and Boyd in particular has earned praise from coaches and observers for how he has looked in early training camp work and scrimmage settings.
The timing matters for a Buckeyes offense that has room for young wideouts to carve out roles sooner than expected. With roster changes opening up playing time and multiple freshmen in the mix, Boyd has a real path to getting on the field this season if his early momentum continues, giving Ohio State another option as it reshapes the receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Jackson Gives Ohio State A New Reason To Trust The Run Game
Bo Jackson is already giving Ohio State a familiar kind of confidence in the backfield, and the latest sign came with his inclusion on the 2026 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The honor puts him among the nations top running backs entering the season, a fitting nod after a freshman year in which he rushed for 1,090 yards and scored six touchdowns while carving out a place in program history.
For a Buckeyes offense that always wants the ground game to travel, Jacksons rise matters beyond the individual recognition. He became one of the few true freshmen in Ohio State history to top 1,000 rushing yards, and now the question is how much farther he can push his role as the season unfolds, with semifinalists and finalists still to be sorted out before the award is handed out in December 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Big QB Question Behind Julian Sayin
Ohio States quarterback room has a familiar kind of intrigue to it, the sort that comes with a program that expects every passer to be measured against the greats who came before him. Julian Sayin is set as the starter for 2026, but the more immediate question is who settles in behind him and positions himself as the next name in line. Tavien St. Clair, a highly rated sophomore, entered the conversation as the clear-looking backup and future successor, and his spring game showing only reinforced why the Buckeyes have been so high on his upside.
Preseason camp, though, has kept that pecking order from feeling settled. St. Clair is still regarded as a strong prospect, but the battle for the No. 2 job remains alive, with the staff getting a closer look before the season begins. For Ohio State, it is more than a depth-chart footnote. In a quarterback room that is always under a spotlight, the backup spot can say a lot about how the next chapter is taking shape. [Read more 🡒]