Texas has already done something it never wanted attached to its name: after reaching No. 1 in the AP poll, it has now lost back-to-back games to unranked opponents, the first program to do that since 1961.
The latest setback came Saturday in Austin, where Florida - with backup quarterback Tramell Jones leading the way - erased another Texas first-half cushion and walked out with the win. That followed the Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma, another game in which the Longhorns let a lead slip away. Now the frustration around Steve Sarkisian is getting louder.
That reaction makes sense, because Sarkisian was hired to do two jobs. First, he was supposed to lift Texas into reliable, year-in, year-out relevance.
He has done that. Texas has gone 35-8 over his last three seasons, a run that established a much sturdier foundation than the program had before.
The harder assignment was the next one: turning Texas into a true annual championship threat. That part still hasn’t happened. Even after reaching No. 1 in the AP poll at different points in each of the last two seasons, Texas now sits at 4-2 and looks headed for another year outside the sport’s top tier.
If Texas ever decided to make a change, the financial hit would be massive.
Sarkisian signed a new deal in 2025 that runs through 2031 and pushed his pay into the upper crust of college football. With this season included, the contract covers six more years and just over $70 million. The buyout clause says he would be owed 85% of the remaining balance, which would leave Texas responsible for $50.15 million after the 2026 season.
That number wouldn’t set the all-time record, or even the record in Texas, but it would still land among the five largest buyouts ever. For Texas to pay that kind of money, boosters would need to be convinced not just that Sarkisian has stalled out, but that he simply cannot take the Longhorns to the top.
And even then, they would need a successor ready to go. Texas has the resources to chase just about anyone, but there is no obvious answer sitting in plain sight.
For now, the Longhorns are not eliminated from the College Football Playoff picture. Their win over Ohio State gives them some room to breathe, and they could even become the first team to make the field with three losses. Still, if Texas were to miss the playoff altogether after being positioned where it was following Week 5, the online complaints might finally move from venting to something more serious in Austin.
In Other News...
Oklahoma's Biggest Problem Heading Into Mississippi State Is Hard To Ignore
Oklahoma heads into its meeting with Mississippi State still trying to find a steadier gear on offense, and the concerns are hard to miss. John Mateer has flashed the kind of playmaking that can tilt a game, but the turnovers have been part of the package, and the Sooners have also had to lean on Avant to help keep the ground game moving when the passing attack bogs down.
Mississippi State brings its own uncertainty, starting with the quarterback situation, which adds another layer to a matchup already shaped by defenses on both sides. The Sooners will need to sort out their own ball security issues before they can worry much about the Bulldogs, because the margin for error shrinks fast when one offense is still searching for consistency and the other side is capable of making the game messy. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Fans Wont Like Why Ryan Fodje Stayed In Against Kentucky
Late in Oklahomas home loss to Kentucky, starting left tackle Ryan Fodje went down with a right ankle injury in the closing minutes of the third quarter and briefly headed to the sideline for examination. He came back with the ankle heavily taped, a sequence that mattered because the Sooners offense was already losing its grip on the game and needed stability in the worst possible spot.
Brent Venables said the call to put Fodje back in came with input from the training staff and from Fodje himself, a detail Oklahoma fans probably will not love given how the rest of the night unfolded. After he returned, the offense kept sputtering, with the protection issues showing up in the form of sacks and interceptions, leaving the injury decision as one more thing the Sooners will have to sort through after an ugly home result. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Faces One Big Offensive Concern Entering Mississippi State
Brent Venables missed Tuesdays press conference because of flu-like symptoms, leaving defensive tackles coach Todd Bates to field questions as Oklahoma turned the page toward Mississippi State. The conversation quickly settled on the offense, where the Sooners are still trying to get a steadier rhythm while the defense continues to hold up at a national level.
Ryan Fodjes injury status was part of the discussion, along with the broader issues on offense and the encouraging signs from running back Tory Blaylock as he works back from an early-season injury. For Oklahoma, the formula is clear enough: the defense is doing its part, but the offense still has to answer the biggest question hanging over this stretch of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]