Steve Sarkisian isn’t giving up Texas’ play-calling duties. He made that much clear after the Red River Rivalry.
When asked if he would consider handing off those responsibilities, Sarkisian answered, “Not a chance.”
That response may have ended one debate, but it didn’t quiet the bigger one. Texas was tied with Oklahoma and driving late in the fourth quarter when the Longhorns reached fourth-and-2 at the Sooners’ 35-yard line. Instead of keeping senior quarterback Arch Manning on the field and going for it, Texas sent out the field goal unit.
The call stood out because it came from the same coach who, just a month ago, went for it on fourth-and-9 against Ohio State while Texas was down 20 points. At the time, Sarkisian said punting was a “loser’s thing” and made clear he had been hired to make bold decisions.
This situation was different, of course. A tie game is not a desperate comeback.
But in that spot, with the offense loaded with talent, settling for a long-range kick felt like leaving the game in the hands of a thin margin. Senior kicker Gianni Spetic was not kicking under those conditions regularly, either.
After the game, Sarkisian said he trusted Spetic and did not feel confident Texas had a play it could convert on fourth-and-short. But that only sharpened the question. If the play-caller doesn’t trust the fourth-and-2 call, isn’t that exactly the kind of moment where the offense is supposed to have one ready?
That is where the criticism gets louder, and it’s less about whether Sarkisian should call plays than whether his offense is still built to maximize what Texas has now.
He was hired to be an offensive mastermind, and his track record supports that. He has shown he can design and call an excellent offense. That part of his identity isn’t going anywhere, and the idea that he would hand over the clipboard feels far-fetched for a reason.
The issue is more specific: the Longhorns need more of what works for this roster and less of what doesn’t.
With former quarterback Quinn Ewers, there was more movement in the offense - more screen game, more misdirection, more designed runs. With Manning, that layer has largely faded.
Texas has also offered very little in the way of designed runs for Manning, even though his legs are one of his strengths. Protecting a quarterback is one thing.
Limiting him is another.
The other problem is tempo. Sarkisian keeps leaning on deep-route concepts that take time to develop, which leaves Manning holding the ball and getting hit while the pressure arrives. Texas found some rhythm Saturday when it picked up the pace, but that approach didn’t last.
A faster passing game, more tempo and designed runs for Manning are all realistic adjustments Texas can make. That isn’t a sweeping overhaul. It’s a smarter fit.
Sarkisian knows the noise is out there, but he brushed it off.
“The opinions of others (do) not dictate the way I think, or the way we operate or the way we perform,” Sarkisian said. “We look at everything internally and we try to do the best job that we can do to put our players in the best position to be successful.”
That’s the standard Texas has to chase now: not just boldness, but better answers for the team in front of him.
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Sarkisian has already pointed to the need to branch out beyond 10 personnel and keep opponents from anticipating what comes next. That makes the development of pieces like Cam Coleman, along with freshmen Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Derrek Cooper, especially relevant as Texas looks for more variety and more answers before the offense gets boxed into the same looks again. [Read more 🡒]