Steve Sarkisian didn’t just survive a massive Saturday night test against Ohio State. He made the kind of calls that can shape how this Texas season is remembered.
The Longhorns’ comeback had plenty of moving parts, but the clearest line through the win was Sarkisian’s second-half approach. While Ryan Day leaned conservative as Ohio State’s offense started to stall, Sarkisian kept choosing the aggressive route and trusted Texas to execute when it mattered most.
That showed up most clearly on fourth down.
Day had his own moment early in the second half, facing fourth-and-four at the Texas 39-yard line. He had options: try a kick from about 55 yards with Connor Hawkins, go for it against a Texas defense that had allowed 6.5 yards per play in the first half, or punt.
Sarkisian’s choices were even bolder. At the end of the third quarter, Texas faced fourth-and-nine at the Texas 42-yard line.
With a full quarter left and three timeouts still available, punting would have been the safe play. Sarkisian didn’t take it.
As he put it, “That's how losers think... Keep it close? They didn't hire me to keep it close, they hired me to win”
Texas converted, then finished the drive with its first touchdown of the game.
Later, with fourth-and-six at the Texas 32-yard line, Sarkisian rolled the dice again. Texas came through, and a few plays later the Longhorns had trimmed the deficit to six.
Not every gamble landed. Late in the first half, Sarkisian went for it on fourth-and-one, and Texas got stuffed for a 10-yard loss.
But the larger point held: Sarkisian never blinked. He kept betting on his team in the biggest moments, even when the safer path was sitting right there.
That kind of confidence may matter a lot over the rest of Texas’ schedule. There figure to be more fourth-down decisions ahead, more tight spots, more chances for Sarkisian to decide whether to play it safe or swing big. Saturday suggested he’s not interested in merely hanging around.
Texas has the talent to chase a national championship. But on a night like this, it was the coach’s willingness to trust his players - and make a few uncomfortable bets - that stood out most.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Added To Texas Wildest Postgame Controversy Yet
The aftermath of Texas 24-23 comeback win over No. 1 Ohio State did not stay focused on the field for long. Steve Sarkisians postgame interview became a talking point after he cut off reporter Holly Rowe, and the moment quickly spilled into the kind of strange, over-the-top discourse that follows a marquee victory when the stakes are already sky high. The result itself mattered plenty, lifting Texas to No. 1 in the updated AP poll, but the tone around the celebration shifted almost immediately.
Arch Manning soon found himself dragged into the chatter after weighing in on an AI-generated video that falsely showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe. His reaction made clear he was not treating the situation with much gravity, even as the clip added another layer to an already messy postgame scene. For Texas, the football part of the night was the headline it wanted, but the strange side story around its coach and quarterback is the one still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Sarkisian's Awkward Ohio State Moment Took A Strange Turn Online
Steve Sarkisians postgame exchange with Holly Rowe after the Ohio State game was already unusual enough to draw plenty of attention, with Texas fans and onlookers replaying the moment as soon as it hit social media. The Longhorns coach abruptly cut off the ESPN interview and sprinted away, turning a routine TV hit into one of the first viral oddities of the season for a program that tends to live under a microscope.
The story took an even stranger turn when Arch Manning said he had seen AI-generated videos making it look as if Sarkisian slapped Rowe, a fabrication that quickly circulated online after his comments. It was a reminder of how fast a bizarre real-life clip can get distorted once the internet grabs hold, and how little room there is for nuance once a strange moment from a marquee Texas game becomes meme material. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Gets One Last Real Test Before Big 12 Play
TCUs final tune-up before Big 12 play brings a familiar face to Fort Worth, with Arkansas State visiting for what should be a useful barometer for both teams. The Red Wolves have shown a balanced offense so far, leaning on multiple running backs and receivers, while mixing in enough defensive looks to keep an opponent honest. For a Horned Frogs team trying to sharpen itself before the conference grind begins, its the kind of late-September game that can reveal more than the matchup on paper suggests.
The most interesting wrinkle is under center, where Arkansas State is being led by Trey Owens, a transfer quarterback with Texas ties and a chance to settle in after a bumpy start to his career path. The Red Wolves also bring a strong secondary and a defense that changes structure, but their run defense has been a vulnerability through the first two games, which gives TCU a clear area to press. Before Big 12 play arrives, this one offers the Horned Frogs a final look at a team with enough moving parts to make the afternoon matter. [Read more 🡒]