Steve Sarkisian left no doubt Monday about what sits at the center of Texas’ week: Ohio State.
After reviewing Saturday’s win over Texas State, the Longhorns’ coach shifted quickly into the challenge ahead, calling the Buckeyes “number one in the country for a reason” and pointing to the matchup as a test against one of the sport’s most complete teams.
Sarkisian said Texas got a lot out of its season-opening win. The Longhorns used 52 players in the first half and ended up in the 70s overall, forced five turnovers in different ways - including fourth-down stops - and put together what he described as complementary football. Texas was efficient on third down, went 2-for-2 on fourth down, and never punted.
He also gave the fans a nod, praising the turnout in brutal heat and noting that the field reached 160 degrees for the players. The energy, he said, was exactly what the team expected and what it will need again Saturday night.
The next opponent brings a much bigger challenge. Sarkisian said Ohio State has added Arthur Smith on offense this year and now features two NFL coaches as playcallers, one on each side of the ball. He called the Buckeyes “very talented” and said they’ve reloaded defensively while also seeing some players develop into bigger roles.
On film, Texas found both encouraging signs and room to grow in the run game. Sarkisian said the Longhorns had a solid plan, but Ohio State’s movement up front created issues with angles.
At times the backs ran well; at other times, he said, they “danced too much.” His message was simple: improvement has to happen from week one to week two, and balance will matter in a game like this.
Texas will also have to deal with a disruptive Ohio State front. Sarkisian described the Buckeyes’ interior as deep, active and stout, praising Larry Johnson’s long run on the staff and calling him “a heck of a coach.” He said the group collapses the pocket in the passing game and holds firm against the run.
One name clearly drew his attention: Jeremiah Smith.
Sarkisian said Smith “garners your attention and he deserves your attention,” and called him “arguably the best player in college football.” He highlighted the receiver’s size, speed and catch radius, comparing his build to Julio Jones and A.J.
Brown. The message from Sarkisian was that Texas needs a plan for Smith, but not a predictable one.
“You can’t just throw all fastballs. Sooner or later he’ll hit it.”
For Texas, that means mixing coverages, staying sound in the back end and knowing where Smith is on every snap.
Sarkisian also downplayed the idea that he needs to spend much time thinking about playoff implications. For him, the draw is simpler and more immediate: Texas gets to line up against the No. 1 team in the country, one the Longhorns have already battled twice.
He said he isn’t looking four months ahead. What matters is how Texas performs against the best right now.
As for the noise around the matchup, Sarkisian welcomed it. He said GameDay returning to Austin is good for the sport, good for the university and good for the city. But once the preparation starts, the focus has to stay on the work in front of them.
“Focus is a very powerful thing,” he said.
Sarkisian also addressed the emotional side of coming close to a national title. He said losing in the national semifinal is especially difficult when the margin is so thin, like it was against Washington and Ohio State. Those are the kinds of defeats that linger because so few plays separate the winner from the loser.
Still, he said, that’s part of competing at that level. Texas put itself in the arena, and he wants the program to keep getting back there and doing better the next time.
In goal-to-go situations, Sarkisian said Texas needs more than one answer. Personnel matters, scheme matters, play calling matters and mentality matters.
Ohio State is strong in those moments too, but he made it clear that Texas has to be better there. He pointed out that the last two meetings were decided in part by Texas not scoring inside the 10.
Sarkisian also clarified the status of Cole Hutson, saying he is technically ineligible right now because of an NCAA issue he is working through. If the NCAA clears him, Texas would then go back to the SEC to determine the next step. Sarkisian added that Hutson’s case is different because he never signed a professional contract and was never a professional player, and said it will be left to the NCAA and then the SEC.
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