After two straight losses to unranked opponents, Steve Sarkisian kept talking about one thing: how hard Texas was practicing. That message drew plenty of eye rolls at the time, especially with the Longhorns getting mocked for winning practice and losing games.
But the results have started to swing back in Texas’ favor. Since those losses, the Horns have won two straight, including a win over then-top-10 Ole Miss, and are back in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Sarkisian said earlier this week that the tone in practice has been exactly what he wanted to see.
"There were a few dust-ups and fights and whatnot going on, and I like that because that tells me the level of intensity is really high for on a Tuesday and a Wednesday,"
That same edge, Sarkisian has said, has shown up with Arch Manning as well. Manning drew some jokes when Sarkisian described him as edgy, but he has settled in and helped Texas put up 65 points over the last two games.
Still, the biggest piece Texas needs to keep this run going may be the offensive line. And that puts the spotlight on Kyle Flood, the line coach and offensive coordinator in title only.
There is plenty of blame to go around for Texas’ offensive issues, including Manning’s decision-making and the time he has sometimes held the ball. But the line has been a bigger problem. Even before star left tackle Trevor Goosby went down a couple of weeks ago, the protection was shaky.
Sarkisian said this week that he likes what he has seen from that group lately.
"They worked really hard. They’re dialed into it.
They’re competitive. They’re a prideful group.
I expect them to come out and play a hard-nosed, tough football game Saturday,"
Flood has overseen the Texas offensive line for the last five years, and the results have often fallen short of what the Longhorns need from such a talented offense. That has fueled criticism, including calls for Sarkisian to give up play-calling duties, but the issues have gone beyond scheme. The inconsistency at the line of scrimmage has been a real problem.
If Sarkisian is right about what he has seen in practice, though, Texas may finally get the kind of front five performance it has been waiting for on Saturday.
In Other News...
Texas Just Took Another Offensive Hit At The Worst Time
Texas took another blow to its offense at an unforgiving time, with tight end Nick Townsend set to miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a knee injury in the game against Ohio State. Townsend had carved out a role in the rotation, appearing in six games with three starts and providing a steady presence in the passing game with six catches for 31 yards.
His absence leaves more responsibility on the rest of the tight end room, where Emaree Winston and Michael Masunas have already been asked to help fill the gap. For a Texas offense trying to keep moving forward, losing another piece now only makes the margin for error a little thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Need A 5-Star Freshman In A Huge SEC Test
Injuries have started to test Texas in the secondary at a bad time, with cornerbacks Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips both listed as questionable for the upcoming game against Missouri. That has put a spotlight on the Longhorns depth behind them, especially with a matchup looming against a Tigers passing game that will lean on Donovan Olugbode.
One name to watch is true freshman John Meredith III, the former five-star recruit who could be asked to take on a bigger role if Texas needs another body on the back end. The Longhorns are also still waiting on edge rusher Colin Simmons, whose status remains uncertain, even as others have helped keep the defense moving in his absence. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces A Respect Test Against A Nebraska Team Fans Know Well
Illinois is heading into a matchup that feels a little bigger than the usual early-season measuring stick, because Nebraska is the kind of opponent fans around the Big Ten know well and tend to judge with a long memory. The broader college football conversation has been full of rankings movement, coaching changes and teams trying to separate themselves from the pack, and this game fits right into that mix as a chance for Illinois to show it belongs in the same conversation as the more established names.
For Illinois, the real test is not just whether it can win, but whether it can handle the kind of game that exposes soft spots and rewards discipline. Nebraska brings the sort of familiarity that can make an opponent dangerous, and with so many teams around the country still sorting out their identities, this one has the feel of a useful barometer for where Illinois stands before the schedule gets any harder. [Read more 🡒]