Steve Sarkisian knows the Longhorns’ next progressive step means putting away College Football Playoff foes
Steve Sarkisian has accomplished one of the hardest tasks in rebuilding a college football powerhouse. He’s guided Texas back to the national stage, once again back to the national spotlight and made the program relevant. Now, the Longhorns must learn how to navigate the big stage and put teams away when they have the chance. […]
Steve Sarkisian has accomplished one of the hardest tasks in rebuilding a college football powerhouse. He’s guided Texas back to the national stage, once again back to the national spotlight and made the program relevant.
Now, the Longhorns must learn how to navigate the big stage and put teams away when they have the chance.
Texas let Clemson hang around longer than it should in the first round of the College Football Playoffs. Arizona State climbed out of a 16-point hole and nearly pulled off the upset.
The Longhorns won’t get much margin for error in the next round. Ohio State came out and thumped Oregon in the Rose Bowl and won 41-21. The Buckeyes looked sensational. Texas (13-2) and Ohio State (12-2) will now meet in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 in the CFP semifinals.
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“You can't really coach or teach experience,” UT quarterback Quinn Ewers said. “So just the amount of maturity and poise that we have in these games I think has definitely helped us over time.”
In the last two seasons, Sarkisian’s teams have won at Alabama and Michigan. The Longhorns won the Big 12 title in 2023, moved into the tougher SEC and reached the league championship game this season. They’ve now played in the College Football Playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
Texas is doing exceptional things. And yet, the Longhorns opened as a four-point underdog against the Buckeyes.
“We’ve been in some pretty big environments, some pretty cool arenas, some pretty big games,” Sarkisian said. “Not to say these aren't great experiences. They are. These are amazing experiences for these guys. But the moment at this point doesn't seem too big.
“We’re not in awe that, hey, this is where we are. This is where we're supposed to be. And I think that they understand that and then they get back to their preparation so that we can try to play our best football.
“But that's what experience gives you,” Sarkisian added. “It gives you being on this stage, being in the arena and understanding what it's like to be in the arena so that you can focus on your play rather than all of the other stuff that's going on.”
