Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns receive massive compliment from defending national champions
On Tuesday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day gave Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns a big-time compliment ahead of the gargantuan Week 1 matchup in Columbus. Day, who is already very familiar with Sarkisian after playing against him in the CFP semifinal game last year in the Cotton Bowl, did not mince words when […]
On Tuesday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day gave Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns a big-time compliment ahead of the gargantuan Week 1 matchup in Columbus.
Day, who is already very familiar with Sarkisian after playing against him in the CFP semifinal game last year in the Cotton Bowl, did not mince words when he spoke with the media this week.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Sark, for his coaching staff, for his players. We’re excited to play these guys,” Day said. “I think it’s gonna give us a great barometer coming out of the first game.”
The Week 1 spotlight is on Texas and Ohio State.
It’s the first time a poll has had a 1v2 matchup to kick off the season. And to boot, it’s a revenge spot for Texas who had its season cut short by the Buckeyes. Day acknowledges Sarkisian’s expertise when it comes to calling plays and putting defenses in a bind.
“Steve’s a great play caller — always has been,” Day added of Sarkisian.
Speaking of play calling, the two will go head-to-head with new quarterbacks. Arch Manning will be the guy after a few spot starts in 2024 and Julian Sayin is replacing Will Howard for Ohio State. Day is confident in Sayin and what he can do as the man in scarlet and gray.
“The message is just win. Find a way to win,” Day said. “I think when you start setting expectations, you can get yourself out of whack. We’re gonna take it one play at a time. He’s got a good group of guys around him, he’s got a good defense, he’s got good special teams, a good offensive line, good skill guys — he needs to lean into those players and find a way to win the game. We’ll try to get him into a rhythm and go from there.”
Julian Sayin earned the nod because of his “overall performance” down the stretch in fall camp.
Day acknowledged Lincoln Kienholz has been “working very hard” so me thinks if Sayin shows signs he can’t get it done, Day will be quick to pull the plug and see what the other guy can do.
Nevertheless, Day tells the media he and his staff are very excited to see what he can do. Sayin was a five-star prospect coming out of high school who initially chose Alabama out of Carlsbad (Calif.) a few years ago. Now, he is the heir apparent to the national title-winning quarterback and has all the confidence in the world from his head coach.
“We’re excited for him,” Day added on Sayin. “You’re seeing him every day get more and more confident and more and more comfortable in what we’re trying to do. But, you know, we got to get on the field and play. It’s about time.”
