Steve Sarkisian's huge call against Florida could mark turning point towards a national championship for Texas
Critical fourth-and-1 against Florida was the moment Sarkisian bet on his players, ignited a blowout win
Sometimes, there are signature moments for a team when you can pinpoint where it all came together — or fell apart.
Texas fans saw that firsthand in 2019. No. 6 LSU was ready to roll over in week two in a critical moment at Royal-Memorial Stadium. But Joe Burrow connected with Justin Jefferson on a pivotal third-and-17, and Jefferson raced 61 yards for a touchdown.
Then-LSU coach Ed Orgeron credits that specific play as the moment he knew that team was special. The win propelled Burrow to the Heisman Trophy as the Tigers won the 2019 national title.
Here in November, nobody can definitively say that Steve Sarkisian’s gamble on fourth-and-1 from his own 24-yard line early Saturday will ignite Texas to win the national title. But there’s no question it sparked the Horns to a 49-17 blowout that may be the catalyst that launches them into the postseason.
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The players gave him confidence, “so I really didn’t blink. I was going for it,” Sarkisian said Saturday. All the analytics said to for it, too. “If we didn't make it, I would have said the book said to go.
“You know, I don’t ever want to lose our stinger, but we want to be, you know, smart with what we do.”
Recalling the moment on Monday, Sarkisian reinforced the idea that he talks about being aggressive and wants the players to believe in that, too.
“We talk about being an attack-oriented football team in all three phases,” Sarkisian said. “And so when I can back that up with my actions — we say it all the time, it’s not what you say, it’s what you do — and when I can back that up with my own actions, I think that gives them confidence, knowing that I believe in them.”
Maybe it was indeed Sarkisian’s faith in his players. Maybe it was the analytics. Time was still on Texas’ side, so a turnover on downs early in the game wouldn’t have been insurmountable. Maybe it was his frustration about missing out on an 85-yard touchdown play by Isaiah Bond three plays prior; Quinn Ewers and Bond couldn’t connect when the defender fell down.
Maybe it was that Texas had played two so-so games and needed a spark. And Sarkisian simply couldn't stomach the idea that he was about to punt again to a three-touchdown underdog.
Whatever the case, Sarkisian called for running back Jerrick Gibson to run off tackle and the second effort crossed the mark. “And we got the first down,” Sarkisian said.
The coach then turned it up with his play-calling. Sarkisian called for Ewers to run a double fake and hand the ball off to Bond on an end-around that netted 44 yards. Two plays later, Ewers hit Matthew Golden for a 29-yard touchdown catch, and the rout was on.
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“And the very next play, I called the reverse to Bond that I think there was a real sense and a feel for me that I was going to be aggressive, that we were going to attack,” Sarkisian said. “And I think that just gave them confidence to go do what they’re capable of doing.”
Sarkisian doesn’t mind gambling. He’s 7-for-16 so far this season on fourth down, with several of those conversion attempts coming late against Georgia while trying to mount a comeback.
When those fourth down plays work, it can turbo-charge the entire sideline.
Was it enough to propel the Longhorns to win the College Football Playoff? Hard to tell. But if the Horns do go all the way, you can bet that moment with 5:35 left in the first quarter against Florida will be something fans talk about for years to come.
