The Texas Longhorns were supposed to make the College Football Playoff this season. Steve Sarkisian was supposed to have a national championship contender in Austin. Now, it seems the Longhorns are going be 0 for 2 after their shocking loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon. We have to have a talk.
Arch Manning
You can say that Arch Manning is the problem with Texas, and you would have a point, but the problem with that line of argument is that Manning is just one of many problems on the Longhorns right now. Sure, Steve Sarkisian deserves blame for not developing Manning specifically, but there are so many other things wrong with the Horns that it's more a coaching problem and less a QB problem. Manning definitely deserves plenty of blame - we aren't shying
away from that reality - but this goes to the top.
Shotgun runs
Texas can't convert short-yardage situations because running backs are getting the ball five yards behind the line of scrimmage from shotgun formations. Where's a power I formation with a fullback? Where's a wishbone or veer the way Darrell Royal drew it up over 50 years ago? Steve Sarkisian seems wedded to certain concepts which aren't working. Elite coaches adjust to opponents, to personnel, to schemes. He's failing on all fronts.
Texas offensive line
The Texas offensive line is Swiss cheese right now. The Longhorns were roasted by Florida pass rushers on Saturday. If Manning deserves blame, and he does, the offensive line deserves a lot of blame, too. Sark isn't coaching up that group well.
The fuller picture for Texas
If the offensive line and quarterback have weaknesses, it's the play-caller's job to work around those limitations and create a better scheme. This might be where Steve Sarkisian is falling short more severely than anywhere else. Where is the recognition of flaws and the ability to self-scout his own offense to create better counters and adjustments?
Halftime
What is Steve Sarkisian doing during halftime? The Longhorns have struggled in third quarters all season long. They didn't score a point in the third quarter against Florida. It's a huge indictment of a coach when third quarters are very bad quarters week after week.
Ohio State
Let's not pretend Steve Sarkisian did a good job against Ohio State. The Buckeyes choked in that game. OSU dominated Texas for three quarters. Take that one quarter away and the Horns have three losses right now.
Florida Gators' backup QB hooks Horns
Texas didn't just lose to Florida; it lost to a Gator team playing its backup quarterback. Texas gave up 24 straight points to an opponent with a backup QB ... at home! This wasn't just a bad loss; it was an inexplicable one.
Blowing leads
Texas blew a lead against a not-very-good Oklahoma offense. Then Texas blew a 17-3 lead against an opponent with a backup quarterback. There's simply no way any of this should be happening, which should magnify the pressure on Steve Sarkisian.
College Football Playoff
Texas has two losses midway through the season. With games against Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU coming up, the Longhorns are now likely to lose three games, which would put them on the fence for a playoff berth. If they lose four, they're done in a 12-team field. The 24-team playoff can't come soon enough for Steve Sarkisian.
Resources and expectations at Texas
Steve Sarkisian gets maximum resources and backing at Texas. He was supposed to have had everything he needed to not merely make the playoff but compete for a championship. If he misses the playoff this year, which now looks likely, that's two straight seasons missing the playoff. At Texas, that's not remotely acceptable.
Steve Sarkisian hot seat
Because Steve Sarkisian has reached the CFP semifinals twice at Texas, he probably will get the 2027 season. However, if the bottom completely falls out and he finishes 7-5, it wouldn't be absolutely crazy for the Longhorns to fire him and start fresh. Realistically, though, Sark should be coaching for his job in 2027. With the playoff expanding to 24 teams, Sark missing the 24-team playoff next year (on top of missing the CFP this year) would certainly get him fired. The hot seat isn't yet a week-to-week reality at Texas, but it's now a "next year or else" reality, which is hot enough for a coach who entered this season with national championship expectations. It's not quite James Franklin at Penn State, but it is still a quick, sharp turn from prosperity to peril.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Steve Sarkisian coaches his way onto Burnt Orange hot seat at Texas
