As the Texas season approaches, the anticipation and pressure mounts. The Longhorns have been busy all offseason, trying to turn this team from great to elite.
Firing Pete Kwiatkowski to hire Will Muschamp. Allowing CJ Baxter and Tre Wisner to leave in order to add Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. Deandre Moore Jr and Parker Livingstone departing to add Cam Coleman to the picture. Upgrading the offensive line with Melvin Siani and Laurence Seymore.
Texas was the lead headline for much of the offseason, outside the month of July where the Red Raiders took centerstage for the wrong reasons. Steve Sarkisian and his staff turned over every stone to assemble a National Championship roster. To me, they have done just that. This is a team that is capable
of winning a championship and returning Texas to the top of the sport.
Now that the season is nearly here, one question will define whether Texas reaches those lofty heights: Do you trust Steve Sarkisian?
"These are new rules we're playing by right now. It's never been truer -- to whom much is given, much is expected -- than it is in college football."@JoshPateCFB on the pressure facing Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian entering his sixth season in Austin. pic.twitter.com/Co2oFO1rWs
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) August 10, 2026
Let’s start with the offseason moves. Moving from Kwiatkowski to Muschamp is a gamble. One that seems to be paying off but a gamble nonetheless. Allowing veteran Longhorns to depart for new portal pieces, while necessary, carries risk with it no matter what. For the offensive line, did Sarkisian do enough to upgrade the unit, particularly on the interior? Did they do enough on defense to fix the secondary problems? All of these are questions that, while they feel confident, are unanswerable until the ball is kicked off.
Changing a roster and coaching staff, especially to the degree Texas did, lands the responsibility in one place: Steve Sarksian’s shoulders. This is an “All-In” team that was orchestrated by the head coach and the GM Brandon Harris. To put it simply: Steve Sarkisian better be right. If he’s not, the conversations around Austin become more uncomfortable quickly.
Does Steve Sarkisian get fired if Texas does NOT make the College Football Playoff?
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) July 17, 2026
We think so
Full show: https://t.co/zieXabrPcx pic.twitter.com/vfaHv0NUp0
The other piece of this, and maybe the more important one, is Sarkisian’s decision to not hire a new offensive play caller. It’s been a consistent topic of conversation around the program in recent seasons. Sarkisian dismissed the idea once again this offseason, despite the offensive struggles a season ago. If he can’t fix those deficiencies from a year ago, that will be a decision that capsizes the Longhorns season.
On the flip side, it could be the decision that delivers Texas a top 5 offense this season. Despite some offensive struggles, I believe Steve Sarkisian is still one of the best offensive playcallers in the country and Texas wouldn’t find a better playcaller as their OC. If the Muschamp hire takes some of the defensive responsibilities off his shoulders and the transfer upgrades pan out, a Steve Sarkisian offense can reach special heights.
Everybody is “going gaga” over Cam Coleman. Rightfully so. But this Texas offense will be about so much more than him and Arch Manning. Coleman’s presence will help unlock players like Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley.
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) August 16, 2026
There is no shortage of potent firepower for the Longhorns. pic.twitter.com/82a8YhLobT
Last season, Texas was defined by their deficiencies. Poor OL play, a struggling young QB, inconsistent run game and a myriad of drops and penalties created Texas’ offensive disappointing season. Poor secondary approach and communication created a Texas defense that left much to be desired. This offseason has been Steve Sarkisian doing everything in his power to address those concerns. Did you do it right?
Once the season begins, the question is unchanged. If Texas falls by three points against Ohio State, will you trust Sarkisian to walk the tightrope to the CFP? If Arch Manning misses a game or two, will you trust Sarkisian to create a winning gameplan for KJ Lacey? If you meet Georgia in the SEC title, will you trust Sarkisian to get over the hump? Finally, if Texas is standing in Las Vegas on January 25th, will you trust Sarkisian to coach a team to a National Championship?
“All-In” is the only descriptor for this season. I’m not a subscriber to the “championship or bust” attitude, but this is about as close as you can get. All the resources, energy and thought has been put into this season. From this moment forward, it’s on the head man. It’s on the man that’s brought Texas football from mediocrity to legitimate title hopes. On the man that made Austin a place to be once again.
I(and no one else) is 100% sure what this season will look like. I can promise it will have ups and downs, ebbs and flows. Through all of that, one question that will dictate where Texas is standing on January 25th will remain unchanged: Do you trust Steve Sarkisian?
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Do you trust Texas coach Steve Sarkisian?
