Y’all ever feel like you’re watching the plot of a blockbuster movie unfold in slow motion, but you don’t know how it’s gonna end? Well, that’s exactly what’s going down in the recruiting world, folks. Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns just took a gut punch, bowing out of the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. But you know what they say—no rest for the wicked. Now, Sark is back in the lab, cooking up ways to pull one of the hottest prospects on the market. A 4-star wideout outta New Orleans. The twist? Texas A&M, led by Mike Elko, is in the mix big-time, and this recruiting battle is turning into an SEC-style showdown. So, who’s gonna land the Pelican State’s finest?

At 6 feet tall and 192 pounds, Jabari Mack is exactly the type of talent that makes coaches lose sleep. Ranked as the No. 16 wide receiver in the country and No. 6 overall prospect in Louisiana (per 247Sports), this wideout has hands like glue and a route-running game that’s smoother than Chris Brown. Mack’s got options, too—15 offers from programs like LSU, Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State. But here’s the kicker: It’s Texas and Texas A&M running neck-and-neck at the top of his list. And if you believe Texas insider Justin Wells, things are heating up fast.

The Longhorns insider, Justin Wells, spilled the tea on On3’s recruiting show when host Josh Newberg asked him where Mack stands after his recent visits. “Right now, he says it’s Texas and Texas A&M at the top of his list,” Wells said. “He just came off a visit to A&M last weekend and really enjoyed his time in College Station. It sounds like they moved the needle for him a little bit.” Translation? Sark’s got some really nice competition, and the Aggies aren’t playing around. Their recruiting game so far is fire. They brought him and his family to College Station and gave them some extra attention and care.

But don’t sleep on Texas. Sarkisian and wide receiver coach Chris Jackson have been making all the right moves, including getting Mack on campus to hang with big-name players like Arch Manning. “It was great,” Mack said about meeting Manning. “We didn’t even talk about football.” Instead, the two connected on a personal level, which, let’s be real, might just give Texas the edge. Add in Ryan Wingo’s story about getting on the field early as a freshman, and you’ve got a recipe for a recruiting pitch that’s hard to ignore. Steve Sarkisian is selling a nice story.

Steve Sarkisian vs Mike Elko: a battle for the bayou’s best

Look, Jabari Mack’s recruitment ain’t just about football; it’s a cultural tug-of-war. Texas is selling him the dream of playing for one of the most historic programs in the country, while Texas A&M is pitching him on the family vibe of Aggieland. And let’s not forget LSU, the hometown heavyweight that’s always a threat in Louisiana. “When asked how hard it might be to pull him out of LSU’s backyard, he said, ‘I’m open. I have no problem leaving the state. I want to do that,” Wells revealed.

For Texas, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Longhorns haven’t just been recruiting Mack—they’ve been practically rolling out the red carpet. Chris Jackson, the wide receiver coach, is literally heading back to Louisiana next week to double down on the relationship. Meanwhile, Mack’s already been sold on how he could see the field early in Austin.

Jabari Mack’s literally impressed by Mingo and how he managed to hit the turf as a true freshman. “Chris Jackson showed him how he could get on the field early, (just like Mingo),” Wells said. “It seems like Texas and Texas A&M are leading right now, but that could partly be due to recency bias since those are the two schools he visited most recently.”

Over at College Station, it’s a different type of pitch. A&M’s Junior Day left a pretty good impression on Mack, who spent time with the coaches and soaked up the Aggie atmosphere. “They gave him plenty to think about as he navigates his recruitment,” Wells explained. And with LSU and Ohio State still lurking in the shadows, this recruitment is far from over.

The race for Jabari Mack is shaping up to be a nail-biter, and honestly, it’s giving that the Bachelorette vibes. Texas and Texas A&M are pulling in and out all the stops, but Mack’s keeping his cards close to his chest. With official visits set to kick off in June, the next few months are going to be crucial. Can Sarkisian and the Longhorns seal the deal, or will Elko and the Aggies pull off the ultimate flex? Or is LSU gonna jeopardize the whole thing?