Well, the burnt orange train hit a scarlet-red wall. Texas ran out of steam late, then crashed for good. Stepping back and evaluating the Longhorns’ season seems challenging. However, upon closer look, their CFP semifinal loss reflects a similar narrative. A single costly error on 2nd and goal sealed their fate—Steve Sarkisian and Texas succumbed to Ohio State, ending their playoff journey abruptly. They gave Ohio State a tough fight in the semi. But without a trophy, who cares about the grind? Right?

Indeed, Coach Sarkisian has transformed Texas into a formidable force. Yet, in a realm where championships define success, consecutive CFP semifinal appearances fall short. Under Sark’s guidance, the Longhorns boast a 38-18 record overall, including a remarkable 25-5 streak in the last two years—a feat unimaginable during their years of mediocrity. However, the current scenario deems this insufficient. It’s evident that starting a job doesn’t guarantee finishing it, as J.D. PicKell echoed a similar sentiment on On3:

“But if Texas makes the semis yet again and they don’t advance to the national championship, I’m not saying Sark’s in trouble. I’m not saying Texas is in trouble. Do not put words in my mouth. What I’m saying is I think momentum is a fickle mistress. I think the momentum does not like to be kept waiting, and right now Texas has momentum.” That’s a straight fact: Texas had what it takes to be a finalist. Last season, their recruiting class was standing at 6th nationally and 3rd in the SEC with 23 commits and just 11 transfers. So, it’s evident talent isn’t the issue.

J.D. PicKell continues by saying, “If they make the semis though for the third year in a row and don’t get into the college football national championship, would that not feel a little bit like, ‘Well, why not?'” Well, their crazy run throughout the season just to fall short against teams in the semifinals has made Longhorns’ fans more desperate to win. But who should we blame for it then? If we go by PicKell’s stance, it’s nobody’s fault, as he says, “And we don’t agree with this, but I’m telling you. Some folks would jump on those debate shows and say Sark can’t win the big one. Now you and I both know that’s not the case. They were on the two-yard line with a chance to go punch it in and send Ohio State to a tie game.”

Texas lost to Ohio State by a yard, but is that the complete picture? Not even close. The real issue? Inconsistency—especially up front. The offensive line was pushed around all night, and their performance fell apart in crucial moments.

Remember in the Texas v. Ohio State game, with under five minutes left after 7 points in 1st down, Texas had two chances from the one-yard line to tie it? First, Jerrick Gibson was stopped at the line of scrimmage. Next, they attempted a toss to Quintrevion Wisner – which turned into a disaster as he was tackled for a seven-yard loss. And then came the decisive moment. On fourth down, Quinn Ewers dropped back, only to be sacked by Jack Sawyer, who forced a fumble and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown. With that, the game was sealed. Texas had some momentum, but their inconsistencies remained evident. J.D. PicKell warns that if they fail to address these issues, Steve Sarkisian could soon come under serious scrutiny – which has indeed turned into reality.

Locked On SEC’s Brad Kellner isn’t holding himself back. He criticized Sarkisian’s poor performance under pressure, specifically citing his questionable in-game choices. Kellner faulted Sark for Texas’ defeat to Washington in the 2023 CFP and questioned his strategic decisions during the Cotton Bowl semifinal against Ohio State. “You can argue he was the biggest reason why Texas lost,” Kellner said. And now? Starting this season with Arch Manning is adding more to the chaos.

Will Arch Manning change Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns’ fate?

Well, Texas entered 2024 with a talented quarterback room, led by Quinn Ewers with Arch Manning, the highly rated prospect, waiting in the wings. Now, with Ewers moving on to the NFL, the spotlight shifts to Manning, whose name itself carries significant weight, and his $6.5 million NIL valuation only adds to the expectations. However, success in football isn’t just about hype. The real challenge lies ahead.

Both Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning get a reality check from The Ruffino & Joe Show (March 17); Joe DeLeone and Blake Ruffino didn’t hold back. Ruffino set the stage, saying, “I think the legacy of the Manning name will hit here.” He doubled down, questioning if Arch can truly dominate from the jump: “The thing that I worry about with him, okay, he is a first-time starter. I don’t think that. But I don’t know. I do see a scenario where he’s not the top quarterback in the SEC next year.” Now, that’s a concerning verdict for a player who has the weight of the entire team on his shoulders.

But what’s Arch Manning’s first real challenge? They are going to face Ohio State in Week 1. But the road gets even tougher when Texas heads to Georgia. Ruffino said, “By the way, he goes to Athens early in the season. That’s going to be a tough situation for him. How does he respond? Does he come out there glowing? Then we have a different conversation; that’s a conversation piece that we have to have.” The SEC is unforgiving, and Manning won’t have time to ease in. Which is just adding up more pressure.

Now, let’s just hope Arch Manning doesn’t make the mistakes that Quinn Ewers made against the Bucks last season!