Steve Sarkisian and his team are on the right path with an 11-1 record. The Longhorns’ HC has made significant strides this season as head coach. The Longhorns are standing at No. 2 in the college football playoff rankings with one defeat. After dominating their rivals, the Texas A&M 17-7, the Longhorns are preparing to play against Georgia in a crucial SEC Championship game. Imagine winning the conference in your first year. Coach Sark is here to prove they’re the real deal. However, heading into the game, Texas has been hit with some concerning injury-related worries.

First of all, who thought fans would witness the Longhorns playing against the Aggies? Well, the SEC acted as the matchmaker, and both teams faced each other after 2011. Although the Longhorns were victorious, they experienced a nerve-wracking moment when Steve’s star left tackle, Kelvin Banks, had to leave the field due to an ankle injury. Before their big game against the Bulldogs, Joe Cook, editor of Inside Texas, shared an alarming situation from Texas camp and highlighted Kevin’s injury.

“He had a very tough day against Jalon Walker and Michael Williams. Those guys did the whole offensive line. People will say rolled-up ones, but I’ve seen rolled-up on that are a lot worse than what happened to Kelvin Banks. Was in a boot, was listed as questionable. Either questionable or probable.”

Kevin’s injury is a big deal for Texas, as he holds significant importance on the offensive line. And no wonder if his absence could disrupt the team’s offensive strategy. Further adding to Steve Sarkisian’s comment, where he tried to alert fans regarding Banks’s recovery, Cook added, “Sark talked today as part of an SEC teleconference and said that he practiced. Sark’s pretty coy; he doesn’t say what practice entails. It could have been picking up pads and giving it to Trevor Goosby, who played in this place and played extremely well against Texas A&M.”

Well, there you have it. If we have to take a guess, it’s unlikely that Banks Jr. will be out of the game; he’d be pushing to be part of the offense even if he’s not 100% fit. However, there is always that risk of aggravating the injury. The Longhorns will need his services during the playoffs. The best-case scenario? A win against the Bulldogs without Kelvin Banks Jr. He will have more time to recover, considering the Longhorns will get a bye in the first round. Having said that, the Longhorns won’t have it easy against Kirby Smart’s team, and they, for sure, remember why.

More to gain than just a Conference Championship

Debut season woes? Well, Steve Sarkisian doesn’t know anything about that. First season in the SEC, and his team has a chance to win the conference. It’s for no reason that every non-Texas SEC fan is rooting for Georgia. You’ll even find some Bama faithful rooting for UGA. Why? Consider this. You build up your conference as the toughest. All the strength of schedule arguments? Remember Lane Kiffin’s rant? Then you have the Longhorns winning it in their first season. Every other conference can ask. Is it really that tough?

In that context, this matchup against No. 2 Texas (11-1, 7-1 in SEC) and No. 5 Georgia (10-2, 6-2 SEC) has more on the line other than a bye in the CFP. It’s a familiar place for Kirby Smart as his team will feature in their 7th SEC championship game in 9 seasons. Fortunately for them, they don’t have to go against a Nick Saban team.

For the Longhorns, defeating the Bulldogs will prove to every naysayer that they’re the real deal. Steve Sarkisian remembers that mid-October game in Austin when the Bulldogs came to Texas and gave them their first (only) defeat of the season (30-15). How does Coach Sark see Georgia?

“Georgia and Kirby have been the standard in college football,” Steve Sarkisian said. “Georgia has got the heart of a champion, and you see it time and time again.” All to play for. Who are you rooting for?