OTF Premium Thoughts on what happened to No. 1 Texas in a 14-7, season-opening loss to No. 3 Ohio State

[HookemChappy]

11 hours ago, Judd_Irby said:

How can two different players put their hands into an opposing player’s face mask?  Don’t they know it will cost 15 yards?  The first changed a sure OSU punt into a touchdown drive.  The second wiped out a safety.  Eight points from mental errors on the defense that otherwise played well.  We’ve simply become accustomed to false starts by the offensive line, but they keep happening.  Maybe start thinking a little out there.  Sorry for ragging these guys out.  I think we have a promising season ahead.  Our expectations were oversized in part due to our listening to hometown media pundits. 

To some degree those are Sarks fault. We continue to have OL penalties that kill us. Wingos penalty killed us. Overall we played better than OSU in many categories but lost in penalties and turnovers. We lost the games. No play calling solves this. RZ issues. I wouldn’t have trusted Arch to throw anything. Patricia knew that Sark had to run the ball. Really made being a DC easy when the offense was one dimensional.

[HTXHorn]

There’s a lot of comments. And I haven’t read any of them. Just here to share a few of my thoughts to vent to my OTF family after a tough day of digesting. Sorry in advance for the long post. 

This does not feel like the end of the world by no measure. If you look at the stat line, penalties might have been the deciding factor, despite how terrible some of Arch’s throws were.

On that note, when have we seen an inaccurate ball from Arch prior to this game? As cool as he is, I think he felt the true pressure of being a starting QB in a competitive college setting. He will settle down and start delivering balls on time/schedule like we’re used to seeing. We cannot rely on his wheels to win games. 

CJ Baxter’s return was a breath of fresh air. That dude is a stud. But Tre lead the stat line. He was elusive and just doesn’t quit on his runs. We have a true tandem set this year of quality backs. 

Oline looks good. This was a good pash rush defense. Arch did avoid some pockets that collapsed - last year we might have seen a few more QE sacks or balls thrown out of bounds just because of Arch’s athleticism.

We miss the soft touch of QE. Arch needs to back off on the heat for his intermediate throws. Honestly, Quinn wins this game easily for Texas. That’s a hard pill to swallow, because Arch is currently and will be the future of this program. It’s just the difference between both players at this moment in time. 

No mention of Taafe, Simmons, or Hill this game.  That’s not gonna happen again  Seeing Littleton ball out was super fun to watch.

Taking these massive OOC games always feels like a risk.  It’s good for the sport, and it’s good for TV, but I’m always on the fence whether or not it’s good for the team.  Let these guys get some reps in before playing the best teams in the league.  I don’t think this game was of no consequence.  Now we HAVE to beat A&M, OU, and one of UGA/UF for good seeding in the CFP  we can even be tripped up and miss a CFP spot all together.  It only seems unfair because other teams don’t take on the same challenge.

 

[Casey67]

My thoughts:

DBs - Until we play a seasoned QB, we don't really know if our DBs have gelled and their communication is comparable to last year.  OSU was protecting Sayin.  He wasn't asked to scan the middle of the field and make a decision.

LBs - Seemed assignment sound to me.  I think we have a good group that's only going to get better.

DLs - Very good overall against the runs.  Didn't step up on goal line a short yardage situations but perhaps we've been a little spoiled from last year.  I like our DTs and I think they are only going to get better as the coaching staff figures out the right combinations.  

EDGEs- I'm not sure.  Sayin did very little dropping back and scanning the field.  I'm going to assume we have a very good pass rush though.  OSU pretty much conceded that to us via their scheme.

Offensive Line - I am thrilled with our run game in general but as usual, once we are in obvious short yardage situations, something happens and I am baffled.  Sark needs a short yardage consultant.

RBs -  Very impressive.  Other teams aren't going to have the same defensive back field OSU had and are going to be forced to cheat their way up to the line of scrimmage.  That will play into Arch's strengths.

WRs  TEs -  I was surprised how little they got opened, but again, OSU's defensive backs are the strength of the team.  So I'm not sure how I feel yet.  I'm excited about Livingston though.  Wingo needs to grow a little.

QB - Ugh.  IMO, Quinn Ewers had one strength and only one strength - hitting receivers in stride with short passes.  Arch is inaccurate and puts way too much mustard on his short throws.  He needs to calm the eff down and watch some film on Ewers.  I'm not saying Ewers was a great QB (he had zero pocket presence, zero ability to improvise and couldn't throw a deep ball) but Arch HAS to improve on those short passes Sark designs to scheme WRs open.  If he doesn't do that, we are going to get behind the chains way to often.  I simply don't know what to think of Arch yet.  I'm anywhere from "He'll learn from this and become a good QB" to "I hope KJ Lacy matures fast."  I'm just shocked.

 

[Texazz]

18 hours ago, syracusehorn said:

The defense has outperformed the offense throughout Sark's tenure (except for year 1). It is very difficult, and rare, for a HC to be an elite OC at the same time. I don't think Sark can do it. He needs to find someone to call plays. It's no knock on him; it's almost universal that teams have separate playcallers. There's just too much going on simultaneously to not delegate that job.

I trust sark…… but if he wants to take that next step - we better start scoring points and START kicking FGs, instead of getting stuffed in the RZ…..time and time again.

This is also why we should NEVER schedule a top5 team as opener. If this was the second game , hopefully less penalties …..

[TheContractor12]

19 hours ago, nycHorn said:

Texas needs a playcaller. 

I agree its hard to be a HC and a playcaller but at the same time the #1 single thing Sark has done best in his coaching life is playcall. He does need to make some type of change or check and balance system or someone to make some situational suggestions. 

[LonghornFan4Ever]

15 minutes ago, TheContractor12 said:

I agree its hard to be a HC and a playcaller but at the same time the #1 single thing Sark has done best in his coaching life is playcall. He does need to make some type of change or check and balance system or someone to make some situational suggestions. 

Neal Brown is right there too

[Austalgia]

12 hours ago, CHorn427 said:

The stats show one passing TD awarded by Jaylen Guilbeau

Watch the play. He had good coverage, knocked the ball out.  The future NFL receiver made a rematch and a good play.  They weren’t playing an FCS schiil.   Guilbeau had inside leverage.  All the defense played well, including Guilbeau.  You’re wrong.  The result doesn’t always equal what happened. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Austalgia

[OSU2000]

7 hours ago, AusMOJO said:

Well you won't have to wait 5 years, we play next year in Austin lol. 

Haha. I forgot about that!

[dlp1123]

Sark is 1-6 against top 5 teams .  I was generally pleased with the OL play , but Flood is in his 5th year, and we are nowhere near an elite OL. Was shocked we did not take the field goal --a Sark trademark with the same trademark results. 

[HornsUpThumbsDown]

On 8/30/2025 at 3:49 PM, Jeff Howe said:

If you would’ve told me ahead of Saturday’s game that Texas would win the rushing yardage battle over Ohio State by 89 yards (166-77), limit the Buckeyes to a 4-for-14 effort on money downs (3-for-12 on third down and 1-for-2 on fourth down), hold the Ohio State offense to 3.8 yards per play and dominate field position (the averaging starting field position for the Longhorns was their own 32-yard line, while the Buckeyes’ averaging starting field position was their own 20), I would’ve expected the outcome to be Steve Sarkisian’s team winning the game in relatively comfortable fashion.

Instead, the Longhorns suffered a 14-7 loss because some of the same critical issues that had plagued them last season resurfaced in a big way in Columbus on Saturday.

— It starts with penalties.

The totality of six accepted penalties for 50 yards was less than what Texas averaged in its three losses last season (eight accepted penalties for an average of 63 yards per game). Still, they accounted for some of the most critical plays in the game.

It’s hard to put any level of blame for the loss on the defense. Pete Kwiatkowski’s unit did everything it could to keep the Longhorns in the game.

Regardless, a hands-to-the-face penalty against Colin Simmons wiped out a third-down stop on an eventual Ohio State touchdown drive. The same penalty levied against Liona Lefau negated what would’ve been a safety (the call offset a holding call against Ohio State in the end zone).

Pre-snap penalties stunted the offense’s progress in the first half.

— The Longhorns pressured Julian Sayin (13-for-20, 126 yards and a touchdown), getting him off the spot and speeding him up on critical downs. The pass rush never got home, though, which was a credit to Ryan Day and Brian Hartline for dialing up easy throws for Sayin and positioning him so that he could throw the ball away without putting it in harm’s way.

The Texas defense was tremendous, even if it couldn’t force the negative play it needed to create to flip the game.

— Arch Manning’s legs limited the few negative plays the Buckeyes created, but, overall, the offensive line did a solid job in pass protection (Ohio State finished the game with one sack and one tackle for loss). Including the lone negative play (and a no-gainer, when Manning got back to the line of scrimmage on a scramble), the Longhorns ran the ball for 166 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per attempt.

I felt going into the game that if Manning (10 carries for 38 yards) had more than eight official rushing attempts, it wouldn’t be good for the offense. It wasn’t good because…

— Texas still doesn’t have an identity in the red zone. It’s easy to be disappointed when the play-caller doesn’t dial up the touchdown play, but I didn't like Sarkisian’s sequencing near the goal line, especially his decisions on second down.

On the first failed goal-to-go situation, he called a between-the-tackles run for Manning that was stuffed for a 1-yard gain after CJ Baxter (10 carries for 40 yards) ran for five yards on first-and-goal from the 9-yard line.

— I’m accusing Sarkisian of something I used to fault Tom Herman for, which is putting an arrogant game plan into motion. The game Sarkisian called in the first half lacked creativity, with Sarkisian seeming willing to let his squad play the Buckeyes straight-up to see where they stood.

Things got better in the second half (257 total yards and 6.3 yards per play after halftime). Ohio State also deserves credit for causing some of the issues (Arvell Reese, who finished the game with nine tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss, might’ve been the best player on the field for the Buckeyes).

With that said, it was the most unimaginative, uninspiring game plan I can remember seeing from Sarkisian.

— Even when Sarkisian’s call was the right one, the offense (more often than not) suffered from Manning (17-for-30, 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception) missing throws or wide receivers failing to catch the ball. I don’t know if Manning had happy feet, felt panicked/rushed or couldn’t anticipate where to go with the ball, but the passing game never clicked.

— I’m handing out defensive game balls for this one to Lefau (nine tackles and a tackle for loss), Graceson Littleton (credited with one tackle and a pass breakup, but his presence was tremendous in his debut), Malik Muhammad (six tackles and a nice pass breakup in coverage against Jeremiah Smith, who had six catches for 43 yards, but never took over the game), Ty’Anthony Smith (a nice open-field tackle against Smith to force a Buckeye punt late in the first half) and the interior defensive line (Alex January, Maraad Watson and Cole Brevard had their moments). On offense, here’s to noteworthy performances by Baxter (a tremendous blitz pickup on a first-down throw from Manning to Parker Livingstone), Livingstone (a nice contested catch for the offense’s only touchdown), Jack Endries (who turned six targets into four receptions for 50 yards) and Quintrevion Wisner (a game-high 80 yards on 16 carries).

— Texas won’t play a team with a pulse until Florida in Gainesville on Oct. 4. Still, I want to see how Manning, Sarkisian and the Longhorns respond and grow in the remaining three non-conference games before the Sept. 27 open date.

The reaction from national pundits and opposing fans is and will continue to be visceral. The No. 1 team in the country face-planted on a massive stage to open the season, and, given Manning’s performance and Sarkisian’s 2-12 record as a head coach against top-five opponents (1-6 record at Texas), the Longhorns won’t feel the love until they put a better product on the field against a quality foe.

What Sarkisian said about Manning in his postgame press conference applies to the 2025 squad and where it goes from here: “The expectations were out of control on the outside, but I’d say let’s finish the book before we judge it. This is one chapter, and we have a long season to play."

 

View full news story

 

@Jeff HoweGood read, I will say that to ease up on Arch seems like it makes sense but a little after the fact beneficial. If he was a freshman with zero starts understand. Two years sitting waiting his turn, knowing the offense and to make that many poor throws and mistakes just gotta call it what it was. Ohio state level is The SEC minus MS state… Big expectations for Texas, just got a dose of reality. Still can be good season for sure 

[Austalgia]

33 minutes ago, HornsUpThumbsDown said:

@Jeff HoweGood read, I will say that to ease up on Arch seems like it makes sense but a little after the fact beneficial. If he was a freshman with zero starts understand. Two years sitting waiting his turn, knowing the offense and to make that many poor throws and mistakes just gotta call it what it was. Ohio state level is The SEC minus MS state… Big expectations for Texas, just got a dose of reality. Still can be good season for sure 

Yeah, but a Qb with not much experience, and no experience in a big away game to have some jitters and over throws, or rocket some touch passes might should have been expected. I think because of Arch’s pregame confidence we all thought he would go out and murder them.  And granted, he not only didn’t do that, but missed the easy passes that need to be completed.  I think some are just saying lighten up on Arch in regards to the insane “he’s a bust”, or “reminds me of Garrett Gibert” comments .  Those posts are just assinine considering the small sample size.  And for a QB in this day and age with his clout to sit out for 2 years and wait, we can probably be a little patient as a fan base as well.  I can give you a list of great QBs that started off some games rocky in their first year.  And he showed some signs of progression near the end of the game . That’s all we need is for him to get better . He has the pedigree, work ethic, and character to do so.  If he’s better next time we meet an elite team, he’s the difference.  Special teams and defenses were as my kids would say “fire”. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Austalgia

[LonghornFan4Ever]

48 minutes ago, dlp1123 said:

Sark is 1-6 against top 5 teams .  I was generally pleased with the OL play , but Flood is in his 5th year, and we are nowhere near an elite OL. Was shocked we did not take the field goal --a Sark trademark with the same trademark results. 

I feel the same way about Flood overall, but he gets some flowers from me for yesterday’s performance.  Pass pro was much better than I expected yesterday and the run blocking, particularly on the left side of the line is something to build off of.  Didn’t like the penalties or the lack of push in short yardage goal line situations.  But those two things might be something we have to live with since it’s been an issue for multiple seasons now.

[charlie990]

Fewest yards allowed in a loss since 2011. Only the 2nd fewest in a L since 2004. Frustrating game.

 

[DZX158]

20 hours ago, Forrest J. said:

Concerns & Things to keep an eye on IMO…

NO EXPLOSIVENESS

* Lack of offensive playmakers. I’m not buying Baxter/Wingo hype until I actually see it. Wingo has to get the ball on the move to be effective. He doesn’t have in air ball skills to consistently win contested balls. Baxter’s best quality as a RB is picking up blitzes. Wisener’s lack of burst leaves a lot of yards on the field.  

*No downfield threat at WR or out of the backfield  

MENTAL ERRORS

*Still committing mental error penalties (pre snap and personal foul) that kill drives!

GILBEAU

* Gilbeau is going to be a liability

DE/EDGE ROOM

*Slight concern that DE room isn’t what we think it is.  Lack of impact/pressure plays from the position only reinforced my thoughts.

SARK

*Sark play calling in shorty yardage and goal to go situation  e.g. 3rd and 3 and he calls two pass plays.  

*Sark in big games against equal talent or an elite coach  

-Sark 0 v. Kirby 2

-Sark 0 v. Day 2

-Sark 0 v. DeBoer 2

 

Why Is DeBoer included but not Dabo? I think DeBoer is a really good coach but he hasn’t won a championship and he hasn’t done enough yet to be considered elite.

[LonghornFan4Ever]

7 minutes ago, DZX158 said:

Why Is DeBoer included but not Dabo? I think DeBoer is a really good coach but he hasn’t won a championship and he hasn’t done enough yet to be considered elite.

Because it doesn’t fit the narrative.  Not sure if Dabo will ever be what he was from 2015-2020 again as the HC at Clemson.  Mr. Sioux Falls did win the Pack 12 and played for a natty in a 4 team CFP though.

Edited 28 minutes ago by LonghornFan4Ever