My near term hope in this program

[CHorn427]

is at about a 10 year low. I’m embarrassed and heartbroken 

[Oldest Horn]

10 years? That includes two Charlie years and four Herm. 

[Thanos72]

You woke up. 
Texas has tons of positive pieces in place.
You woke up.  
Texas still has tremendous resources. 
You. Woke. Up. All gravy after that. 🤘🏽

[CHorn427]

1 minute ago, Oldest Horn said:

10 years? That includes two Charlie years and four Herm. 

Yeah. I was 10 years younger and more hopeful back then. Also, back then all we had to do was be good enough to beat OU and Big12 teams. I could see that leap potentially happening in a year. 

[CHorn427]

6 minutes ago, Oldest Horn said:

10 years? That includes two Charlie years and four Herm. 

I was 100X more hopeful in our program after 2018 than I am currently. TAMU, Texas Tech and OU weren’t all gearing up for national championship runs. 
 

This is quite possibly the most disastrous position Texas football has been in in my lifetime. I have never experienced this level of program disappointment while literally all of our rivals still have a chance at a national title with two weeks left in the season. I’m not sure that has EVER been the case. 

[SchoolColors]

8 minutes ago, Oldest Horn said:

10 years? That includes two Charlie years and four Herm. 

One could make an argument that being on the precipice of great but never crossing the threshold to greatness is worse than knowing your bad. Because of the repetitive hope being crushed year in and year out. 

[FootLaw]

1 minute ago, CHorn427 said:

I was 100X more hopeful in our program after 2018 than I am currently. TAMU, Texas Tech and OU weren’t all gearing up for national championship runs. 
 

This is quite possibly the most disastrous position Texas football has been in in my lifetime. I have never experienced this level of program disappointment while literally all of our rivals still have a chance at a national title with two weeks left in the season. I’m not sure that has EVER been the case. 

To be fair, it's unlikely Aggie, OU, or Tech wins a natty. We could also still beat Aggie. South Carolina exposed them bad. Georgia is the best team in the SEC and they showed why last night.

[CHorn427]

Just now, FootLaw said:

To be fair, it's unlikely Aggie, OU, or Tech wins a natty. We could also still beat Aggie. South Carolina exposed them bad. Georgia is the best team in the SEC and they showed why last night.

Just the fact that they will all likely be in the CFp while Texas is out is 100000% winning for them

[Ryanw]

Some of you would never make it in an up and down world of sales much less coaching.  You think every season should be natty or bust lol. 

[CHorn427]

7 minutes ago, Ryanw said:

Some of you would never make it in an up and down world of sales much less coaching.  You think every season should be natty or bust lol. 

Every season should realistically be CFP or bust for Texas. We have the highest amount of allocated NIL, preseason #1. Instead of us making the CFP, literally all of our rivals will be, including the one who has been ridiculed for playing Moneyball with NIL. 
 

This isn’t just a down year for Texas. This is one of the most disastrous years in our program’s history. Like top 5. Maybe even the most disastrous. We are closer right now to Penn State’s fate than Ohio State’s. Not a whole lot of supply of wunderkind head coaches on the market relative to demand if you haven’t noticed. 

[SchoolColors]

8 minutes ago, CHorn427 said:

Every season should realistically be CFP or bust for Texas. We have the highest amount of allocated NIL, preseason #1. Instead of us making the CFP, literally all of our rivals will be, including the one who has been ridiculed for playing Moneyball with NIL. 
 

This isn’t just a down year for Texas. This is one of the most disastrous years in our program’s history. Like top 5. Maybe even the most disastrous. We are closer right now to Penn State’s fate than Ohio State’s. Not a whole lot of supply of wunderkind head coaches on the market relative to demand if you haven’t noticed. 

With 12 teams and soon to be 16 it is absolutely playoffs of bust. If you aren’t in it you have no hope at a national title. I agree with you completely here!

[Texas fan in Georgia]

34 minutes ago, Ryanw said:

Some of you would never make it in an up and down world of sales much less coaching.  You think every season should be natty or bust lol. 

Not necessarily natty or bust. But if you’re making $10m a year and have a $25+ million dollar roster, you most definitely should be in the conversation for a natty. Every year

[Texas fan in Georgia]

Sarks just not good at evaluating his own roster. He really looked at what he had in the offseason and said yeah let’s roll with it.  If he doesn’t throw cam Coleman a serious bag then he’s not serious as a head coach. I don’t care if we lose wingo. He’s gonna leave about 75 yards and multiple catches on the field every night. If it’s not his eyes it’s his hands. He’s not physical and could care less about blocking. Mosely is unquestionably the best receiver on this team. Deandre Moore has been virtually non existent this year. Feel bad for arch. Sarks gonna waste him by not putting enough talent around him and is gonna get him killed by not putting a better OLine to protect him.

[ClubWhatever]

4 minutes ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

Not necessarily natty or bust. But if you’re making $10m a year and have a $25+ million dollar roster, you most definitely should be in the conversation for a natty. Every year

There are 20 programs that have that.  They can’t all be national title contenders every year.  Every year there are going to be about 5 or 6 teams that have a realistic shot.

[tfoster40]

9 minutes ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

Not necessarily natty or bust. But if you’re making $10m a year and have a $25+ million dollar roster, you most definitely should be in the conversation for a natty. Every year

Wasn’t this roster $35 mill to

[Texas fan in Georgia]

1 minute ago, tfoster40 said:

Wasn’t this roster $35 mill to

That’s why I said $25+ I knew it was north of 25 but wasn’t sure of the exact number 

[TexasLonghorns]

Has there ever been an elite coach, Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, Nick Saban, whoever, who gets absolutely dominated in Year 5 of their program the way Steve Sarkisian just did? Show me one. You can’t.

And this isn’t some isolated bad night. Sark is now 1–7 vs Top 5 opponents at Texas. That’s not elite. That’s not close to elite. That’s a neon sign flashing “this guy folds when the talent gap disappears.”

He’s 0–5 vs Day and Smart and 0–2 vs Kalen DeBoer. Every time Sark faces a coach working with comparable talent and actual championship-level competency, he gets exposed. Texas goes from “We’re back!” to “We just got outclassed again” in a matter of quarters.

And the pattern is impossible to ignore:

Texas squeaks out OT road wins over bottom-tier SEC programs like Mississippi State and Kentucky, games elite programs bury by halftime. But the moment Texas lines up against a roster in its weight class, the fake swagger evaporates and the scoreboard does the judging.

This is Year 5.

Elite coaches don’t get blown off the field in Year 5.

Elite coaches don’t go 1–7 vs Top 5 teams.

Elite coaches don’t need overtime to survive the SEC’s basement.

At some point, the results define you and these results define Sark.

The hype says elite.

The resume says mid.

[uthorn1374]

Sark better talk to Pete and Saban.  Sark needs an overhaul of his program.

[Texas fan in Georgia]

10 minutes ago, TexasLonghorns said:

Has there ever been an elite coach, Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, Nick Saban, whoever, who gets absolutely dominated in Year 5 of their program the way Steve Sarkisian just did? Show me one. You can’t.

And this isn’t some isolated bad night. Sark is now 1–7 vs Top 5 opponents at Texas. That’s not elite. That’s not close to elite. That’s a neon sign flashing “this guy folds when the talent gap disappears.”

He’s 0–5 vs Day and Smart and 0–2 vs Kalen DeBoer. Every time Sark faces a coach working with comparable talent and actual championship-level competency, he gets exposed. Texas goes from “We’re back!” to “We just got outclassed again” in a matter of quarters.

And the pattern is impossible to ignore:

Texas squeaks out OT road wins over bottom-tier SEC programs like Mississippi State and Kentucky, games elite programs bury by halftime. But the moment Texas lines up against a roster in its weight class, the fake swagger evaporates and the scoreboard does the judging.

This is Year 5.

Elite coaches don’t get blown off the field in Year 5.

Elite coaches don’t go 1–7 vs Top 5 teams.

Elite coaches don’t need overtime to survive the SEC’s basement.

At some point, the results define you and these results define Sark.

The hype says elite.

The resume says mid.

He beat the worse bama team in almost 20 years and that is where he peaked. He has 100% hit his ceiling at Texas.

[Jc Dobbs]

8 minutes ago, SchoolColors said:

One could make an argument that being on the precipice of great but never crossing the threshold to greatness is worse than knowing your bad. Because of the repetitive hope being crushed year in and year out. 

Yes. The Longhorns were SO CLOSE for two seasons under Sark. A made field goal from the right hashmark might've been the difference.

Just a bit more of the pride and winning spirit Texas was known for with DKR at the Helm was needed, and it wasn't far away. 2005-06 and VY now seems further away than it really was.

I started following the Longhorns as a schoolboy in 1968 and I have loved the Horns ever since. Watched the James Street team, "the Worster Bunch," beat Arky in 1969 for the Natty. Told my father that day "I'm going to college in Austin," and I did. Texas Exes Life Member. Season ticket holder until I retired.

You are correct in your observation about the Horns right now. It feels like they need a teardown and a rebuild because, with the exception of Arch, Colin Simmons and about three other players (who are leaving for the Draft) a return to championship  play in '26 is unlikely.

It's been fun... especially the victory over Bama. I generally don't whine about officiating, but if the Zebras had called the safety correctly in the North end zone of DKR in the first Alabama game or if the corner blitz had been executed properly by the Horns D late against the slippery Bama QB...it would have been TWO wins vs Saban. It was just that close. Or if Quinn hadn't been injured in the first matchup... Quinn was off to a great start and he was never the same physically or mentally after that injury.

Now... Texas isn't close. Lack of focus and motivation are showing up too frequently, and the OL play has fallen off a cliff. The Offense lacks explosive playmakers to help its' QB, who has gotten over a bad case of the Yips. The Defense is losing two of the best players to the NFL and the front seven isn't connected and coordinated with the Defensive Backfield.

Special Teams have blown hot and cold. Game changing punt and kickoff return units have started committing Bonehead penalties and being asleep at the wheel on an onside kick they thought they were prepared to handle is a prime example.

Far too often this season,  the Longhorns appeared unfocused and flat and a bit soft. They needed a transfusion of "Don't Tread On Me" blood.

 "It's A Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock And Roll," and right now I can no longer see the Top after being so close. I know it isn't easy and I  take pride in being a reasonable fan, but this season has been especially painful after all the pre-season optimism.

I think the pre-season #1 ranking was Saban's "Rat Poison."

Rant concluded. Thanks. Longhorns fans need to give CDC and Sark some space and support because the task in front of them is going to be difficult. It feels like some dramatic things happening in the program is very possible.

Hook 'Em!

[Jc Dobbs]

1 hour ago, Ryanw said:

Some of you would never make it in an up and down world of sales much less coaching.  You think every season should be natty or bust lol. 

I looked up "Disaster" and "Bust" in my Old School Dictionary and the 2025 Texas Longhorns team photo appeared twice. No copy, just the team picture cited under each word.

Hook 'Em!

[Sundancekid]

Go back to bed.

[Stevekap]

1 hour ago, CHorn427 said:

Every season should realistically be CFP or bust for Texas. We have the highest amount of allocated NIL, preseason #1. Instead of us making the CFP, literally all of our rivals will be, including the one who has been ridiculed for playing Moneyball with NIL. 
 

This isn’t just a down year for Texas. This is one of the most disastrous years in our program’s history. Like top 5. Maybe even the most disastrous. We are closer right now to Penn State’s fate than Ohio State’s. Not a whole lot of supply of wunderkind head coaches on the market relative to demand if you haven’t noticed. 

Texas has 1 NC and 3 conference championships in the 2000’s. As a Horn fan hate to admit it but this is a normal  season 🤘

[SchoolColors]

1 minute ago, Stevekap said:

Texas has 1 NC and 3 conference championships in the 2000’s. As a Horn fan hate to admit it but this is a normal  season 🤘

It’s worse when you stretch back 50 years and realize how little we have accomplished as a program. 

[Jc Dobbs]

1 minute ago, SchoolColors said:

It’s worse when you stretch back 50 years and realize how little we have accomplished as a program. 

The post-Mack Brown decade of doom was painful but last night was downright awful because it showed just how far away from the top the Longhorns now find themselves as they look up from being laid out flat on the canvas.

I played high school football long ago in the Wishbone era and one season my team went 1-9. I was a captain on a really bad team. It was 2A football in Texas and mismatches happened, but we lost to the defending state championship team 103-0. You read that correctly. The Referee came to our locker room at halftime and told our coaches he wasn't stopping the clock for any reason in the second half.

The defending champs' HC voted for me on the All-District ballot and told my HC it was because I didn't quit or fold. I still have my letter jacket from 1971 with the "Honorable Mention All-District" patch.