TexasLonghorns

This conversation started with comparing Herman never sniffing the playoffs to Sark in terms of results and context. I’m here to discuss observable outcomes, not to pull anyone’s chain. NIL, the transfer portal, and top tier recruiting have changed what’s expected from Texas coaches. I appreciate everyone keeping the discussion respectful and focused on the facts, with the exception of those who resort to personal jabs.

When someone starts making it personal, it usually means they’ve run out of real arguments. I’m not “negative,” I’m focused on results and those results still don’t match the resources Sark’s had. Going from 5–7 to the playoff with NIL, the portal, and a top 5 roster every year isn’t the same as building from scratch without those tools. The same issues stagnant offense, QB regression, and no clear identity are still there. And to be clear, the claim about multiple conference “titles” is misleading. Sark won the Big 12 once and made the SEC Championship game once. Claiming “titles” implies dominance that hasn’t actually happened. That’s reality, and it stands regardless of the personal insults you throw. Unless I’m misremembering, weren’t conference titles and semi final playoff appearances only supposed to “count” if you actually won them? That’s the line we used to tell OU fans back in the Herman days. Seems like the standards have conveniently changed.

Calling it “my opinion” doesn’t make it less true and you don’t have to get it for it to still be a fact. Herman coached under a four team playoff, no NIL, no transfer portal, and no way to instantly fix roster holes. Those are verifiable realities, not feelings. Sark’s had all those advantages for five years yet the on field product hasn’t evolved. That’s not debate, that’s data.

The point about results still stands, it’s about what actually happens on the field, not opinions or anecdotes. Herman’s failures are well documented, but context matters. Observables > opinions, always. Facts don’t require agreement.

Yes, Sark made two CFPs and that’s worth acknowledging. But context also matters. Under the old four team playoff system, Sark would have only made it once in five seasons. The other seasons, including this year, Texas wouldn’t have qualified. That’s the reality when you strip away expanded playoff slots, NIL advantages, and the transfer portal. Making two CFPs in an era stacked with modern advantages doesn’t erase the fact that the offense remains inconsistent, QBs underdeveloped, and the team lacking a clear identity offensively.

None of that changes the facts. Herman’s mistakes and personality issues don’t alter the structural realities: four-team playoff, no NIL, no transfer portal, no plug and play roster fixes. Sark has all of those advantages, and yet five years in, the offense is still predictable, QBs regress, and the team lacks identity. This isn’t about “disliking” anyone, it’s about observing what actually happens on the field. Results matter more than anecdotes unfortunately

Funny enough, pointing out context isn’t hitching a wagon, it’s applying the same critical thinking you expect from others. Saying Herman “never sniffed the playoffs” without mentioning the four team limit, no NIL, no portal, and no plug and play roster flexibility is literally ignoring half the playing field. Sark has had all of those tools, top 5 recruiting, unlimited roster flexibility, full program backing and five years in, the offense is still predictable, QBs regress, and the team lacks identity. Context matters because it shows why results mean more than just a single stat…Herman struggled under limitations, Sark hasn’t maximized advantages.

Again, nobody’s defending Herman, he had plenty of flaws. Saying Herman “never sniffed the playoffs” without context is not just incomplete, it’s ignorance. The playoff system during Herman’s era only included four teams, and the roster rules were strict, no NIL, no transfer portal, no plug and play experienced replacements. Sark, on the other hand, has had every modern advantage Herman didn’t….NIL, the transfer portal, and the ability to overhaul a roster instantly. Even using Herman era metrics, Sark would have made the playoff only once in five seasons, and remove the portal advantage and the odds drop substantially. Put simply: having all the modern advantages doesn’t excuse the flaws we still see on the field, especially offensively in year 5 against bottom tier teams like Florida and Kentucky.

I’m not saying Herman would have done exactly the same, and he had his issues. The point is context: Herman didn’t have NIL, the transfer portal, or the ability to plug roster gaps with experienced players, the difference these aspects make is massive. Denying that would be ignoring how much modern tools can change a program’s trajectory, especially Texas. Sark has had all of these advantages, yet five seasons in, the offense is still predictable, QBs are underdeveloped, and the team has no identity. That’s not opinion, it’s observable evidence on tape, in stats, and in outcomes.

Saying Tom Herman never sniffed a playoff ignores a ton of context. Back then, there was no legal NIL, no transfer portal, and the playoff only included four teams. Sark has had every modern advantage, top 5 recruiting classes, unlimited transfers, NIL flexibility. The transfer portal alone gives Texas benefits Herman never had, it lets you fill roster gaps immediately with experienced players, upgrade weak positions on the fly, and replace attrition quickly. Essentially, it’s a tool to fine tune the roster every year in ways previous coaches could only dream of. Yet here we are: five seasons in, and Sark would have made the playoff only once if it still only took the top four teams like Herman’s era. That’s the reality

https://x.com/on3sports/status/1979907551480197493?s=46

A win is a win” is exactly why Texas fans settle for mediocrity. Year 5 under Sark, top5 roster, nearly 11 million dollar coach, unlimited NIL resources and the offense still looks undisciplined, unprepared, and uninspired. A win in the column doesn’t mask systemic failure. The stats, the lack of development, it all points to one conclusion….this isn’t a program being coached to greatness, it’s a program being managed. Sark isn’t elevating Texas he’s capping it. That’s the evidence, plain and simple.

The OL, roster construction and execution up front are also Sarks responsibility. Flood is going to be the scapegoat? It’s deeper than that as Gerry has continued to say. There’s an elephant in the room folks don’t want to face. It’s coming though.

The issues with this team are obvious, no rhythm, no identity, no adjustments, and it all points right back to Sark. It’s year five, and he’s still calling plays like a coordinator instead of managing the game like a head coach. The offense is predictable, the team looks flat, and there’s zero accountability. At some point, you’ve got to stop clinging to the play sheet and start leading the program. Everything wrong with this team reflects that.

If Sark can’t bench a struggling QB because of his last name, that’s on him. And if he hasn’t been able to develop that same QB after three years in his system, that’s on him too. He’s supposed to be an offensive guru, but at some point, you’ve got to show it. This is Sark’s offense, Sark’s roster, and Sark’s responsibility.

And Georgia shows up when it matters to seal the victory, extremely well coached. For kiffin to have his team in it though speaks volumes of his coaching acumen, doesn’t have a fraction of the talent Georgia has. He needs to take Florida job if he hopes to win SEC or a national title, he could do it there.

Georgia shows up when it needs to, well coached

Gerry casually dropping the hammer saying Sark isn’t a Kiffin from an offensive coaching perspective. And he’s right!

You think Florida State opens? Their HC just got a new deal a year ago…..

Thats right!! That’s exactly why being able to beat ranked teams matters. You don’t win national championships or even survive in a 16 team playoff without proving you can consistently beat top 15 and top 10 opponents and Franklin hasn’t shown he can do that. Again, good on Penn State for finally seeing this. Very true! Franklin and Sark both have plenty of wins, but look at the records that actually count: Sark is 13–13 vs ranked, 4–8 vs top-10, 1–6 vs top-5. Franklin is 15–30 vs ranked, 4–21 vs top-10. Those aren’t championship level numbers, especially in a 16 team playoff, you basically have no chance. The playoff is only going to expose that even more. It’s not about “unrealistic expectations,” it’s about finally meeting real ones. If you can’t beat elite teams regularly, you’re not a contender, you’re just padding your record.

What’s he have to lose? Don’t know the details of his buyout and if taking another job impacts that…if it does, then yeah I wouldn’t, haha.

IMO Franklin would be a great fit at Arkansas.

If you have national championship aspirations, your record against top teams has to matter more than padding your win total against nobody. And that’s where Franklin’s resume gets exposed: Under Franklin, Penn State is 15–30 vs ranked opponents. Even worse: he’s 4–21 vs top 10 teams Against top 5 teams, he’s nearly winless 1–15 And within the Big Ten, his record vs Ohio State & Michigan is 4–16. You can’t build a title contending program by treating games against elite competition as optional. If your coach can’t consistently beat top 15 or top 10 teams, you’re not competing for a playoff run, you’re hoping to sneak in. So yes, when people point out Franklin’s wins, they should also point out how few of them came in the games that actually define elite programs.

Sure, Franklin’s got 100+ wins, but how many came against non Power 5 teams? His record against ranked opponents tells the real story. At some point, padding the win total against overmatched teams stops meaning much. When it comes to the games that actually matter, that’s where the expectation lies and he’s fallen short there far too often. If you can’t consistently beat top 15 opponents, it’s hard to sell the idea you’re building a national championship program. Good on Penn State for recognizing this.