SportsSpotlight Stories

Sunday Pessimism: Sarkisian has hard decisions to make this offseason

November 16, 2025
0

We have made it to another Sunday, the first in over a month where we are breaking down a Longhorns loss. As you can imagine, this is a rather easy game to find the negative in, on every side of the ball. Not only that, there is some pessimism following this performance that goes well beyond the next two weeks. 

Let’s jump in and breakdown to abject disaster of a performance in Athens: 

We will start on the offensive side of the ball, where if you aren’t talking about Arch Manning, there is very little positive to say. According to PFF, the Longhorns had 5 drops on the day. If converted, Manning’s completion percentage wouldn’t be over 80% and it’s very likely a different game. 

Not to be out done, the OL gave up 15 pressures and 3 sacks on 48 pass blocking snaps. That, combined with the convention run game totaling 40 yards on only 12 carries, you have a recipe for disaster. None of this is new for the Longhorns, particularly against Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs, which makes it all the more frustrating. 

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, the communication in the secondary is a massive issue. Three of Georgia’s four passing TDs came on miscommunications of missed assignments in the Texas secondary. Arkansas and Texas A&M are more than capable of hanging 40 points on them if those issues continue. 

Up front, it’s harder to have genuine issues. Yes, the Georgia run game got going late in the game, but when the defense is forced to be on the field for 35 minutes(20+ in the second half), you aren’t going to hold up. Only mustering 10 pressures is disappointing and something that needs to improve in the next two games. 

Now to the special teams, who put together their worst performance of the year by a country mile. Ryan Niblett didn’t get a chance for a return, partly because of poor punts by Georgia and the special teams unit had a number of penalties, including one that negated a 59 yard return. As the rotten cherry on top, the surprise onside kick was incredibly poorly covered and effectively ended any chance the Longhorns had. 

Finally, we have to move to the coaching staff, because for the third time in a row, Kirby Smart and company have coached circles around Steve Sarkisian’s crew. Outside of Manning’s heroics, the offense stood no chance against Smart and Glenn Schumman’s defense. Outside of Anthony Hill Jr.’s heroics, Mike Bobo continuously outdid Pete Kwiatkowski. For the third time in a row, it was proven the biggest gap between Georgia and Texas today is coaching. 

The Longhorns were the less disciplined, worse coached and less prepared team yesterday. That is something that can’t continue to happen in these major moments if Texas wants to take the next step as a program. Yesterday was a microcosm not only of the 2025 Texas Longhorns, but also a microcosm of Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns. Penalties, missed opportunities and another loss against college football’s elite. 

I want to be clear, I am not here to call for Steve Sarkisian to be fired. I believe he is still a coach that can get Texas to the heights the fans long for, but beyond debate now, changes have to be made. Whether that is Sarkisian hiring an offensive playcaller, position coaches changes, personnel changes or all of the above, something has to change. 

The Texas program is still in a great place, just not the elite place. It’s up to Steve Sarkisian to figure out how to get it there.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Sunday Pessimism: Longhorns, Steve Sarkisian have a Georgia problem

Technology

Recent Posts

editors picks

Top Reviews

X-twitter

© 2024 United Cultures.