Texas is in trouble. The Longhorns lost 27-24 to unranked Florida in Austin on Saturday after leading 17-3 at halftime, dropping to 4-2. As CBS Sports’ John Talty points out, Texas is the first top-10 team since 2003 to blow a double-digit lead against unranked opponents in back-to-back weeks.
After the game, Steve Sarkisian didn’t announce changes, but he opened the door: “We’re going to evaluate everything,” he said, adding, “Part of that is play-calling.”
The IAHHM Take
The numbers back up the frustration. Per CBS Sports, Texas came into the Florida game averaging 3.66 yards per carry, 117th in the country, with the SEC’s worst three-and-out rate at nearly 29 percent. Its playoff odds in CBS Sports’ projections are now down to 43 percent. And according to ClutchPoints, a late Arch Manning fumble helped Florida close it out.
Here’s the thing: Arch is the most famous last name in football, and every misfire gets magnified. But a run game that can’t move and an offense that keeps going three-and-out isn’t a one-man problem. Talty’s call is for Sarkisian to hand off play-calling, and that feels like the first domino. If Texas fixes the plan and Manning still looks shaky, then the quarterback conversation gets real.
The back stretch doesn’t get easier, either: Ole Miss, Mississippi State, a trip to Missouri and a trip to LSU are still ahead. Texas was part of a historic day of top-seven upsets, but of the five fallen teams, the Longhorns look the most lost.
Your call: is it the quarterback, the play-caller, or both?
Source: CBS Sports
