Sarkisian's Offensive Collapse Demands a Reckoning in Austin

Steve Sarkisian was handed a metaphorical Lamborghini this season, but as CBS Sports first reported, he has driven it straight into a ditch. The No. 7 Texas Longhorns are currently in a freefall, punctuated by a 27-24 loss to an unranked Florida team that entered the game reeling from two consecutive losses of over 20 points and playing a backup quarterback.

This isn't merely a slump; it is a systemic failure. Texas has become the first top-10 team since 2003 to surrender double-digit leads in back-to-back weeks to unranked opponents. On Saturday, Texas held a 17-3 lead in the first half, only to watch Florida capitalize on an anemic offense. The numbers are damning: entering the Florida game, Texas ranked 117th nationally in rushing with just 3.66 yards per carry and suffered the worst three-and-out rate in the SEC at nearly 29%, according to CBS Sports.

**Opinion: The Play-Calling Crisis**

Sarkisian carries a reputation as an elite offensive mind, but the on-field results are nonexistent. He needs to relinquish the offensive play-calling immediately. While Sarkisian told reporters after the game that he would "evaluate everything" from an offensive perspective, including play-calling, the real issue is the personnel he trusts.

CBS Sports argues that Sarkisian's loyalty to long-tenured assistants—specifically offensive line coach/offensive-coordinator-in-name-only Kyle Flood and quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee—has become an impediment. It is staggering that a program with such immense investment cannot develop former five-star recruits like Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. For Texas to evolve, Athletics Director Chris Del Conte must demand a complete cleaning of the offensive coaching staff to bring in fresh energy and ideas.

**The Arch Manning Dilemma**

At the center of this stagnation is Arch Manning. While some predicted he would be a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, CBS Sports notes he currently looks closer to being benched. Manning remains capable of occasional "wow" plays, but his confidence appears shaken, hindering an offense that should be explosive given the presence of Hollywood Smothers, Cam Coleman, and Ryan Wingo.

The inconsistency is glaring. An SEC head coach told CBS Sports that with Manning, you never know if you are getting "good Arch or Dazed and Confused Arch." If Manning cannot find his footing, the Longhorns' preseason goal of a national championship is a fantasy.

**The Playoff Precipice**

Texas now sits at 4-2 with a brutal gauntlet remaining: No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 16 Mississippi State, No. 13 Missouri, and No. 22 LSU. Following the Florida disaster, CBS Sports projections show Texas' playoff odds have dropped to 43%.

Missing the 12-team playoff for a second straight year would be egregious given the cost of the roster and Sarkisian's salary. With a $50 million buyout, Del Conte holds the leverage to force material changes in how the team is coached and developed. If Sarkisian continues to double down on his inner circle rather than empowering a real offensive coordinator, he may no longer be the right man to lead Texas over the mountaintop.