si
The Texas Longhorns are staring at a familiar predicament. Once again, they entered the season with national championship aspirations, but two losses by mid-October have left them with little margin for error. While a title is still mathematically possible, the Longhorns are cornered, and for the second consecutive year under head coach Steve Sarkisian, a 6-game start has fallen short of expectations, forcing them to win out to have any shot at the College Football Playoff.
That desperation sets the stage for a high-stakes clash with the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels, a game that could define the postseason picture. Texas has learned the hard way that the playoff committee cares only about the loss column when final rankings are determined. Strength of schedule, quality of wins, and the eye test all take a backseat; the only thing that matters is the win-loss record. Context is irrelevant—teams with more than two losses can't feel safe about making the field.
But Saturday's matchup with Ole Miss won't be the last playoff-implication game for the Longhorns. Every remaining game on Texas's schedule carries a win-or-stay-home ultimatum: keep playoff hopes alive or face another year on the outside looking in.
Key Analysis
Playoff contention isn't the only concern. Sarkisian's failure to fix the offense—the very unit he took over play-calling duties for after changing defensive coordinators to free up more time—could lead to major changes. It may be too early to say another playoff miss would put Sarkisian on the hot seat as head coach, but Sarkisian the play-caller could absolutely find himself without the call sheet next season, a decision that might not be entirely his own.
Sarkisian has repeatedly cited his play-calling acumen as a primary reason Texas hired him. Yet for the second straight season, his play-calling has become a major criticism, with many arguing it's holding the Longhorns back. Given the heavy financial investment in Sarkisian, his staff, and the roster, another postseason absence could create pressure to restructure the program's hierarchy.