Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian Prepares for a Showdown Against Ohio State
In the world of college football, few matchups generate as much anticipation as the upcoming Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Texas Longhorns’ head coach, Steve Sarkisian, has made it clear that his team faces a formidable challenge against the Ohio State Buckeyes. In a candid statement on Friday, Sarkisian didn’t mince words, declaring Ohio State as “the best team in college football.” He emphasized the need for the Longhorns to deliver their best performance on January 10 to stand a chance against the Buckeyes.
“I need Longhorn Nation to show out in Arlington,” Sarkisian urged. “We’re going to need everything we’ve got to try to win this game. Clearly, we’re massive underdogs. Nobody’s going to give us a shot. … This is the best team in college football, and we’re going to have to make sure that we put our best forward to give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
Ohio State’s Dominance and Offensive Threats
Ohio State’s prowess is not just a matter of opinion. The Buckeyes have been a force to reckon with, especially after their commanding 41-21 victory over the Oregon Ducks. This victory was particularly impressive as Ohio State led 34-0 in the second quarter, showcasing their offensive and defensive capabilities. Despite Oregon being the No. 1 team in all six of this year’s College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State held the No. 2 spot in the first four rankings, making their recent triumph even more significant.
Sarkisian is particularly wary of Ohio State’s offensive lineup, highlighting the challenges posed by wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. “They’re both big physical players,” Sarkisian noted. “They have length, they have speed, they have playmaking ability on the ball. They have really big catch radiuses. They’ve got the scheme to go with it, with Coach [Chip] Kelly and Coach [Ryan] Day, and they’ve got a quarterback who delivers on the ball. So you add all that up, these guys are impactful players that are real issues and we’re going to have a hard time guarding ’em.”
Familiar Faces and Quarterback Showdown
Adding another layer of intrigue to this matchup is the familiarity both teams have with their quarterbacks. Texas’ Quinn Ewers spent his freshman year at Ohio State before transferring back to Austin. On the other side, Will Howard faced the Longhorns while playing for Kansas State before making his way to Ohio State.
Sarkisian recalled Howard’s impressive performance against Texas, saying, “[Howard] snapped off about a 70-yard touchdown run against us a few years ago. So he has good speed, he’s got great poise and composure in the pocket. He throws passes where they need to be thrown and guys make plays for him.”
Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, also shared his thoughts on Ewers, reminiscing about the time he first noticed Ewers’ talent. “He was one of the first eighth-graders I ever offered after seeing his release in an Ohio State camp,” Day said. After C.J. Stroud emerged as the starter at OSU, Ewers transferred to Texas following Sarkisian’s hiring.
Ewers’ Growth and Texas’ SEC Pride
Sarkisian praised Ewers’ development since joining the Texas program, particularly highlighting his resilience in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where he delivered two late touchdown passes to rally the Longhorns. “To watch him grow into the leader that he’s grown into for us, his ability to have the poise and composure he has, not only on the field, but off the field, to look into the face of adversity and come out on the other side of it time and time again,” Sarkisian said. “To be at his best when his best was needed, similar to the Peach Bowl there at the end of the game and in overtime, I think that’s all a seismic shift from a maturity standpoint, physically and mentally.”
As the last remaining SEC team in the playoff during their first year in the league, the Longhorns take immense pride in representing the conference. “I really believe this is a premier football conference in America because of the week-in, week-out task that it requires physically and mentally,” Sarkisian stated. “I know unfortunately for Georgia, they lost their starting quarterback in the SEC championship game, and I’m sure other teams in our conference had to endure things that can take their toll on your team, and that’s no excuse. At the end of the day, we have to find a way to navigate our ways through it, but to be here on this stage to be back in the final four wearing that SEC patch on our jersey, we’re going to do our best to represent it because this is a heck of a conference.”
- Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
- January 10, 2025
- AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Originally Written by: David Wilson
