For much of the 2024 college football season, the Texas Longhorns looked like a legitimate national championship contender. Under head coach Steve Sarkisian, the team played with confidence, physicality, and a level of execution that had many believing Texas was finally “back.” However, as the season reached its defining stretch, a pair of brutal late-season showdowns against Georgia and Ohio State exposed the Longhorns’ weaknesses in stunning fashion.

These losses not only highlighted key vulnerabilities in Texas’ roster and game plan but also served as a harsh reality check for Sarkisian, who now faces pressing questions about the program’s ability to compete at an elite level. What went wrong for the Longhorns? And what does this mean for the future of Texas football under Sarkisian?

The Hype That Set the Stage

Entering the final month of the regular season, Texas was riding high. The Longhorns had already secured impressive wins over top-ranked opponents, including an early-season victory against Alabama. Quinn Ewers was playing some of the best football of his career, the offensive line was holding strong, and the defense looked significantly improved under coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.

More importantly, Texas had positioned itself as a team capable of contending in the College Football Playoff, a feat that would have cemented Sarkisian’s rebuild as one of the most successful in recent college football history.

Then came back-to-back clashes with Georgia and Ohio State—two teams that have consistently dominated the college football landscape in recent years. These matchups were viewed as the ultimate test of whether Texas was ready to join the sport’s elite tier.

Georgia Exposes Texas’ Physicality Issues

First came the showdown with Georgia, a battle of blue-chip rosters and powerhouse programs. Texas entered the game knowing that Georgia’s defensive front would pose the biggest challenge it had faced all season. What followed was a sobering reminder that the Longhorns still have work to do before they can consistently compete with teams of Georgia’s caliber.

The Bulldogs controlled the line of scrimmage from the opening snap, overwhelming Texas’ offensive line and disrupting Ewers all night. The Longhorns struggled to establish the run, forcing Sarkisian to rely on a passing attack that Georgia’s secondary had little trouble containing. Ewers, who had looked poised and efficient all season, found himself under relentless pressure, making uncharacteristic mistakes that stalled Texas’ offense.

Defensively, Texas had no answer for Georgia’s power-running game. The Bulldogs methodically wore down the Longhorns’ defensive front, dominating time of possession and keeping Sarkisian’s offense on the sidelines. By the time the final whistle blew, Texas had suffered a humbling loss that exposed critical issues in both the trenches and overall roster depth.

Ohio State Exploits Texas’ Secondary and Coaching Adjustments

Hoping to bounce back from the Georgia loss, Texas entered its matchup with Ohio State with a chance to regain national credibility. Instead, the Longhorns faced another dose of harsh reality, this time at the hands of an elite Buckeyes passing attack.

Ohio State’s offense, led by a dynamic quarterback and a lethal receiving corps, relentlessly attacked Texas’ secondary. The Longhorns’ defensive backs, who had performed well against most of their Big 12 opponents, were no match for the speed and precision of Ohio State’s aerial attack. Missed assignments, blown coverages, and poor tackling turned into explosive plays, putting Texas in an early hole that it never climbed out of.

Perhaps even more concerning was the coaching battle. While Ohio State’s Ryan Day made the necessary in-game adjustments to exploit Texas’ weaknesses, Sarkisian and his staff struggled to counter. The Longhorns’ offense became predictable, and Sarkisian’s play-calling—often a strength—failed to generate the explosive plays Texas needed to stay in the game.

By the time the game ended, the Longhorns had not only lost their second straight contest but had done so in a way that cast doubt on their ability to compete with the sport’s true heavyweights.

What This Means for Sarkisian and Texas Moving Forward

These back-to-back losses serve as a defining moment for Steve Sarkisian and the Texas program. While the Longhorns have clearly made progress under his leadership, these defeats underscore just how much work remains before Texas can consistently contend for national titles.

1. Recruiting and Roster Depth Must Improve

Texas has recruited well under Sarkisian, but the Georgia game made it clear that there’s still a gap between the Longhorns and teams like the Bulldogs in terms of physicality and depth. The defensive front needs more dominant players who can withstand a power-running attack, and the offensive line must improve in pass protection against elite defenses.

The good news for Texas fans is that the Longhorns are set to enter the SEC, which should improve recruiting opportunities. However, closing the gap on teams like Georgia will require more than just star recruits—it will take player development and a culture that prioritizes toughness in the trenches.

2. Defensive Secondary Needs an Overhaul

If the Georgia game exposed Texas’ physicality issues, the Ohio State game highlighted a glaring problem in the secondary. The Longhorns’ pass defense was simply not good enough, and against an elite passing attack, it became a major liability.

Sarkisian and his staff must address this weakness immediately, whether through recruiting, transfers, or schematic adjustments. If Texas truly wants to compete with the best, it can’t afford to have a secondary that gets exposed against top-tier quarterbacks and receivers.

3. Sarkisian Must Prove He Can Win the Big Games

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from these losses is that Steve Sarkisian still has to prove he can win the games that truly matter. While he has elevated Texas from mediocrity to relevance, questions remain about his ability to lead the Longhorns past the sport’s powerhouses.

Sarkisian’s offensive genius is well-documented, but against Georgia and Ohio State, his game plans lacked the adaptability needed to overcome elite competition. The best coaches—Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Ryan Day—excel at making in-game adjustments, something Sarkisian will need to improve if he wants to take Texas to the next level.

4. The SEC Transition Will Be a True Test

These losses serve as a stark warning for what’s to come when Texas officially joins the SEC. The competition will only get tougher, and the Longhorns will have to navigate a gauntlet of powerhouse programs every season.

While Sarkisian has done a solid job laying the foundation for success, the reality is that Texas will need to be even better—both in coaching and player development—to consistently compete in its new conference.

Conclusion: A Reality Check, Not a Death Sentence

While these losses to Georgia and Ohio State were disappointing, they don’t signal the end of Texas’ rise. Instead, they serve as a reality check—one that Sarkisian and his staff must embrace if they want to truly take Texas back to the top of college football.

The Longhorns have made undeniable progress, but as these games showed, there’s still a gap between Texas and the sport’s elite. If Sarkisian can learn from these defeats, improve recruiting, and make the necessary coaching adjustments, Texas can still be a force in the years to come.

But if these losses are ignored or brushed aside, the Longhorns risk falling into the same cycle of inconsistency that has plagued them for over a decade.

For Steve Sarkisian, the challenge is clear: take Texas from a very good team to a truly elite one. Whether he can do that remains to be seen—but after these losses, the pressure is higher than ever.