AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two days after completing the largest fourth-quarter comeback ever against the No. 1 team in the country, Texas is dealing with a new challenge: being the No. 1 team in college football.
The Longhorns erased a 20-point fourth quarter deficit Saturday, scoring 21 unanswered points to stun Ohio State 24-23. The win vaulted Texas to the top spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll entering Week 3, while quarterback Arch Manning was named Southeastern Conference Co-Player of the Week and Trevor Goosby earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisan met with the media Monday as the Longhorns turn their attention toward UTSA, their final nonconference opponent.
Here are three takeaways from Sarkisian’s Monday press conference.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, center, celebrates Texas’ win over Ohio State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The outside noise around Texas changed dramatically in a matter of 48 hours.
Before Saturday, Sarkisian said the narrative surrounding his program was whether the Longhorns could win another marquee game. Just a season ago, Texas was ranked No. 1 heading into the college football season before falling to the Buckeyes 14-7 in Week 1. Fast forward to now, the Longhorns sit atop the AP poll following the biggest comeback for the program since 2007.
Sarkisian doesn’t want his players listening to either side of it.
“Who you are some of the time is who you are all the time,” Sarkisian said. “We don’t pick and choose how we prepare. We don’t pick and choose how we want to play based on the opponent.”
Sarkisian said the opinions of others can’t dictate how Texas prepares or plays, pointing to the dramatic shift in perception following Saturday’s win.
“A week ago, the narrative was we can’t win the big game,” Sarkisian said. “Now the opinions are, ‘Oh, now we’re the best team in the country,’ allegedly. … Two polar opposites of where we are. We need to stay right here.”
To drive home that point, Sarkisian showed his team Kobe Bryant’s “job’s not finished” clip Monday morning.
That doesn’t mean Sarkisian wants the Longhorns to completely forget what happened Saturday. He said he wanted his players to take 10 or 15 minutes after the win to appreciate the moments, including Texas outscoring Ohio State 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
But with 10 regular season games to go, Sarkisian’s message was clear: the No. 1 ranking only puts a bigger target on Texas’ back.
Texas running back Raleek Brown (0) runs against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
As memorable as Saturday’s comeback was, Sarkisian didn’t have to look hard to find areas of improvement.
At the top of the list was taking care of the football.
“Our ball security is awful right now, if you want to know the truth,” Sarkisian said. “That’s not something that we take pride in at all.”
Texas turned the ball over twice against the Buckeyes but had several other close calls. Emmett Mosley’s fumble was recovered by Cam Coleman, while Kade Phillips jumped on a muffed punt by Ryan Niblett. Manning also had a loose ball in the red zone ruled an incomplete pass.
The Longhorns have also been credited with eight drops though two games, tied for the most among SEC programs.
“We have got to value the football more in the organization than we have through two games,” Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian also pointed to third-down defense as another area that needs improvement. Ohio State converted six of 14 third downs Saturday, with quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith helping the Buckeyes control much of the first half.
Still, Sarkisian praised Manning’s poise after a slow start and the Longhorns’ ability to establish the run as the game progressed. Texas rushed for 141 yards, while Manning had cleaner pockets and delivered in key moments down the stretch.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day reacts to an Ohio State score against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Despite handing Ohio State its first loss of the season, Sarkisian made the case Monday that the Buckeyes shouldn’t be punished for scheduling and narrowly losing a marquee nonconference road game.
“I hope Ohio State does not get punished for that game Saturday night,” Sarkisian said. “They played a heck of a game.”
Sarkisian specifically raised the possibility of Ohio State eventually finishing 9-3 and how the College Football Playoff Committee should evaluate Saturday’s loss.
“I hope if they end up being a 9-3 team, the Committee can appreciate the fact that they came to Austin, Texas, in September when it was 100 degrees and played us in that environment and played a heck of a game,” Sarkisian said. “Quite frankly, Ohio State should be rewarded for playing in this game against us.”
Sarkisian said that programs should be encouraged to schedule high-profile nonconference games rather than risk being penalized for them. He added that he didn’t believe Texas received that benefit a season ago.
Now, the Longhorns have to move on from Ohio State.
Texas (2-0) hosts UTSA (2-0) in its final nonconference game in Week 3. The Roadrunners are coming off a 31-26 win over Texas State and feature three-year starting quarterback Owen McCown.
UTSA has also forced five turnovers through its first two games without committing one, presenting an immediate test for ball-security issues Sarkisian emphasized Monday.
“We have got to continue to get better as the season goes on,” Sarkisian said. “And it starts this week. It started today, Monday, in practice.”
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