Two losses later, the Longhorns’ playoff hopes look shaky, their best player had to leave the game with an injury, and their most famous player, quarterback Arch Manning, is in such a funk that head coach Steve Sarkisian hinted that his job could be in jeopardy.
“Everything is going to be evaluated,” Sarkisian said after Texas lost 27-24 to unranked Florida on Saturday.
uncertain
Texas → look → Saturday
Sarkisian was pressed whether that includes Manning, who has struggled to live up to the expectations surrounding his famous last name ever since he arrived on campus in 2023 as the nation’s top recruit.
asserted
he → press → recruit
“Everything,” Sarkisian said, “means everything.”
asserted
Sarkisian → say → everything
Texas (4-1, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) has lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since a 5-7 finish in 2021.
asserted
Texas → lose → 2021
Since then, the Longhorns have been to the College Football Playoff twice, and been ranked No. 1 at some point in each of the last three seasons.
asserted
Longhorns → rank → seasons
But this season now suddenly feels like it’s hanging by a thread.
asserted
it → feel → thread
After dropping a bitter loss to unranked arch rival Oklahoma, the Longhorns were throttled by the worst defense in the Southeastern Conference and gave up a two-score lead at home.
asserted
Longhorns → drop → home
Texas started this season No. 5 and jumped to No. 1 when Manning led a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback against top-ranked Ohio State.
asserted
Manning → start → State
Few wins get better than that one and propelled Texas to the top.
Manning and the Texas offense have struggled ever since.
asserted
Manning → get → top
He has four games of 200 yards passing or less, and his pass protection has broken down over the last three.
asserted
protection → have → three
He was sacked five times by Florida and coughed up the game-clinching fumble before the Gators ran out the clock.
asserted
Gators → sack → clock
Manning was asked about Sarkisian’s evaluation comment.
asserted
Manning → ask → comment
“Everyone is evaluated every week,” Manning said after the loss to Florida.
asserted
Manning → evaluate → Florida
“That’s how it is at a school like this ...
asserted
it → ’ → this
Everyone’s got to get better and it starts with me.”
asserted
it → get → me
Sarkisian said the problems go deeper than Manning’s play.
asserted
problems → say → play
A stagnant run game looked like it could break out against Florida when Raleek Brown scampered 32 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
uncertain
Brown → look → quarter
Texas averaged just 3.3 yards per run the rest of the game.
asserted
Texas → average → game
A defense that was so good over the first five games couldn’t get off the field against Florida and quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., who was making his first career start.
asserted
who → get → start
Jones led a methodical Florida rally from a 17-3 deficit.
asserted
Jones → lead → deficit
He threw two short touchdown passes in the rally and scrambled for the clinching first down at the end of the game.
asserted
He → throw → game
Topping it off, Texas now has a big injury concern with All-American edge rusher Colin Simmons.
asserted
Texas → top → Simmons
He fell to the turf clutching his lower right leg in the fourth quarter and needed help getting to the sideline.
asserted
He → fall → sideline
He eventually went to the locker room on a golf cart.
asserted
He → go → cart
Simmons set a school record with 5 1/2 sacks earlier this season against Tennessee, and had another one in the second half against Florida.
asserted
Simmons → set → Florida
He appeared to be injured while engaged with a blocker, twisting his leg.
asserted
He → appear → leg
Sarkisian said he did not yet know the extent of the injury.
asserted
he → say → injury
Texas hosts No. 9 Mississippi next Saturday.
asserted
Texas → host → Mississippi
The Longhorns likely need to avoid a third loss this season if they hope to make the playoff.
asserted
they → need → playoff
“Men only die when they give up, when they don’t believe any more,” Texas defensive tackle Hero Kanu said.
asserted
Kanu → die → ?
“We still believe.”
asserted
We → believe → ?
The Aporia
