Can Steve Sarkisian move past the semifinals roadblock this year? Texas saw two back-to-back seasons end in a gut-wrenching semi-final loss. Both those years, Sarkisian built a team that was worthy of a Natty. He’s built one of the same calibre this year, too. At the center of this roster is Arch Manning, arguably the most talked-about weapon in college football. But it won’t be easy for the HC to have a smooth run to that goal. He might have to face an equally heavyweight program, which is just as worthy as Texas. Can Sarkisian’s third time be the strike he was looking for all this time?

Steve Sarkisian’s best years of coaching came in 2023 and 2024. Both on the recruiting and coaching fronts, he has racked up win after win. He has an army of players who are loyal to the Steve Sarkisian mentality at Texas. Sarkisian is not the one who gives up in the face of adversity. Right after losing the SEC championship game, he said, “We’re going to compete for a national championship. That’s where my head is at.” Unfortunately, that didn’t play out in 2024. But seeing how well they ended the season, hopes are high for Sarkisian making it to the end this year.

But the test of this crucial campaign will be the very first game they play: the current National Championship defenders. Easily one of the most highly anticipated games season, OSU is also returning with firepower in the same range as that of Texas. This is the second time Sarkisian and Ryan Day will be meeting since last season, since the Buckeyes knocked out the Longhorns. According to RJ Young, there could be a possibility of the two teams meeting for a third time, too, further down the season. “Texas and Ohio State could be the first time that we see two out-of-conference teams match up one more time in the 12-team playoff. And it could be with one at home and one away. It could be at a neutral site. Could be both as conference champions,” he said in an appearance with Adapt and Respond.

When it comes to the hopes of Texas lifting the National Championship this year, Young had a mixed opinion about it. “I don’t know that this is the year that Texas can do it,” he said. “[But] I submit to you. I don’t know that they’re going to have a better opportunity to win one than they do right now. And if nothing else, that should mean pressure cooker is on.” And it is so on, because the flames of expectations are set way too high. Sarkisian and Texas’s top brass have given their all to this roster, which is allegedly worth $35-40 million. Rivals says that Texas is expected to go 11-1, lose to Ohio State, but win the National Championship at the end. Aside from Penn State and OSU, Texas is the best bet for experts to be the titleholders this year.

Central to the heaps of all those expectations is Steve Sarkisian’s trump card in his race to the National Championship: Arch Manning.

Arch Manning receives brutal verdict for his debut season as QB1.

Arch Manning has been a star of the Texas Longhorns. He outshone his predecessor, Quinn Ewers, when it came to popularity, even sitting behind him as a backup. He garnered all those expectations and cheers after tallying 61-of-90 passing for 939 yards and 9 TDs in his 2 year at Texas. Now that he is in the position where everyone wanted him to be for the past two years, it’s no wonder that Manning is slated to produce more fireworks, now that he has a wider playing arena. But in the sea of starry-eyed fans, you’ll find the concerned critic too.

ESPN’s Aaron Murray thinks Manning hasn’t yet displayed his true potential. It is widely presumed that Manning is a top favorite to win the Heisman and also be a top pick in next year’s draft. Murray, however, thinks Manning “doesn’t scream first-round talent.” He said in an appearance for SiriusXM’s College Sports channel, “If you’re so good, and everyone thinks you’re going to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2026, why in the hell are you not playing above a seventh-round quarterback?” Even when it came to his draft projections, Murray didn’t hold back his criticism. “I am not sold like so many other people are, that this guy is going to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, that he’s just going to be unbelievable.”

For him, Ewers being the starting quarterback these two years seems to paint a bad picture for Manning. “Why was Arch not playing? It’s like that rubs me the wrong way a little bit,” Murray said. Sarkisian, at a recent event, however, had a clear plan for both of them. Ewers is more experienced than Manning and was the unquestioned leader of the team. He might not be as famous as Manning, but he was more capable. And, the situation deemed him to be the QB1 over the star QB.

The expectations are through the roof for Steve Sarkisian, and even more for Arch Manning. Both have their eyes set on the prize. And this year might be the best shot they have at hitting the bullseye.