The Texas Longhorns will once again get their potential tasted against the Georgia Bulldogs in a fiery matchup. Steve Sarkisian will certainly look to ace through their first-ever SEC championship after a remarkable season wrapped up. Except for the Bulldogs, nobody could dominate the Longhorns in the regular season, and now it’s time to return the favor. While the daunting memory of a 30-15 will pump enough zest into the Texas players to take care of the business in the best way possible, it certainly will not be a cakewalk at all. Sarkisian didn’t expect it to be in the first place. He sees the high-stake redemption as ‘essentially a road game’ and chalks a roadmap to move past.

A chunk of Texas’ success will depend on how Quinn Ewers forges a comeback performance against the Bulldogs. After sustaining a grave ankle injury for two weeks, Ewers suited up against Texas A&M. Although he had issues in the red zone last week, he has been in rigorous practice and showcased every sign of a rebounded momentum. You can downplay him compared with the backup Arch Manning, who also did an excellent job in Ewers’ absence and led the team. It’s been a legit debate about whom Sarkisian should prioritize in the prestige fight against Georgia. Digging into the answer, Locks on SEC podcast host Chris Gordy said, ‘‘We assume, we will see probably both and Arch Manning take the field at some point on Saturday.”

Referring to a recent media conversation between Kirby Smart and Steve Sarkisian, the insider revealed how Smart views the impact QB duo of the opponent. ‘‘Kirby said as far as Arch goes he’s what everybody thought. He’s athletic, smart, a great thrower. He can run their entire offense while at the same time creating designed runs or off-schedule runs and both are scary because designed runs with him are tough to defend because you’re going to have to defend the whole field and then he’s also an elite thrower and passer’.’

But Smart seems to be on full guard against whatever Sarkisian throws at him on Saturday. He knows the Texas he will face this weekend is a more cohesive and explosive version of the one they knocked down earlier in the season. Sarkisian has undergone thorough preparation and execution and made them a team to be reckoned with. But wait, did you smell something fishy in Kirby Smart’s minute admiration?

Is Kirby Smart being extra appreciative of the Texas Longhorns’ strength?

Georgia’s another visit to the Atlanta coast isn’t any joke for the team. They gave away the crown to the Alabama Crimson Tide last year. This year, for obvious reasons, he will take every step with extra caution, and a solid lineup will be the backbone for it. They are not foreign to the SEC championship game and know the dos and don’ts of such a high-voltage game well.

If Sarkisian has the majesty of Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, Smart has arguably the most resilient defense to flex. As he had some incredible time as a coordinator under legendary Nick Saban earlier in his career, he earned a reputation for managing the defense like nobody.

Also, Smart is well aware of Saban’s infamous rat poison theory that simply means making the team look bigger than they are in reality through overhyping. Did he apply that in his latest head-turning comments on Ewers and Manning? Even if he does, it doesn’t shatter Sarkisian and his boys’ maturity.

But when it’s an SEC championship, no doubt, it will be a different ball game for the otherwise impressive Longhorns. The rest is on the stars.