Texas fans need to step back from the ledge, allow Steve Sarkisian time to build
The Texas Longhorns fell to the Iowa State Cyclones in Week 10. After building a 7-3 lead at the half, it all fell apart once again.
The Cyclones were able to outscore Texas 27-0 in the second half, and it has become an all-too-familiar scene on the Forty Acres. It was ugly early in the game and it didn’t get much better.
After the arguments for and against starting quarterback Casey Thompson, Steve Sarkisian chose to bench Thompson in favor of Hudson Card. While it did result in their lone scoring drive, it didn’t do much in the grand scheme of things. The Longhorns offense just wasn’t up to the task of keeping up with Brock Purdy and Co.
Texas’ offense went three and out on eight different drives, the final drive was just three plays but time ran out. Defensively, the Longhorns were not able to slow down the big plays by Iowa State. They gave up a 47-yard rush to Breece Hall and a 49-yard throw from Xavier Hutchinson to Tarique Milton on back-to-back drives to take the 17-7 lead midway through the third quarter. That would be all the Cyclones would need, but they kept pouring it on with 13 more points.
While the fan base is restless, it’s not time to panic yet. Steve Sarkisian is in his first year as the head coach of the Longhorns. His 4-5 start is the same as Tom Herman and Charlie Strong in their first seasons. The important key is where do they go from here. In the 10th game of their first season, both coaches won that game and went on to a bowl game.
While you can argue that just making a bowl game isn’t enough, they need building blocks. Texas has three very winnable games on their schedule remaining with Kansas and Kansas State at home, West Virginia on the road. A 7-5 record isn’t what fans were expecting, but Sarkisian needs time to build his roster.
This year’s hottest coaching story comes from Michigan State with Mel Tucker. His team was 2-5 in 2020, this year they are 8-1. How did Tucker create such a turnaround? Two reasons. His team bought in and they built a Big Ten contender through the transfer portal and recruiting.
One thing that Sarkisian has proven to do this year is recruit. The Longhorns have the No. 7 recruiting class in the country and No. 1 in the Big 12 at this point. With the transfer portal busting at the seams, there is plenty of talent to look at.
Two areas that this team needs to improve on are in the trenches. They need to find the best five starters on the offensive line and find someone who can get to the quarterback. While it looks bleak at the current moment, take a step back and breathe. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
