People listen when the man who coached Texas to its last national championship speaks. So when Mack Brown recently picked Georgia to win the SEC over his former program, it sent a clear message. Brown grouped the preseason No. 1 Longhorns with Ole Miss and LSU, highlighting their flaws rather than their potential. This blunt assessment from a legendary figure raises a critical question for head coach Steve Sarkisian: What is wrong with Texas, and how can he fix it?
Why Did Mack Brown Pick Georgia Over Texas?
Speaking on “The Stampede” podcast, Brown was asked to name his favorites in the SEC and immediately backed Georgia. His pick came despite the Bulldogs’ early-season struggles, including a lackluster 28-6 victory over Austin Peay that looked much closer than the final score suggested.
“Everybody had Georgia out. They played awful against Austin P. I think it was like 28-6 or something,” Brown said. “It was closer than that with a rain delay. So they had the same discussion about their team last week that Texas fans are having this week.”
In that comment, Brown drew a direct parallel between Georgia fans who questioned their team after the Austin Peay game and the current anxiety among Texas supporters. The key difference, however, was how each team responded to the pressure.
He defended his pick by pointing to Georgia’s dramatic 44-41 overtime victory at Tennessee. That performance proved the Bulldogs could handle adversity on the road against a ranked opponent, giving them a significant edge in his eyes.
“They got confidence, they got good players, they got good coaches,” Brown explained, outlining why he believes Georgia has what it takes to win the conference despite a rocky start.
Where Does Brown Rank Texas in the SEC?
After anointing Georgia as his SEC favorite, Brown clarified where the Longhorns fit into the conference hierarchy. Instead of placing the preseason No. 1 team among the top contenders, he grouped them with other programs facing significant uncertainty.
“And then the next two I would say would be somewhere. You got the Ole Miss, LSU, and you got the Texas all in there with some question marks right now that need to get it fixed,” Brown stated on the podcast.
Those “question marks” have been evident to anyone watching Texas this season. Quarterback Arch Manning has struggled with accuracy and decision-making, completing just 55.3% of his passes through three games.
The offensive issues were displayed in the season-opening loss to Ohio State, where the Longhorns scored only seven points. The struggles continued against UTEP, a game in which Manning threw 10 straight incompletions and finished 11-of-25 for 114 yards. That performance led to the home fans booing their offense during the first half.
However, Brown did not completely write off his former team’s chances. “But all have a chance to still be in the upper part of the conference and win,” he added, suggesting he still believes in Texas’s potential to compete if they can resolve their issues.
Ultimately, Brown’s message is a mix of concern and hope. He sees the glaring problems that have plagued Texas this season, but also recognizes the talent on the roster. His review puts the pressure squarely on Steve Sarkisian to fix an offense that has sputtered since the opening game. The path is clear: Texas can still compete for an SEC title, but only if it addresses the execution problems defining its first three games.
