‘A Death March’ – Steve Sarkisian Warned of Looming Trap at Texas

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian missed out on the College Football Playoff last season despite the Longhorns being the AP preseason No. 1 team. After a season-opening loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Longhorns finished with a 10-3 record last season, which included a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win against the Michigan Wolverines.

Sarkisian acted aggressively, recruiting the No. 10-ranked transfer portal class in the country to aid quarterback Arch Manning, who is one of the best returning prospects in his position in college football.

Josh Pate Details Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian’s 2026 Schedule Headache

During Sunday’s segment of the “Josh Pate College Football Show,” analyst Josh Pate sent a stark warning to Sarkisian about the potential to be on the hot seat should the Longhorns fail to navigate their gauntlet of a schedule next season.

“As much as I feel Sark (Sarkisian) is in really good standing right now, because of the expectation level that’s gonna be on them this year, if they were to somehow have an 8-4 year this year, it would turn on him quick,” Pate said. “8-4 would not be a disaster for Texas with the schedule they’re gonna play.

“They have a nine-game schedule, plus Ohio State in the non-conference. 8-4 wouldn’t be terrible, but it would be a failure because there are national championship or bust expectations around them. They’re gonna have a death march of a schedule to get to the postseason. That kind of schedule affords the potential for a 7-5 to pop up.”

After missing out on the College Football Playoff last season, the Longhorns’ home-and-home series against Ohio State for the 2026 season came under scrutiny as elite teams scramble to ensure favorable schedules with an eye on the postseason.

After facing the Buckeyes at home in Week 2, the Longhorns will travel to Rocky Top to face off against the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bowl. Sarkisian’s team will also have to contend with clashes against coach Jon Sumrall’s Florida Gators and Pete Golding’s Ole Miss Rebels at home.

The Longhorns will then go on the road to face off against the Missouri Tigers and coach Lane Kiffin’s LSU Tigers before closing out the regular season with a trip to College Station to face off against the Texas A&M Aggies.

Since being appointed in 2021, Sarkisian has led Texas to a single Big 12 championship title and has led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff twice. After a big splash in the transfer portal, Sarkisian’s Texas will be one of the dark horses for the national championship next season.