Live Update: Longhorns Fans Question Sarkisian’s Strategy After Playoff Exit
It’s been less than two weeks since the Texas Longhorns were eliminated from the College Football Playoff in a 28-14 semifinal loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, but the debate over what went wrong is still raging.
During Monday night’s national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame, fans couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the performance of Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and what they believe Texas could have done differently with their own star QB, Arch Manning.
Notre Dame’s First Drive Sparks Debate
On the opening drive of the championship game, Riley Leonard showcased his dual-threat abilities, running the ball nine times for 34 yards and capping the drive with a touchdown. The display left many Texas fans wondering if their team missed an opportunity by not utilizing Arch Manning’s mobility in their semifinal matchup.
Social media quickly lit up with reactions.
“Hmm. Maybe Arch Manning should have run the ball against Ohio State a little bit more,” one fan posted.
“I thought they said you can’t run up the gut against Ohio St’s front??? ND ran their QB up the gut 5 times on that drive picking up 4 first downs and a TD. Arch couldn’t get a shot or 4 with 4 downs at the 1??? This ain’t good for my mental health,” lamented another.
A Missed Opportunity?
The conversation repeatedly circled back to Manning’s untapped potential as a dual-threat quarterback. Fans argued that using his running ability could have changed the outcome of the game.
“A running QB is all it takes against Ohio State. Imagine if Arch Manning was in! Can pass AND run. He gets put in for solely QB running plays—imagine how we do next season,” one fan speculated.
“Man… this is where Arch would’ve been solid against Ohio State’s front seven,” another added.
“Watching Leonard run through the OSU defense on that first drive… makes me wonder what could’ve been if Arch would’ve run it 4 times from the 1,” a frustrated fan observed.
The What-Ifs Linger
Leonard’s early touchdown drive was quickly countered by Ohio State, tying the game at 7-7, but for Longhorns fans, the opening sequence only deepened their regret over what might have been.
As Texas looks ahead to next season, the conversation around Steve Sarkisian’s play-calling and Arch Manning’s versatility is likely to continue. Could a different approach have changed Texas’ playoff fate? For now, that question remains unanswered, but it’s clear the fans won’t let it go anytime soon.
