Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian stepped to the podium after a gut-wrenching 27-24 loss to Oklahoma, and instead of owning the defeat, he painted a rosy picture that left fans scratching their heads. The Longhorns' starting quarterback, Arch Manning, threw two fourth-quarter interceptions that directly led to 10 Oklahoma points, yet Sarkisian insisted his young signal-caller showed "a level of confidence, consistency, and rhythm" when throwing the ball.
"I thought there was a level of confidence, consistency, and rhythm he was in when he was throwing the ball," Sarkisian told reporters. "We've got to continue to run the ball better so it's not all on his shoulders."
That quote didn't sit well with the Longhorn faithful, who watched Manning's miscues hand the game to their bitter rivals. Many took to social media to accuse Sarkisian of being out of touch—or worse, flat-out lying. "All of sarks post game comments feels like he's lying to someone he doesn't think watched the game," one user on X wrote. Another simply asked, "What game is he talking about?"
The frustration isn't just about one loss. It's about a pattern. Sarkisian has repeatedly shielded Manning from criticism, even as the offense has sputtered in recent weeks. Fans see a coach who refuses to hold his quarterback accountable, and they're not buying the narrative that better run blocking will magically fix everything. "Talk about having your head in the sand. What an embarrassing statement," one fan tweeted. Another added, "If only Sark could tell the guy calling plays to run it more."
The anger reached a boiling point with comments like: "These comments alone should get this delusional (expletive) fired and arch benched. This no coaching idiot is trying to blame his backs… REALLY!!!! Boosters need to tell the AD No More Money til sarks is gone. 20 million offense and cant move the ball, but he's an offensive guru???"
It's a familiar refrain for Sarkisian, who has faced similar criticism for his excuses for Texas penalties in the past. The loss to Oklahoma, which was sealed by Manning's costly pick, only amplifies the scrutiny. The Sooners celebrated an upset that felt like a statement, while the Longhorns are left searching for answers.
Of course, the best way to silence the doubters is to win. Texas' next five opponents are all currently ranked, giving Sarkisian and his team a chance to flip the script. If he can guide the Longhorns through that gauntlet, the good vibes will return in a hurry. But if the losses pile up and the excuses continue, the calls for change will only grow louder.
For now, Sarkisian is sticking to his guns, defending his quarterback and pointing to the running game as the missing piece. Whether that's genuine belief or simply coach-speak, fans aren't having it. They want accountability, and they want it now.
