Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he has no plans to give up play-calling duties or make staff changes after the No. 1 Longhorns lost to Oklahoma 27-24 on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Asked directly whether he would consider stepping away from his dual role as head coach and offensive play-caller, Sarkisian said, “Not a chance.”
The loss, decided by Tate Sandell’s 47-yard walk-off field goal in the final seconds, dropped Texas from an unbeaten start and handed Oklahoma its first win over a top-ranked team since beating Missouri in 2007. It was the Sooners’ first victory over a No. 1 Texas team in six tries, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Sarkisian’s Response To The Oklahoma Loss
Sarkisian’s comments on Sarkisian play-calling Texas Oklahoma decisions came after an offense that managed just 83 rushing yards for the game and went three-and-out seven times. “We have to play better,” Sarkisian said, explaining his reasoning for staying on as play-caller rather than delegating the job.
He also declined to reevaluate special teams coordinator Jeff Banks’ responsibilities, saying no when asked about a change there. Sarkisian did acknowledge specific special teams breakdowns. “I feel like we’ve missed some opportunities on special teams quite frankly,” he said.
“I felt like we had a couple return opportunities that we didn’t get. Clearly, two weeks in a row we’ve kicked the ball out of bounds on kickoffs. We’re better than that, and so I’ve got to find a way to get our guys playing with more confidence from a specialist standpoint.
But again, that’s my job to try to get that done.”
Those issues followed a game at Tennessee two weeks earlier in which Texas allowed a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown, meaning special teams breakdowns have now surfaced in back-to-back outings.
What It Means For Texas’s Offensive Leadership
Sarkisian’s refusal to hand off play-calling keeps full offensive control in his hands at a moment when the numbers are working against him. Texas ranks 104th nationally in yards per play at 5.4, ahead of only Arkansas, Clemson, Texas A&M, Michigan and Colorado among Power Four programs. The Longhorns also lead the SEC in three-and-out rate and are averaging 1.63 points per possession through two conference games, a mark that ranks 103rd in the country.
By staying on as play-caller, Sarkisian is putting his own scheme and in-game decisions at the center of any turnaround, rather than shifting that responsibility to an assistant.
Context And Background
Texas entered the Red River Rivalry at 4-0 and 1-0 in the SEC, while Oklahoma came in at 2-2 and 0-1 in conference play, according to USA Today. The loss snapped Texas’s unbeaten start and came with Peyton Bowen’s 42-yard interception return for a touchdown off an Arch Manning pass serving as one of the game’s turning points. Manning threw three touchdown passes, to Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Jermaine Bishop Jr., but also threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns also committed eight penalties for 61 yards and had 13 three-and-out possessions across their last two games entering and including the Oklahoma loss, per the Houston Chronicle.
The offensive struggles are not new under Sarkisian. Since he took over before the 2021 season, Texas has fielded a top-30 offense only twice, including in 2023. The Longhorns missed the College Football Playoff in 2025 with an offense that ranked 70th nationally at 388.5 yards per game.
Edge rusher Colin Simmons offered his own read on the loss, saying the team beat itself and that only Texas can beat Texas. Sarkisian struck a similarly pointed but forward-looking tone afterward. “Credit to Oklahoma,” he said.
“They hung around and made the plays they needed to win. For us, there’s a level of disappointment, a level of anger and frustration for things we have to get fixed, but also a level of optimism. We’ve got a long season to go.
We’ve got a good football team, so we’re not dead. We’re going to be OK. We’ll get well and get back up off the mat.”
A crowd of 92,100 attended the game at the Cotton Bowl, according to the Houston Chronicle.
What’s Next For Texas
Sarkisian’s comments leave Texas’s offensive staff and play-calling structure unchanged heading into the next stretch of the SEC schedule. No specific details on upcoming opponents or dates were included in his remarks, and Texas will look to address its three-and-out rate and special teams issues under the same coaching arrangement that was in place for the Oklahoma loss.
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