Full Breakdown
Texas Faces Playoff Uncertainty After Back-to-Back Upset Losses
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Back-to-Back Upsets Shake No. 1 Longhorns
Two weeks after Texas rose to No. 1 following a comeback against Ohio State, the Longhorns fell. A last-second field-goal loss to unranked Oklahoma was followed on October 17, 2026 by a 27-24 home defeat to unranked Florida. The defeats dropped Texas to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the SEC, putting its College Football Playoff (CFP) hopes on the brink.
Background & Context
The 2026 campaign is Texas’s second season in the SEC and the sixth under head coach Steve Sarkisian. The recent losses are the first consecutive defeats since Sarkisian’s inaugural year.
Data & Statistics
- Record: 4-2 overall, 1-2 SEC.
- Scores: Oklahoma loss (field goal on final play); Florida loss 27-24.
- Arch Manning: 14-20 for 173 yards, 1 TD, 1 sack-fumble; QBR 19.9.
- Pass protection: Manning was sacked five times; Texas averaged 3.3 yards per rush after a 32-yard touchdown run by Raleek Brown.
- Edge rusher Colin Simmons: 5½ sacks earlier in the season, one sack against Florida, injured late in the game.
- Contract: Sarkisian’s 2025 extension runs through 2031 with a salary exceeding $70 million; the buyout is reported as 85 % of the remaining balance, roughly $50.15 million.
Official Statements & Responses
Coach Sarkisian said “everything” will be evaluated after the Florida loss and declined to single out any player. Quarterback Arch Manning noted that “everyone is evaluated every week” and that improvement must start with him. Florida head coach Jon Sumrall praised his staff’s resilience, indirectly contrasting Texas’s recent performance. Contract details indicate a multi-million-dollar payout would be required for a termination, though exact terms remain unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That's how it is at a school like this ... Everyone's got to get better and it starts with me.” — Steve Sarkisian
- “I just felt like we didn’t … we didn’t play good offensive football, and we’re not playing good offensive football right now,” — Steve Sarkisian
- “The human psyche part of, what are you dealing with, what's the other side dealing with, it's a real part of the game,” — Jon Sumrall
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise financial impact of a potential termination. One report cites an 85 % buyout of the remaining balance ($50.15 million); another notes the figure but does not confirm its applicability to the 2025 amendment. The extent of Colin Simmons’s injury has not been disclosed.
What's Next
Texas must avoid a third loss to keep CFP aspirations alive. The Longhorns host No. 9 Ole Miss next weekend, followed by games against Mississippi State, Missouri, LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Winning the remaining six games is essential for any realistic path to the playoff.