Texas Longhorns Prepare for Scary Match Against Arkansas

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is focusing on their upcoming game against Arkansas, calling it a “scary” matchup on Monday. The contest on Saturday is particularly crucial as Texas looks to bounce back from a disappointing performance against Georgia.

The Longhorns, with a record of 7-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play, have been under scrutiny this season. When questioned about the team’s underperformance, Sarkisian responded, “According to who?” indicating he is not concerned with outside opinions.

Despite their struggles, the Longhorns recognize that Arkansas (2-8, 0-6 SEC) poses a serious threat. The Razorbacks have maintained a high-scoring offense, averaging 34.1 points and 470.0 yards per game. “The record might not show they're having a great year, but in reality, all their games are close with the best teams in the country,” said Texas edge rusher Ethan Burke.

Defensively, Arkansas has struggled, ranking second-to-last in the SEC for passing yards allowed per game (245.3). With Texas’ running game faltering, exploiting the Razorbacks’ secondary could be a strategy they leverage.

In their recent game against Georgia, Texas dropped several critical passes, leading to a frustrating loss. Sarkisian pointed out that Texas recorded five drops, according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterback Arch Manning maintained that he still trusts his receivers, framing the drops as part of the game. “Just move on,” he said. “We’re all human, we make mistakes.”

Despite losing key players to the NFL draft and injuries, the Longhorns’ receivers are expected to step up. At this point in the season, Ryan Wingo leads the team with 40 receptions for 655 yards and six touchdowns.

As the Longhorns gear up for this Saturday’s game, there is a mixture of pressure and expectation. Sarkisian emphasized the need for his team to improve, stating that the receivers need to trust their skills and perform, especially in critical moments. “Nobody wants to drop the ball,” he said. The match against Arkansas is seen as an essential opportunity for the Longhorns to regain momentum.