In the Cotton Bowl semifinal on January 10, 2025, the Texas Longhorns, under head coach Steve Sarkisian, suffered a 28-14 defeat to the Ohio State Buckeyes. A pivotal moment occurred late in the fourth quarter when Texas, trailing by seven points, faced a first-and-goal situation at Ohio State’s one-yard line. The ensuing play calls have since been the subject of intense scrutiny.
Controversial Play Sequence
On first down, running back Jerrick Gibson was stopped for no gain. On second down, Sarkisian called a toss play to Quintrevion Wisner, resulting in a seven-yard loss. An incomplete pass on third down set up a critical fourth down, where quarterback Quinn Ewers was strip-sacked by former teammate Jack Sawyer, who returned the fumble 83 yards for a touchdown, sealing the game for Ohio State.
Sarkisian’s Explanation
Post-game, Sarkisian defended his strategy, explaining that the team employed a “heavy” package near the goal line, aiming to exploit the edges of Ohio State’s defense. He stated, “We had a plan to try to get the ball on the edge when we got down there… if you block it all right, you get in the end zone, and we didn’t, and we lose quite a bit of yardage.” Sarkisian acknowledged the risk involved but believed that even without scoring, pinning Ohio State deep could yield another offensive opportunity.
Criticism from Analysts and Fans
The decision to run a lateral play so close to the end zone drew widespread criticism. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit questioned the choice, suggesting that utilizing quarterback Arch Manning, known for his mobility, might have been more effective in such a high-stakes scenario.
Fans expressed their frustration on social media, with some calling for Manning’s involvement during the goal-line stand. One fan commented, “Instead of putting Arch Manning in the game on 1st and goal at the 1 and guaranteeing a score, Steve Sarkisian chose to have the worst play calling series I have ever seen in my life.”
Implications for Sarkisian’s Coaching Philosophy
Sarkisian’s tenure at Texas has been marked by a focus on building a physically imposing team, often referred to as assembling “big humans” to dominate the line of scrimmage. However, the Cotton Bowl’s critical moment exposed potential flaws in this approach, particularly regarding situational play-calling and adaptability under pressure.
Conclusion
The Cotton Bowl loss serves as a pivotal point for Sarkisian and the Longhorns, highlighting the need for introspection and potential adjustments in offensive strategy, especially in high-pressure situations. As Texas continues its pursuit of national prominence, the lessons learned from this defeat could prove instrumental in shaping the program’s future direction.
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