On ESPN's College GameDay, the game between the Texas Longhorns and Mississippi State Bulldogs was a big focus, even though the Dogs were unranked and the Horns were just No. 22 in the country.
However, Nick Saban and Desmond Howard both voiced their doubts about Texas throughout the early-morning show and then, when it came down to the cast picking who would win the game, it was a house divided.
ESPN College GameDay picks - Texas vs. Mississippi State
- Desmond Howard: Mississippi State
- Nick Saban: Texas
- Pat McAfee: Mississippi State
- Kirk Herbstreit: Texas
- Nate Bargatze (celebrity guest picker): Texas
Howard and fellow college football analyst Pat McAfee had no faith that the Longhorns could march into Starkville and defeat the Bulldogs in their home. In fact, McAfee went as far as to say that he "picked the cowbells" as rumors of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian swirled.
Just an hour before, news broke that one of Sarkisian's representatives had shared that the head coach was interested in leaving the Horns to take a job in the NFL, despite him never voicing that interest publicly.
On the other side of the table (literally), Kirk Herbstreit was adamant that the Longhorns were still a legitimate football program, and Saban refused to back down his support for Sarkisian, who used to be the legendary head coach's offensive coordinator.
The doubts were limited to the College GameDay desk as people across the country questioned not just Sarkisian's loyalty, but his play-calling abilities as well. Nonetheless, Sarkisian and the Longhorns were set to face the Bulldogs in what could be a make-or-break game for Texas's season.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, the No. 22 Texas Longhorns and the unranked Mississippi State Bulldogs were scheduled to kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT, and the game would be aired on the SEC Network.