Despite heading into the Kentucky matchup with a head full of steam, Texas' offense has started off as slow as could be against the Wildcats' less than impressive defense. Though Arch Manning has undoubtedly had a few bad misses tonight, the schematic side of what the Longhorns are doing offensively has made very little sense.
Calling pass plays that are designed to pick up long, chunk-yardage on 3rd & short is unacceptable, and Sarkisian's done it at least three times tonight in crucial situations.
The failed trick play on 3rd & 3 caused the internet to erupt with anger, and it's hard to blame them right now.
Did Steve Sarkisian just ran a trick play on 3rd & 3 on the first drive?
— BKS Sports (@BKSecretsports) October 18, 2025
Terrible decision making, Sark has to stop playing with these low SEC teams and get them out the way.
this offense & sark’s play calling make me IRRATIONALLY angry, man…. we have too many play makers on the offensive side of the ball to look this shitty every week.
— Ayden Ames Stan Acct. 🤘🏼🏐 (@HookEmLacixoxo) October 19, 2025
Can Sark please please please give up playcalling. It’s time. This offense is a mess
— Daniel Hunter (@itsdanjhunter) October 19, 2025
This Longhorns team is way too talented and too motivated to be heading into halftime against a bad Kentucky team with 92 total yards of offense. The Wildcats' bottom of the league-ranked offense currently has almost double the number of first-downs, rushing yards, and passing yards than Texas does at halftime. Kentucky has also possessed the football over seven minutes more than Arch Manning and Co., which is absolutely embarrassing.
The Wildcats' rushing defense has been one of the worst in the league in 2025, giving up 192.7 rushing yards per game in SEC play, and Steve Sarkisian has only called seven designed run plays in the entire first half of this game.
It's games like this that make you wonder what's going through Sark's mind. Why on earth would you not be running the football on early downs against this team?
The Longhorns need to come out hot in the 3rd quarter and pound the ball down Kentucky's throat. The run game looked so much better against Oklahoma last week, with Tre Wisner absolutely dominating on the ground against one of the best defensive lines in the country. The fact that this is the way that Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood are following up that excellent performance is incredibly concerning.
Let's hope things get better for Texas' offense in the second half, because if not, Sark's going to have a lot of explaining to do after this one.