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Texas's resilience in tough games was encapsulated by Steve Sarkisian's reaction to win vs. Mizzou

Well, the Longhorns have done it once again, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian didn't mince words afterward.
BySam Fariss
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Steve Sarkisian, Texas vs. Missouri
Steve Sarkisian, Texas vs. Missouri | Jay Biggerstaff/GettyImages

Well, well, well... The Texas Longhorns are solidly in the College Football Playoff conversation once again, and they only further solidified their place in the postseason with a fourth ranked win of the season, defeating the No. 18 Missouri Tigers on the road.

After the victory, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian couldn't contain his excitement and pride, shouting in celebration with the Longhorn fans who had made it up to Columbia, and praising his team for its resiliency in the biggest moments.

"I really believe there is a toughness in our organization that is kind of undeniable. When people count us out, we just don't go away," Sarkisian said. "Nobody thought we would win."

Sark went so far as to call the Horns "big game hunters," and honestly, it may be the most accurate description ever of the current Texas squad.

With quarterback Arch Manning at the helm, Texas has gone 8-2 against ranked opponents, with wins over then-No. 1 Ohio State, then-No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers, then-No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels, and Missouri so far this season.

Yes, the Horns have undeniably dropped a couple of games that they absolutely should have won over that same stretch. However, when doubters come after Texas, Sarkisian's team has responded time and time again.

Horns' win streak against ranked opponents is the embodiment of "Texas Fight"

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Some of the tried and true tenets on the 40 Acres are the tradition of excellence and that "Texas Fight."

While these ranked wins have been far from flawless for the Horns, the resilience, grit, refusal to back down, and pride have been amplified during Texas's now-six-game winning streak against ranked opponents:

  • 27-17 win over No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies (2025)
  • 41-27 win over No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (2025)
  • 24-23 win over No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes
  • 20-17 win over No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers
  • 34-27 win over No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels
  • 34-20 win over No. 18 Missouri Tigers

If you're curious, no other team in all of college football has a win streak against ranked opponents of more than two games. Not too shabby for the team in burnt orange.

And the cherry on top of Texas's performance against Missouri was the fact that the Horns finally secured a double-digit victory over a ranked opponent, having not done so since defeating the Michigan Wolverines in last season's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

There is an undeniable pride in representing the Texas Longhorns, and Sarkisian personified that pride after his team defeated Missouri.

Now, after labeling his team as "big game hunters," one can only expect Sarkisian to continue to push his team further, especially with yet another ranked matchup just over the horizon.

Also read: The Lone Star Showdown is still a game that Texas can't afford to lose this season

Next week, the No. 7 Horns will face the No. 14 LSU Tigers in yet another road game for Texas. With a win, it would be virtually impossible to deny the Longhorns a trip back to the Playoff, especially if they are able to dominate the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas A&M Aggies in the two weeks to follow.

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