Steve Sarkisian begins a pivotal second season as head coach at Texas. And while some consider the team to be a year away from conference title contention, winning this season could do wonders for the program’s trajectory.
Several games have a significant influence on how this season will play out. Some games seem to be physical fights, while others could be athletics competitions.
In recent years, Texas has had no problem competing in the elite. The Longhorns built early leads against the top three Big 12 teams last season. Many times, Texas has been caught off guard by lesser teams.
Last year, Texas lost a home game to Kansas. His goal is to try to avoid that fate this season.
Here are the five games that will determine what kind of season Texas has, in sequential order.
1 at Texas Tech Red Raiders
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The Longhorns’ first road game is a trip to Lubbock this year. Texas fans are familiar with how rowdy the atmosphere can be at Jones AT&T Stadium. Learning of his rival’s move to the SEC should further irritate an already intimidating crowd. The response from Steve Sarkisian’s young team will shed light on what to expect for the rest of the year. Texas Tech is the real start to the season for Quinn Ewers and the 2022 football team.
2 at Oklahoma Sooners (Dallas)
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The Red River Shootout always has significant implications in a Texas football season. This year’s game could determine a number of things, including who has the upper hand in the series going forward. For this season, a win makes the Big 12 title bid significantly easier for Texas. If the Longhorns can get past the Sooners with a win, they could be setting themselves up for a strong finish.
3 Iowa State Cyclones
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Texas has had a hard time beating cyclones in recent years. And while the game will be at home, Iowa State’s defense could present challenges for a young Quinn Ewers. Texas has lost three in a row against Matt Campbell’s team. They must protect the ball to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.
4 horned frogs TCU
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I expect the Longhorns to face adversity in back-to-back road games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Both games could easily be losses for Texas. Adrian Martinez appears to be a significant upgrade over Will Howard for Kansas State, who returns with multiple key contributors. The TCU game will tell a lot about the culture of Texas. If the group accepts Sarkisian’s vision, Texas could win a resounding victory over TCU.
5 Baylor Bears
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Texas ends the regular season with a home game against Baylor. The matchup could become a de facto playoff game for a Big 12 championship berth. Texas lost a close game at Baylor last year. They may need to win this game to have a real shot at the conference championship game.
