The Texas Longhorns have beaten more ranked opponents than any other college football team this season. Despite a few disappointing losses, Steve Sarkisian’s team has built a résumé that deserves serious national attention.
Texas is 4-0 against ranked opponents this season, with victories over Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Missouri. The Longhorns have also won six consecutive games against ranked opponents, the longest active streak in the FBS.
Those numbers tell an important story. Texas has struggled with consistency, but it has repeatedly delivered when facing some of the nation’s best teams. The Longhorns have proven they can compete with elite competition. Now they need to show they can maintain that level of play through the rest of the season.
Texas Has Beaten Some Of College Football’s Best
Texas opened its season with a statement victory over Ohio State. The Longhorns defeated the then-No. 1 Buckeyes, 24-23, immediately establishing themselves as a team capable of competing for a national championship.
The victory was followed by a 20-17 win over No. 14 Tennessee. Texas later defeated No. 7 Ole Miss, 34-27, before adding another ranked victory against Missouri. The 34-20 win over Missouri was especially important.
Texas traveled to Columbia and defeated the No. 18 Tigers, adding another road victory to an already impressive résumé. Winning on the road in the SEC is never easy. Doing it against a ranked opponent makes the accomplishment even more significant.
Texas has demonstrated that it can win in different environments and against different styles of competition. The Longhorns have also shown that they have the talent to compete with teams that have championship aspirations. That is exactly what a College Football Playoff contender should be able to do.
The Longhorns Still Have Their Problems
Of course, Texas has not been perfect. The Longhorns suffered a 27-24 loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. They also lost to Florida by the same score, raising questions about their consistency.
Those defeats cannot be ignored. Texas has struggled to maintain its level of play from week to week, and that remains a concern for Sarkisian. Yet, there is a difference between a team that struggles against elite competition and one that struggles to maintain consistency.
Texas has proven it can defeat some of the best teams in the country. Its four ranked victories demonstrate that the Longhorns have the talent and ability to compete at the highest level. The challenge is ensuring those performances become the standard rather than the exception.
If Texas can eliminate some of its mistakes and play more consistently, they could become an even more dangerous team as the season progresses. Especially if Arch Manning continues to play at as high a level as he currently is.
Steve Sarkisian Has Built A Strong Program
Texas’ success against ranked opponents is not an isolated development. Since 2023, the Longhorns have recorded 17 wins over Top 25 opponents, the most of any FBS program. Sarkisian has also joined a rare group of coaches who have defeated at least four ranked opponents in four consecutive seasons.
That accomplishment speaks to the direction of the program. Texas has become a team capable of competing with the nation’s best. Its recent success against ranked opponents reinforces the idea that the Longhorns belong in the national championship conversation.
Sarkisian has helped establish Texas as a consistent threat in the SEC. The program has the resources, talent, and experience to compete for a national championship. However, the Longhorns still have work to do.
Their upcoming matchup against LSU presents another opportunity to strengthen their résumé. A victory over the Tigers would provide another significant result as Texas continues its pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth. The remaining schedule will ultimately determine whether Texas can translate its impressive victories into a championship opportunity.
End Of My Texas Longhorns Rant
The Texas Longhorns have already proven they can beat the best. Their four ranked victories lead the nation, and their six-game winning streak against ranked opponents demonstrates how dangerous this team can be. While the Longhorns have experienced frustrating losses, those setbacks should not overshadow what they have accomplished.
Texas has defeated the previous No. 1 team in the country, won multiple SEC road games against ranked opponents, and consistently competed against elite programs. That résumé deserves respect. The Longhorns still need to prove they can maintain their level of play throughout the remainder of the season.
With that being said, their ability to defeat ranked opponents makes them a legitimate national contender. Texas has not been flawless, but it has shown enough to prove it belongs among college football’s best.
The question is no longer whether the Longhorns can defeat elite competition. It is whether Sarkisian can get his team to perform at that level consistently enough to compete for a national championship.
