Steve Sarkisian: ‘We Want To Go Avenge The loss’ To Ohio State

The last time Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was on the sidelines, he was watching Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer scoop up a Quinn Ewers fumble and send the Longhorns home packing.

With Texas on the doorstep of tying last year’s semifinal game, the Longhorns’ hopes were busted. It was a painful way to end the season.

A similar thing happened to Ohio State back in 2019. A tough playoff loss to Clemson ended their season, but it also fueled the Buckeyes throughout the 2020 season.

Ohio State had to wait an entire year for a chance at revenge. Texas just has to wait for the season opener.

The Buckeyes host the Longhorns on August 30, in what could very well be a 1 vs 2 matchup — though it’s a toss up right now as to who would be No. 1 and who would be No. 2.

Regardless, it’s going to be one of the biggest games of the season.

Is Sark looking forward to a shot at revenge?

“The competitor in you loves the opportunity because it’s like, well, the next chance is the same sting that you felt. The reality of it is, when you really dive deep into it, we’re different teams again,” Sarkisian said Tuesday at SEC Media Days. “We’re a different team. They’re a different team. A lot of new faces, transfers, different players, different coaches, different coordinators. And so once you get over the emotion of being excited to play that same team again, and you drill down to the the tactical part of it all, which is, man, we got a lot of work to do. This is a very talented team.”

The tactical side will be the focus in the lead-up to the game. Ohio State has a new defensive coordinator, so that’s going to be something that the Longhorns have to figure out on the fly. New offensive coordinator Brian Hartline is also a wildcard, but the expectation is that the Ohio State offense will look much as it has since head coach Ryan Day arrived.

But it’s not just the Buckeyes with new players and coaches.

A lot is going to be learned about both teams in that first weekend of the year.

“They’ve got a new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve got some new coaches that we’re getting acclimated to what we’re doing. We’ve got new faces, new players that we’re gonna be counting on, some transfers and things. You start to shift the focus away from the emotional side and you start drilling into this is gonna be a good team. It’s gonna be a tough environment. We’re gonna need to play good football that day to come out on top. And so that’s where our focus goes to. And I think our players are in the same vein.”

The helmets and uniforms will be the same, but many of the players wearing them will not be. Two new quarterbacks will be at the helm, with new blockers and tacklers fighting to make it all work.

Despite the question marks, this is still going to be a game between what could be the two best teams in college football.

And Sarkisian knows it.

“The competitor in you is easy. Yeah, we want to go win that game. We want to go avenge the loss,” he said. “But the reality is, this is a whole new year and different set of circumstances on the table. But obviously recognizing and respecting that this is a heck of an opponent. It’s gonna be a great challenge.”

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