Sarkisian Defends Ohio State After 24-23 Loss, Revives Texas' 12-Team CFP Snub
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 14
Sarkisian Defends Ohio State After 24-23 Loss, Revives Texas' 12-Team CFP Snub
2 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 14
Summary
Steve Sarkisian said Ohio State should be rewarded for scheduling Texas despite the Buckeyes’ 24-23 Week 2 loss in Austin, arguing the CFP failed to value Texas’ own road trip to Columbus last season.
That complaint traces to Texas’ 14-7 loss at Ohio State in Week 1 of 2025, which Sarkisian says did not help the Longhorns enough when the playoff field was set.
Texas finished 13th in the final rankings and was the third team left out of the 12-team playoff, despite closing the regular season on a 6-1 run.
Ohio State still has ample chances to rebuild its resume in Big Ten play, with five ranked opponents on its conference schedule and a possible league title game ahead.
Will the playoff committee actually reward Ohio State's heartbreaking loss, or will scheduling elite matchups remain a dangerous trap?
Could Texas's dramatic comeback victory ironically force top college football programs to stop scheduling powerhouse nonconference opponents altogether?