Steve Sarkisian reveals what Texas must fix after win at Kentucky

The Longhorns finished just 5-of-16 on third down overall (31.25%), and as Sarkisian noted, 1-for-7 in short-to-medium situations. That inefficiency stalled drives and muted what could’ve been a comfortable road win.

“If we’re going to play really complementary football, controlling the ball in the game,” Sarkisian continued, “you’ve got to convert third-and-1s, third-and-2s, third-and-4s, third-and-5s. And we were ineffective in that area Saturday. Which in turn didn’t allow us to extend drives, didn’t allow us to keep the defense off the field, didn’t allow us to move the football to score more points.”

Through seven games, Texas is averaging 26.7 points per game and has converted 38.1% of its third downs (37-of-97)—solid (for most NCAA programs) but far short of the consistency Sarkisian wants. Against Kentucky, their 3rd down efficiency was stark.

The Longhorns did manage to hit on a few deep conversions—a third-down strike to Deandre Moore Jr., another to Ryan Wingo, and a timely scramble from sophomore QB Arch Manning kept drives alive in long-yardage spots. But when the distance narrowed, their production didn’t improve. “We’ve made such an emphasis on being better on third-and-long because we’ve had so many,” Sarkisian said. “Well, we converted a few of those. . . but we’ve got to be more effective in the third-and-short and third-and-medium range.”

Sarkisian's frustration is supported by the numbers. Of Texas’ 122 first downs this season, just 59 have come via the run—a reflection of an offense still searching for the downhill identity that defined its best stretches last fall.

For a program with playoff ambitions, the fix isn’t schematic as much as situational. The Longhorns can hit the explosive plays; now, they have to master the ones that sustain them.