Kansas win inches Texas towards meeting external expectations
Exceeding expectations is out the window for Texas but depending on what they are, meeting expectations can be good, neutral, or negative. It really depends on what the expectations were to begin with.
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Sometimes a program can be a victim of misplaced expectations which only compounds the public pile-on when things go awry. A weekly example would be the 2022 Texas A&M Aggies. If they were properly rated as a fringe Top 25 team their slide wouldn’t be trending on Twitter every Saturday. But they were ranked No. 6, which means they should have been in contention for the SEC West and the playoffs. To whom much is given, much will be required. They were given high expectations.
Realistic Texas expectations coming into the season centered around 8-9 wins, which is still in play. On the heels of going 5-7 in his inaugural season — a season that unfortunately reduced expectations for his second season — falling short of 8 wins would not be ideal for Steve Sarkisian.
At this point in the recruiting cycle Sark and his coaching staff are putting the final touches on their presentation to recruits they’re trying to sign, whether the recruits are committed or otherwise. This is a crucial period in the presentation, one in which proof of concept can’t bog down.
That’s why Saturday’s win in Lawrence, Kansas, was big for the program. It kept Sark on schedule for a makable 3rd down conversion against the Baylor Bears at home next Friday.
Some pessimists might find it upsetting the win in Lawrence was so important, but this isn’t the same Kansas team that’s been wandering the desert for 100 years, save a drink of water here and there. Yesterday was yet another good reminder this isn’t the same Texas from last year.
While KU was a dangerous team, Texas had no business losing. UT’s baseline talent advantage was on display early and often. The only way it would have been a competitive game would have been a failed game plan or poor effort. But Sark and Pete Kwiatkowski did what good coaches do, they played to their advantages. Some of that had to do with opponent, especially in the run game. Some of that had to do with coaching, as evidenced by assignment soundness on defense.
Based on metrics, the eyeball test, weekly player honors, and increased NFL interest in draft eligible players, Texas is vastly improved over last season. But as a selling point much of the positives go out the window if they don’t align with the win column.
Meeting expectations is how you keep recruits who committed to your school before the season with those same expectations in mind. I don’t think Arch Manning or Cedric Baxter made their decisions on the expectation Texas would win 10 games. While fans bite their nails and worry about every message board rumor they can find — it seems they actively search for things to worry about as if the world doesn’t provide enough — Baxter is telling everyone he’s solid to Texas.
Expectations for the five-star running back matter in other ways, too. From an individual standpoint, who is a better template than Bijan Robinson? And what about Baxter’s expectations for offensive line improvement ahead of his arrival? In those regards, Texas is also meeting expectations.
It’s when expectation aren’t met that you have trouble getting recruits to sign on the dotted line or to keep program momentum and buy-in moving forward.
The Kansas win was big. If Sark dials up one more, he’ll have met expectations ahead of the bar being raised once again this offseason.
