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The Greatest Cope of All Time: Is it Good Texas Didn't Make the Playoffs?

Eric Nahlinby: Eric Nahlin7 hours ago

No, it’s not good. The reason being is the tournament is wide open and Texas at its best can compete with anyone, yes, even Georgia. At least for three quarters. Ohio State is a good, not great team, that just lost to a good and amazingly well-coached Indiana. But, not a great Indiana.

READ for $1: Texas Football Offseason Intel: Coaching Shakeups, Transfer Priorities, and Retention Battles

Again, no, it’s not good that Texas has been placed in the postseason equivalent of the “friend zone.” Given the giant pile of average headed to the playoffs, the Horns could have at least made the semifinals. By now you’re probably sensing a but…

I’m going to go with the Stephen A. Smith “HOWEVA” instead.

However, there is so much on Steve Sarkisian‘s plate I’m every bit as curious about program maintenance as I would have been about a playoff run.

Last January, in the days after Texas’ playoff loss to eventual national champion Ohio State, I mentioned it was pure chaos behind the scenes as schools were working to poach Texas’ high-end talent. All that chaos was negative, though Texas was able to retain everyone. Right now, I’d say it’s just as busy, though not nearly as chaotic, and almost all of the moves to be made are to the upside. A playoff run would have necessarily divided Sark’s attention away from staff turnover and roster management.

I have largely been in “2026 mode” since November 15, when Oklahoma beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Texas lost to Georgia in Athens later that night. Credit to Sark and the program for sprinting through the tape with incredibly satisfying wins over Arkansas and previously undefeated A&M, but now the focus is entirely on 2026. And yes, that does include bowl preparation. Texas should work to get that 10th win and show the world that Texas is back; the proof being a 10-win season is disappointing.

Bowl prep gives the legion of young players Texas has more practice time. How far will 15 practices go for Kade Phillips, Graceson Littleton, Justus Terry, Jonah Williams (who will miss spring ball to play baseball), and Lance Jackson? That’s just the defense—and only a select few freshmen. Now compound the value of bowl practices across the roster.

While winning the bowl is important, it’s not “life or death” like playoff preparation. Sark can remain dialed to his most important task—roster management. Between imPorts, exPorts, and retention, Sark must win the transfer trade war with the rest of college football. 2026—Arch’s last stand—is too important.

So no, it’s not good that Texas is missing the playoffs, but there are silver linings in almost everything, and missing the playoffs is no exception.

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