Texas Longhorns: The wheels are falling off

Real talk: the vibes in Austin are officially off. After a brutal 27-24 loss to an unranked Florida squad—the second time in two weeks Texas has choked away a double-digit lead—it’s giving total disaster energy. Texas is the first top-10 team since 2003 to blow double-digit leads in back-to-back weeks to unranked opponents.

Steve Sarkisian was handed a roster that costs a fortune, yet the results are mid at best. Arch Manning’s confidence seems totally shaken, and the offense is struggling to produce even with elite playmakers like Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman. Sarkisian said he’s evaluating everything, including play-calling, which is a major W for those calling for him to stop handling those duties himself. The play-calling and the inability to develop top-tier talent like Manning and Quinn Ewers suggest that Sarkisian needs a major coaching staff shakeup—or he might be out of a job sooner than he thinks.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Surviving the Sayin injury

Ohio State is in a precarious spot after QB Julian Sayin went down with an arm injury in their 19-14 win over Indiana. He is out for "several weeks," and honestly, it’s a massive blow. However, the Buckeyes’ playoff odds are still sitting at a solid 89.4%.

Can they survive this? Highkey, yes. The defense, under Matt Patricia, is absolute lockdown, allowing just 13.4 points per game. True freshman Luke Fahey has to be the guy now, and the game plan needs to be simple: don't turn the ball over and let star receiver Jeremiah Smith—a legit Heisman threat—make magic happen.

The Big Ten struggle bus

Meanwhile, the battle of the hot seats saw Greg Schiano’s Rutgers take down Mike Locksley’s Maryland 37-30. For Maryland, the struggle is real; Locksley is now 2-20 in Big Ten games since 2024. While he might survive for now, the writing is on the wall.

Why it matters

Texas is at a critical crossroads where they have to decide if Sarkisian is the long-term answer or if his loyalty to his assistants is holding the program back from a national title. For Ohio State, the next few weeks—including a matchup against Oregon—will prove if their elite defense can carry a backup quarterback to the College Football Playoff.