Texas coach Steve Sarkisian perfectly summed up the difference between his team and Ohio State with a quote about the enormous risks he took during the Longhorns’ comeback victory on Saturday.
Texas rallied from a 23-3 deficit to beat Ohio State 24-23 in a dramatic game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Tex. The Longhorns won in part because of the bold decision by Sarkisian to go for it on 4th and 9 from their own 42-yard line, which they converted to keep the drive alive.
After the game, Sarkisian essentially said that punting at that point would have been a loser move.
“That’s how losers think. Winners win, baby. You’ve got to go for it,” Sarkisian said. “They didn’t hire me to keep it close. They hired me to win.”
"That's how losers think… Keep it close? They didn't hire me to keep it close, they hired me to win"
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) September 13, 2026
Sark on his mindset going for it on 4th and 9. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/mulBxufp4J
Texas was already down 20 at the time, and a failure to convert would have effectively ended the game. It was the sort of move that few coaches have the guts to make, but Sarkisian and the Longhorns were rewarded for their boldness.
Sarkisian is drawing praise for his coaching. In contrast, Ohio State’s Ryan Day is being widely criticized for his own questionable moves. Perhaps there is truth to the notion that fortune favors the bold.
