This Year Steve Sarkisian And The Texas Longhorns Better Take Arkansas Seriously Or Risk A Season Derailing Loss Again

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns are walking into a season laced with expectations. The fan base is anxious. The boosters are restless. The country is watching. Texas is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance that silenced some doubters and reignited national pride in the burnt orange and white. But amidst all the talk about Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State, there’s a name that may not be featured in the headlines but should remain burned into Texas’ memory—Arkansas.

If the Longhorns learned anything from 2021, it’s that underestimating the Razorbacks is a grave mistake. That year, a 40-21 beatdown in Fayetteville sent shockwaves through the Texas program. Texas was ranked and favored. They were the big brand, walking into SEC territory with swagger, only to be punched in the mouth by a fired-up, physical Arkansas team that played like it had everything to prove. That loss was a cold reality check, and it should still sting.

Now, in 2025, Texas is entering the SEC as a full-fledged member. The rivalry with Arkansas may not get the mainstream hype of Red River or future matchups with Alabama and LSU, but it’s one of the most dangerous games on Texas’ schedule. Not because Arkansas is ranked higher or has more blue-chip players on paper, but because they carry the kind of hunger that top-tier programs sometimes lack. That chip-on-the-shoulder mentality can break even the most talented teams if they aren’t ready for a fight.

The question for Sarkisian this year is: Can he prepare his team to respect every opponent, not just fear the big names? Arkansas, under head coach Sam Pittman, has been inconsistent, sure. They’ve had roster turnover, quarterback changes, and injuries. But when they’re healthy and motivated, they’re the kind of physical, punishing team that plays SEC football in its most traditional sense—smashmouth, aggressive, and emotionally charged.

The Texas roster, loaded with five-star talent and depth across the board, should win this game on paper. Quinn Ewers is back with a matured mindset. The offensive line, once the weak link, now stands tall with experience and muscle. Texas’ defense, anchored by a fast and athletic front seven, is no longer a liability. The program is no longer “on the rise”—it’s here. It’s expected to dominate. But that’s the exact moment when danger creeps in.

Arkansas doesn’t need to beat Texas ten times. They only need one night, one game, and one stadium full of screaming fans to flip the narrative. For them, beating Texas isn’t just about winning a game—it’s about history, pride, and reminding the world that the Razorbacks can still punch above their weight. That’s what makes them dangerous.

Sarkisian has done an admirable job transforming the culture at Texas. He’s brought discipline, structure, and a sense of identity. The offense clicks with rhythm and creativity. The defense attacks with purpose. Recruiting is rolling, and the program feels aligned for the first time in years. But Sark knows better than anyone that one bad Saturday can undo months of progress. In the SEC, you don’t get to sleepwalk through matchups. Every game is a war.

Arkansas’ style of play is particularly problematic. They lean into physicality, running the ball with force and pushing the tempo when needed. Even with quarterback questions, they’ll find ways to move the chains, whether by leaning on a strong run game or designing packages that test Texas’ discipline. If the Longhorns aren’t locked in on every snap, Arkansas can grind down the clock, win time of possession, and turn the game into a slugfest—one Texas doesn’t want.

The location of the game also matters. Whether it’s at Razorback Stadium or at a neutral site, Arkansas fans will show up with intensity. They remember 2021. They see Texas entering the SEC with media attention and star power, and they want to play spoiler. That emotion, that animosity, can’t be replicated in a film room or on a practice field. Sarkisian must get his team emotionally ready, not just physically prepared.

Then there’s the psychological trap. Texas will have eyes on Alabama, Georgia, and potentially a CFP run. If they look past Arkansas as a “should win” game, they may find themselves chasing points in the fourth quarter. The Razorbacks thrive on chaos. They love being underestimated. Sark has to drive that into his players’ heads repeatedly: this is a must-win, must-respect, must-focus game.

Texas also needs to approach this game with humility. Just because they have more recruiting stars next to their names doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed victory. The trenches will decide this game, just like they did in 2021. Arkansas dominated at the line of scrimmage in that matchup, and unless Texas comes in with a warrior mindset, it could happen again. Games are not won on hype. They’re won on execution, will, and resilience.

Sarkisian has experience in pressure environments. He’s coached against Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Pete Carroll. He knows the dangers of letting a team get too high or too low. This is the season he proves he can sustain success—not just spike it. A win over Arkansas won’t make national headlines, but a loss would derail the momentum Texas has been building for years. It would fuel narratives about the program not being “SEC-ready,” about Sark not being able to win the ones he’s supposed to, and about the ghosts of inconsistency returning to Austin.

This isn’t about fear—it’s about focus. Texas has the tools to make a real run this year. They have the quarterback, the lines, the skill players, the coaching, and the belief. What they don’t have is the luxury of assuming any game is beneath them. Arkansas is the kind of opponent that demands your best shot. Anything less, and they’ll take full advantage.

This matchup may not define Texas’ season outright, but it could determine its ceiling. A clean, dominant win would signal growth and maturity. A sloppy, close affair—even if Texas wins—would raise red flags. And a loss? Well, a loss would set everything back. Sarkisian has been building toward something special. This season is about proving that Texas belongs among the elite. That starts with beating teams they’re expected to beat—but not just scraping by. They have to look the part. They have to leave no doubt.

Arkansas will not hand Texas anything. They will hit, claw, and scrap for every inch. If Sarkisian doesn’t have his team treating this game with playoff-level intensity, the Longhorns could find themselves on the wrong end of another SEC-style reality check.

Texas fans deserve better than the emotional whiplash of past seasons. Sarkisian deserves the chance to cement his legacy with consistent dominance. But none of that happens if they get ambushed again by a gritty, motivated Arkansas team looking to play giant killer.

So circle the date. Don’t buy into the hype machine. This isn’t a cupcake game. This isn’t a warm-up. This is war, SEC-style. And if Texas doesn’t bring everything they’ve got, they could leave bruised, embarrassed, and once again reminded that history has a funny way of repeating itself.

This year, Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns better take Arkansas seriously. Or else history might come calling again—with a vengeance.