Steve Sarkisian shares what K-State game means for Texas

For the second straight year, Texas has something to prove against Kansas State. Last season, it was a regular-season finale where Steve Sarkisian desperately needed to end a six-game losing streak. Heading into Saturday night, the Longhorns will be looking to take a new step forward by getting a huge win on the road.

Sarkisian accomplished last year’s goal, getting a much-needed win on the backs of running back Roschon Johnson. He knows a different challenge presents itself in Manhattan with a good Kansas State teams. The opportunity to show how far this Texas team has come stands out to Sarkisian.

“This is a heck of a challenge,” Sarkisian said. “This is a good team. We’re going on the road for a great environment for college football at night. I think the opportunity for us is to show the resolve, the resiliency, the togetherness that we have.

“I think that it’s to show the team that we are, the capability that we have. We have really good players. I think that we’ve put together a really good game plan.”

Texas has proven it can come together at points this season, with a huge 49-0 win over Oklahoma being the best example. But road collapses against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State bring up the continual questions haunting the Sarkisian era thus far.

Steve Sarkisian wants to be ready for critical moments

Texas has been close, so many different times, under Sarkisian — especially on the road. While he sees the talent on the roster and thinks a good game plan has been implemented, there is still a football game to be played.

Sarkisian says his team will have to be ready to make big plays in all four quarters. Playing a complete game has not been a strength of the Longhorns over the past season and a half. Be ready for a big moment at any time is the Texas head coach’s message.

“Ultimately, we have to go and play the game and this game, quite frankly, is going to come down to a handful of plays. We can’t always assume those players are going to come in the fourth quarter. Some of those critical plays may be in the third and second quarter.

“Ideally, execution has got to be at a high level and then it’s making those plays at the critical moments and making sure us, as a staff, are putting our players in the best position to make those plays when those moment arise.”