How Texas can handle the pressures of being ranked No. 1

Being labeled as the No. 1 team in the country brings a variety of pressures and challenges, especially for a program like Texas that hasn’t held that spot since 2008. Though it’s a nice honor, it’s not one Steve Sarkisian is harping on considering it truly matters little in the grand scheme of things.

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“I think now more than ever, and I don’t want to take anything away from the polls, because of the 12-team playoff it really doesn’t matter,” Sarkisian said Monday. “We say it all the time as a team: it’s not really what other people think of us, it’s about what we do. We’ve got to perform. We’ve got to prepare to perform.

“Back in the day, the polls were huge because the polls dictated who got to play for the national championship and, ultimately, who won the national championship. Nowadays, you’ve got to go earn it. It’s good to show what we’re capable of, but at the end of the day we’re going to have to go earn this thing. The mission is far, far from over. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Though his players are obviously aware of the No. 1 ranking, Sarkisian doesn’t think it’s something that will affect how his team thinks, acts, or plays.

“Our guys, I don’t even think they talk about it,” Sarkisian said. “You’ll bring it up to them when you get up here, but they’re not sitting in the locker room talking about it. They’re focused on what they need to improve and giving each other a hard time on stuff from the game because that’s what you do in the locker room.”

It is a nice vantage that comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are some of the key pressures that come with being at the top:

Target on Their Back: Every opponent views beating the No. 1 team as a season-defining achievement. Texas will face teams playing their best games to earn a potential upset. The Longhorns must be prepared to face teams giving maximum effort, regardless of rankings or perceived strength.

Maintaining Focus and Consistency: One of the biggest challenges is keeping the same level of intensity week after week. With high expectations, Texas has to avoid complacency and distractions. Players and coaches need to adopt a mentality where they focus on each game as if it’s the most important one and not look too far ahead.

Media and Fan Expectations: The spotlight is intense for a No. 1 team with constant media attention and pressure from fans to maintain the top spot. That’s accentuated with the strong possibility of Arch Manning making his first career start on Saturday. Players and coaches have to navigate the noise and not let external expectations affect their internal process. Social media can add to the pressure, so staying grounded is crucial.

Handling Adversity: As the No. 1 team, any mistakes or struggles are magnified. How Texas handles adversity — whether it’s a tough game or a mistake — will determine their ability to maintain its ranking. Staying composed and learning from each challenge is key to handling this pressure.

Depth and Injury Management: Another pressure is the ability to stay healthy and manage the roster effectively. Injuries are inevitable in football, and Texas needs to ensure its depth can step up without a drop-off in performance, especially since every opponent will look for weaknesses.

Leadership and Accountability: Being No. 1 requires strong leadership from both coaches and players. Texas’ leaders on and off the field need to set the tone for the team’s mindset and performance and hold everyone accountable to championship standards. The leadership team will need to keep the locker room focused and prevent any signs of entitlement from creeping in.

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To handle these pressures, Texas can look back to its game-planning process and disciplined execution. They need to continue emphasizing preparation, learning from each game, and keeping a championship mindset as recruits have highlighted. The ability to “overcome and band together as brothers” will be critical in how they respond to the weight of being No. 1. It’s all about staying hungry, disciplined, and improving every week.