Urban Meyer issues a warning to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian

The Texas Longhorns started the season 4-0 and climbed to No. 1 in the country, but back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida have put head coach Steve Sarkisian squarely on the hot seat. Now, one of the most accomplished coaches in college football history thinks that Saturday's game against No. 7 Ole Miss could define Sarkisian's legacy.

Speaking on his podcast this week, three-time national champion Urban Meyer called the matchup with the Rebels "the most important game of Steve Sarkisian's coaching career," warning that a loss would leave Sarkisian known as the coach who "couldn't get it done at Texas."

Texas opened the season by beating Ohio State 24-23 and later knocked off Tennessee on the road, taking over the top spot in the rankings along the way. But the Longhorns lost 27-24 to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, and then fell to Florida by the same score in Austin last weekend.

Things have gotten so rough that Sarkisian didn't rule out benching Arch Manning after the loss to the Gators.

It's the second straight year that Texas has stumbled after entering the season with high expectations. The Longhorns were the preseason No. 1 team in 2025, but they finished 10-3 and missed the College Football Playoff after making back-to-back semifinal appearances in Sarkisian's previous two seasons.

To make matters worse, Texas still has to face Ole Miss and Heisman Trophy contender Trinidad Chambliss, followed by Mississippi State, Missouri, LSU, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.

Meyer laid out the stakes for Sarkisian on The Triple Option , which he co-hosts with Mark Ingram and Rob Stone as he issued a clear warning to the Texas coach.

"This is the most important game of Steve Sarkisian's coaching career," Meyer said on the podcast. "He's had a hell of career, but this one is, this one is a Rubicon… If they lose this one, I mean you are in serious trouble. He won't make the playoff."

Meyer didn't initially think that Sarkisian's job would be on the line, but he did think his reputation would be.

"I don't think it's his job. I think it's just your legacy, though. You're the guy that couldn't get it done at Texas. Because he's been there, he's been there," Meyer said.

But after some more discussion, Meyer came around to the idea that Sarkisian could be fired if Texas misses the playoff again. And he compared the situation to what would happen at Ohio State, where he won a national title in 2014.

"Let's do this. Let's just [imagine]… if this happens at Ohio State: [You're] gone. So maybe you're right," Meyer said. "Could you imagine losing like that, three games? Who's it equal to at Texas? So if all the sudden you lose three at Ohio State, I would always say in my mind, if that ever happened… I didn't think that way, but wow."

Clearly, Meyer isn't the only one who thinks that there's a lot riding on Saturday for Sarkisian. And a loss to Ole Miss would only make the noise in Austin louder.