Coach Sark Addresses Longhorns 'Potential' As Texas Awaits First CFP Rankings

There’s been too many tricks in this Texas Longhorns’ season.

Saturday night in Austin was a long-awaited treat.

MORE: Texas Longhorns Snubbed By Coaches Poll Despite Dominant 31-3 Win

Texas’ dominating defense smothered injury-depleted Mississippi State at DKR Stadium on Halloween, 31-3.

There are still issues of concern. Like Arch Manning getting sacked six more times, a hapless running game that produced only 1.9 yards per carry, and an injury to star Cam Coleman that had him in street clothes in he second half.

But in a season that absorbed two ugly upset losses to unranked opponents, this supposedly spooky result game was pure sugar.

“I don’t know what our potential is. We’re a growing team that continues to find ways to win,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I think we still have better football out there that we have to go out and play.”

Despite the losses to mediocre teams that these days are noncompetitive - Oklahoma lost by 17 at home to South Carolina; Florida by 19 to Georgia - the 6-2 Longhorns have climbed into the College Football Playoff picture and will likely be back in Top 10 when Sunday’s rankings are released.

Three of their last four games are on the road, including a Nov. 14 showdown at LSU.

The bright spots of this blowout? That Sark’s team didn’t suffer an emotional letdown after last week’s thrilling win over Ole Miss. And a defense that suffocated the Bulldogs’ second- and third-string quarterbacks like it should. Mississippi State is 0-4 since a 4-0 start behind injured star Kamario Taylor.

Sark improved to 14-3 in night games on the Forty Acres.

Texas started fast, but didn’t grab firm control of this game until just before halftime.

Characteristic of the offense all season, Manning was sacked and then almost had a pass intercepted before throwing a 14-yard dart to Coleman for a touchdown on the game’s fourth snap.

Then with 1:30 remaining in the second quarter, Texas’ Rasheem Biles produced a strip-sack, and 330-pound defensive lineman Maraad Watson picked up the fumble and rumbled 61 yards for a touchdown and a 17-0 lead.

MORE: Texas Finally Gets Its Easy Win, But Steve Sarkisian Has a Bigger Problem

The offense sputtered, with only 280 yards and a running game that gained only 60 yards on 32 carries.

The first CFP rankings will be revealed Tuesday night.