Several weeks aho, Texas looked lost. Now, they're a team finding its winning stride, defying doubts and delivering tangible progress.
36 days.
It’s been 36 days since Texas was in the top ten. In that time, fans have witnessed heartbreak caused by the unranked, close games that should never have been, and surprisingly, a couple of top-ten wins.
Do you remember where you were when Texas lost to Florida? What were you thinking? How did you feel?
If you’re anything like me, you probably thought the season was over right then and there. Even if you still believed in him, you may have thought Arch Manning was an overhyped kid who only got as far as he did cause of the name on his jersey.
Side note, remember when people tried to claim we should have “serious talks” about Matthew Caldwell after one great throw at the end of the game against Florida? It’s funny how quickly things change.
Or maybe you thought, despite back-to-back trips to the college football playoff semi-finals, Texas would never win a national championship with Steve Sarkisian at the helm.
It’s been a long 36 days.
You might still believe those things, or you might’ve never believed them in the first place. Regardless, fans have seen it all these last 36 days. We’ve seen a volatile Manning turn into a consistent one. We’ve seen a great comeback against a not-so-great team. But most importantly, we’ve only seen wins since that forsaken day in Gainsville.
Even if Texas doesn’t make the playoffs or even if they can’t beat Georgia or Texas A&M, there’s something to be proud of with how far this team has come.
Maybe this won’t be the season Texas finally returns to the top of college football. Maybe the playoff hopes fade, or the progress stalls. But none of that erases what’s happened over the last 36 days. A team that looked broken in Gainesville found its footing again. Arch Manning has settled into the role so many doubted he could fill, and Steve Sarkisian has steadied a season that could’ve easily unraveled weeks ago. Just think, it could’ve been his name alongside James Franklin’s.
For a fan base that’s almost seen an endless amount of false hope and heartbreak, this stretch feels different. There is no empty talk, no hollow promises–just real, visible progress.
Just over a month ago, Texas looked finished.
Now, they look like a team that’s finally learning how to win when it matters most. What a difference 36 days makes.