Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has embraced the high expectations facing the Longhorns ahead of the new season, rather than attempting to lower them. With Arch Manning at quarterback, the programme is being judged against College Football Playoff ambitions, and the article argues that merely reaching the semi-finals would not satisfy those expectations.

Sarkisian addressed the pressure during SEC Media Days in Tampa, speaking as attention turned from off-season distractions to Texas’s prospects on the field. The focus is on whether Manning can meet the considerable scrutiny surrounding him and whether Texas can convert recent progress into a championship-level season.