Florida’s Upset Victory and Texas’ Struggles

Florida’s 2026 season began strongly, advancing to 4-0 after an upset over then-No. 4 Ole Miss in Week 4. However, the Gators faced challenges, dropping their next two matches.

This Saturday, despite entering Austin on a two-game skid and as underdogs, Florida secured a 30-27 victory over Texas. A crucial late-game sack-fumble by Arch Manning sealed the win for the Gators. The Longhorns have faced difficulty against Florida recently, having also lost 29-21 in October 2025, a season in which Florida finished 4-8.

Texas has had a tough eight days, following a key loss to Oklahoma, which cost them their No. 1 ranking. After consecutive defeats to struggling SEC teams, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned that all aspects were open for review as he aimed to redirect the team’s focus.

“Everything’s going to be evaluated,” said Sarkisian, also hinting at possible changes at quarterback. “Everything means everything. It would be easy for me to say, ‘Hey, Arch was the problem today.’ Was Arch perfect? No. But nobody was perfect on offense today.”

Arch Manning, as Texas’ quarterback, threw for 173 yards and one touchdown in the game against Florida, where he was sacked five times. Texas offense underperformed, with only 50 offensive snaps recorded, marking the lowest in Sarkisian’s tenure.

Entering Saturday, Texas had a string of 22 wins over unranked teams at their home stadium. Now, they are noted as one of just three teams since 1936 to lose consecutive games to unranked opponents after holding the top rank in the AP poll.

In reviewing the team’s performance, Sarkisian did not hold back. “We’re not playing very good football right now,” he noted, stressing the need for comprehensive evaluation, including his role as the play caller. “I have to evaluate everything. It’s going to be a long night.” Texas is set to face Ole Miss in Austin on their next outing.