AUSTIN (KXAN) — A win is a win, especially on the road in the Southeastern Conference, but Texans coach Steve Sarkisian wasn’t happy with his performance from a play-calling perspective.
The No. 22 Longhorns survived the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, overcoming their worst offensive performance of the Sarkisian era to win 16-13 in overtime at Kroger Field in Lexington. Kicker Mason Shipley kicked three field goals with the game-winner from 45 yards out in the extra session.
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning, above, calls a play before a snap in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Kentucky Wildcats running back Seth McGowan (3) is tackled in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, center, surveys the field after his team beats Kentucky in overtime in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, 16, is sacked in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Texas defensive back Ryan Niblett, 21, returns a punt in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Cutter Polley (8) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Kentucky quarterback Cutter Polley (8) slides down an attempt for first down in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, 16, looks for a receiver in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen) -
Texas Longhorns kicker Mason Shipley (49) looks toward the goal posts before kicking the winning field goal in overtime of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen)
Texas struggled for 179 yards of total offense against a Wildcats defense that was allowing over 400 yards per game. Sarkisian bore the brunt of the criticism regarding the performance, saying that he “must do better.”
“I have to do a better job of putting all of our players in a position to succeed, and that is blocking people, and that is throwing the ball to get people open, and that is running routes where they specifically need to be,” he said. “This is nobody’s business but me. That’s when you look in the mirror first.”
Even when the Longhorns play well on offense, Sarkisian said he still watches tape and criticizes himself about play-calling and where he could have done things differently. It’s a process most coaches do, but Sarkisian said he takes a lot of pride in it.
Specifically, he said he didn’t like the first play in overtime. It was Quintrevion Wisner’s run down the right sideline that was blocked by the Kentucky defense, for no gain on first down, and then the Longhorns were backed 10 yards by a penalty on Brandon Baker.
“I didn’t need to risk that stopping the penalty was dependent on them not scoring in the extra session,” he said. “I didn’t call a live run, which I should have done in that situation, but I went into game plan mode and thought we could create an explosive game.”
Sarkisian said it was easy for fans to point at Baker because he was flagged on the play, but he took ownership of the situation and said he was the man to blame.
“It wasn’t a good call by me,” he said. “I can look at a lot of different things within a game – good, bad or indifferent to the result – and ask myself what could I have done differently, what could I have done better for the attack and for the team. I’m very comfortable doing that. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
Texas beat the Wildcats on the back of its defensive and special teams play. Arch Manning had another inconsistent performance throwing the ball, missing open receivers and not putting the ball where it should be. He finished 12 of 27 for 132 yards and no touchdowns, but also no interceptions, so that was fine with him. Sarkisian said Manning simply needs to “not overthink it.”
“You just have to take the layup,” he said. “That’s the time to make sure you’re drilling the pitch there, scoring the first pitch and keeping things going. Things can pile up on you where you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got this guy and I’ve got to hit this,’ but then you just have to play catch.”
The Texas defense was on the field a long time, nearly twice as long as the offense, but made big stops to keep Kentucky out of the end zone. The senior came up in overtime by standing on the goal line to turn the ball over, keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard.
Shipley made kicks from 53 and 39 yards to set up the game-winner. He’s 11 for 13, with two misses from 55 and 56 yards. Ryan Niblett continues to impact the game by returning big kicks, rushing for 88 yards twice.
Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC) travels to Starkville, Mississippi, to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-4, 0-3 SEC) next week. It’s the fourth straight game away from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium for the Longhorns.