Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian shared an outrageous, but factual statement about the Georgia Bulldogs in his opening statement at his Monday press conference.
“This week is a heck of a challenge, going to play at Georgia,” Sarkisian said. “They’re (a) very tough team to play at home. They’re 51 and two in their last 53 games at home.”
Without a doubt, Sanford Stadium is one of the most challenging places to play anywhere in the country on a Saturday night. At the time of their loss to Alabama earlier this season, the Bulldogs had the longest home win streak in the country at 33 victories.
From a metrics standpoint, the Longhorns are not favored in this game, but here is something oddsmakers and analysts often fail to consider: the venues and the “culture” building moments a team has faced. That human aspect cannot be measured by the numbers on a sheet.
The October stretch was daunting — Florida’s “Swamp” is naturally loud, the Cotton Bowl is split 50/50, there is no relief until the fourth quarter when the Sooners begin to leave early. Kentucky’s Kroger Field at night might be the most dangerous place for a Southeastern Conference powerhouse and Mississippi State has its obnoxious cowbells.
Oh, and I almost forgot, they also opened up the season at Ohio State’s legendary Ohio Stadium, another notable challenging road venue.
Each of those venues and games, pompous and outrageous as they were, taught this Texas squad a new lesson, unique from the last. This team has been tested more than many teams in college football at this moment in time, especially on the road.
The Longhorns have understood the perils of heartbreak, participated in nasty games and have risen to the moment when all odds were stacked against them. That, coupled with the daunting expectations of playing for a university like Texas.
Coming out of Athens, Georgia, alive and with a win is not an impossible task but it takes a very special and determined team to pull it off. The Longhorns have proven in the past few weeks that they can overcome these formidable circumstances.
Contrary to popular belief surrounding the College Football Playoff, not every game is a must-win going forward for the Longhorns. Texas has a good shot at sneaking the final at-large spots in the CFP, even if they drop one of these ranked matchups — Georgia or the season finale against Texas A&M at home.
But a win against the Bulldogs, a team that has seemingly had the Longhorns’ number since they entered the conference and at their palace no less, would put the playoff committee in a tough spot if they do drop the season finale.
Before we get too ahead of ourselves and draw up possible scenarios like our football obsessed fathers, we must wait and see how this team performs Saturday night — see if they can rise to the challenge once again.
