On Texas' lack of offense, bad SEC refs and running steps for bad behavior | Bohls' nine things

Arch Manning and the Texas offense have yet to hit their stride for a full game. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman) AUSTIN - While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:

1. Offense, what offense?Anyone who has spotted the Texas offense, please call Bellmont Hall. It's been missing since the fourth quarter of the Ohio State game. It sure wasn't seen in Knoxville last Saturday. Steve Sarkisian praised Texas' offense for its fast start with a touchdown drive on its first series of the Tennessee game and for its next-to-last series with a game-sealing touchdown but didn't see a whole lot of continuity in between. The Longhorns now rank 83rd in offense nationally and an even worse 92nd in rushing as the defense carries this team. It's probably the worst a Texas offense has looked since Sarkisian's first season in 2021 when it went 5-7. He said Monday he doesn't anticipate making any changes in the starting lineup and didn't sound as if newly eligible Cole Hutson figures to get any playing time soon. … But one wonders when this inefficient offense catches up with Texas. When I asked if Texas can win a championship with this lackluster offense, he said, "I don't know because I don't know all the teams that we're going to play yet. What I do know is we need to play better offensively." Seems to me the problem remains the offensive line, all of whom got poor grades in run blocking from Pro Football Focus from between 54.3 (right guard Brandon Baker) and 63.2 (left tackle Trevor Goosby), but Arch Manning hasn't shown as much progress as expected. Sarkisian, however, disagreed and said he though Manning "played a pretty good game." … Manning still has accuracy issues, completing just 63.5% of his passes. Consider that 25 fellow quarterbacks are connecting on 70% or more of their throws, including Miami's Darian Mensah, who is 89% accurate and has thrown just 11 incompletions with 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Arch has seven touchdowns and three interceptions, one the bizarre ricochet off Cam Coleman. … Penalties also continue to be alarming. Texas ranks as the 90th worst team in that category after being whistled for 11 penalties for 115 yards on Saturday. Notre Dame, by point of comparison, ranks the most-disciplined team with only 10 penalties all year. The last two games alone, refs have stepped off 19 penalties for 203 yards. … Sarkisian said Texas needs to do better on first and second downs to minimize the third-and-long situations. Well, of course. But how? Eleven of the 30 called runs went for losses or no more than 1 yard. That's unacceptable. … Manning has to get the ball to Coleman than once a game. … I loved the ingenuity of the twin punt return set where Ryan Niblett ran to his right as a decoy for the Volunteers' punt coverage team but the ruse was foiled when Niblett waved for a fair catch and negated a long punt return by Jermaine Bishop Jr. … Sarkisian said injured running back Hollywood Smothers could have played in an "emergency," and should be healthy enough to play against OU on Oct. 10 after recovering from an ankle injury.

The SEC said its officials erred in not ruling Tennessee's onside kick illegal. (Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) 2. When is an onside kick not an onside kick?When it's illegal. Or should have been when Tennessee tried the ploy near the end of its 20-17 loss to Texas on Saturday. The officials blew it. The league office clarified that ruling Monday when it stated the Volunteers should have been flagged on the play, penalized 5 yards and made to re-kick. That kind of missed call that very well could have impacted the outcome of the game is inexcusable. The refs didn't know the rule. Quite frankly, I thought this was the worst officiating crew I've ever seen. I thought they were horrible from the outset when they ruled Texas was short of a first down on two third-and-1 attempts although it looked to me the Longhorn runner made it on each try. It took a ruling from the replay booth to learn Texas had successfully made the first down. I believe this crew should be suspended from doing SEC games for a minimum of one week. The league does not comment on crew's game assignments. … The SEC is off to an impressive 10-2 start against other Power 4 schools, the best in the nation. The Big Ten, meanwhile, is only 4-10 after winning the last three national championships. The ACC has a 6-9 mark, and the Big 12 5-7. … Sarkisian said he's not at all surprised by the strong starts of Florida and Mississippi State, to name two teams on his schedule. When a reporter said they weren't on many's dance card at the start of the season, Sarkisian said, "They were on my card. I tried to tell you guys about Florida last year. No one wanted to believe me. They've got real players in Gainesville, and they've kind of figured it out. This league is no joke." Funny how Texas fans were more worried about Oklahoma and Texas A&M during preseason than the Gators and Bulldogs. After OU, Texas' next five opponents are all ranked, giving the Longhorns the No. 2 toughest schedule. … Since the start of 2023, Texas has five road wins over ranked teams, more than any other team in college football. It also has 16 wins over Top 25 teams, six of them in the Top 10. It's also gone unnoticed that the Longhorns are 11-1 in their last 12 games with only a road loss to College Football Playoff-bound Georgia. That's pretty impressive. The Bulldogs are 13-1 in their last 14. Alabama is 7-3 in its last 10. Ohio State is 3-3 in its last six. Oregon is 11-3. Indiana, of course, leads all teams with a 20-game win streak.

Texas infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) hits for the cycle during an NCAA baseball College World Series elimination game against Alabama, Monday, June 15, 2026 in Omaha, Neb. Texas won 14-2. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis) (Vera Nieuwenhuis/Associated Press) 3. Play ballThe Texas baseball team, fresh off its first College World Series appearance under Jim Schlossnagle, has finished a month of practice and will play Houston at Dell Diamond on noon Saturday in an exhibition game. Texas will also move to Dell Diamond, the Disch-Falk batting cages and even Royal-Memorial Stadium for the remainder of its fall workouts. That's because the school is ripping up the turf at Disch-Falk and replacing it with a new FieldTurf that will be flatter and play a bit faster than its slower pace. Also, the dimensions in left field will move in 8 to 10 feet. "I would say the ballpark is definitely going to become more offensive because our turf is really the slowest that we play on all year, and you hit uphill and run uphill. You're going to have to be a better defender." … Shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who hit for the cycle in Omaha, will give up switch-hitting and bat only from the left side as he continues his recovery from two hand procedures. Second baseman Ethan Mendoza is about to start swinging a bat after his summer shoulder surgery. … All-SEC closer Sam Cozart is probably going to transition to a starting role. Asked if any of the 23 new players were confused when they met the fully bearded and mustachioed Cozart, he said, "Yeah, a few of the younger ones thought I was a coach." Cozart has already become a leader. "Leading by example isn't really leading. So I lean toward vocal leadership. … I think for pretty much every freshman coming to college, especially to the University of Texas, this big of an atmosphere, you can be scared and so it's just getting them over the fear of being new? Was I scared? For about a week." He said winning a national title next summer brings "a major sense of urgency from the returners." … Schlossnagle is blown away by the maturity of freshman catcher Jax Robinson from Waxahachie. "Jax has frankly been the best hitter on the team this fall. Not just the best new hitter, but the best hitter on our team to this point.." He and fellow freshman Brady Murrietta of Yorba Linda, Calif., are competing with Saint Mary's transfer Ian Armstrong for the starting catcher position. … All-American Anthony Pack Jr. is the likely starting center fielder, a position last year's left fielder played for 10 games on the USA national team this summer without an error. He smacked 12 home runs last year but said Monday, "I still say I'm not a power hitter, to be honest. All my home runs came by accident."

Raleek Brown's celebration of a TD vs. Tennessee eventually crossed the line. (Sara Diggins/Sara Diggins/The San Antonio Exp) 4. No fine is fine, but Longhorns need to behave betterTexas has pointed out that schools are not legally allowed to fine athletes like Colin Simmons for his vulgar celebration because they are technically not employees under labor law and there is no collective bargaining agreement because these athletes are unfairly not represented. So unless there is language stating moral clauses in Simmons' and his teammates' NIL contract, Texas doesn't have any financial recourse. … That doesn't mean Sarkisian can't punish his players in other ways like suspensions or punishments like getting Simmons and Raleek Brown up at 5 a.m. to run 500 stadium steps at DKR after their lewd celebrations. Better yet, I'd get the entire defense up that early every morning to run those steps with him. Call it team bonding. That's what Darrell Royal would have done. The Texas administration has chosen not to comment publicly on the issue. … It should be mentioned that no one is saying Simmons is a bad person. He moved his mother and 11-year-old autistic brother Clayton to Austin so he could receive better medical treatment. He's also held football camps for special needs kids and raised money through his foundation Clay's Color Crew for autism awareness. I just think he always plays with an edge, and his emotions got the better of him for the over-the-top celebration. I can't help but think of the days when Earl Campbell handed the ball to the ref after he scored touchdowns. … That wasn't the only shameful play of the week. I don't know what was worse, USC's Desman Stephens II's cheap shot on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore that sent him to the hospital or his celebration of the textbook targeting play afterward and the congratulations his fellow Trojans were showering on him. … On the other side, did you see Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss waiting until after Jon Sumrall's interview to hug and congratulate the Gators' coach? So classy. … Texas defensive tackle Hero Kanu was named a semifinalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation announced. In its 37th year, the Campbell Trophy is a scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

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5. Where's your favorite team?It's always amusing to me how much hate mail I get over my Associated Press Top 25 ballot each week. This ain't Russia. We're not all going to pick our teams the same way. People love to shoot the messenger. And the criticism comes from the same haters who say the poll doesn't matter. So which is it? It's just entertainment, folks. I've often stated I have a very fluid ballot, especially in September, when teams are sorting themselves out. I've been very impressed with Wake Forest for its competitive loss to Miami and upset of Louisville and put the Demon Deacons at No. 17, one spot ahead of the Cardinals. The same goes for unbeaten UCLA at No. 20. I also bumped Iowa up five spots to 13th after beating Michigan. Ranking the final five of the Top 25 is the most difficult exercise of all. … As for keeping Texas No. 1, I still believe the Longhorns have the two best wins of the season over Ohio State and No. 14 Tennessee. However, I do struggle to understand ESPN's Football Power Index that has Ohio State at No. 3 and Texas at No. 4. If that's the case, why even play the game?

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor has thrown himself into the Heisman race. (James Pugh/AP Photo/James Pugh) 6. Things I think I knowI think Kamario Taylor is the new favorite to win the Heisman now that Trinidad Chambliss fell to Florida. He could be the first to go from invisible to Heisman winner since Barry Sanders went from a kick returner to a star tailback at Oklahoma State. …  I think I love Justin Verlander's sweet, poignant goodbye in the final game of his career when his 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, came to the mound to take him out and embraced her dad in a big hug. So touching. … I think karma has its way of evening things out. Right, Michigan? … I think Georgia is the most untested team in college football. The Bulldogs' schedule is ranked 123rd out of 136 teams. … I think Notre Dame might be second in the untested category. The Irish rank 99th nationally in plays from scrimmage of 10 yards or more. … I think Indiana can be had. Northwestern is much improved and gave the Hoosiers fits Friday night. … I think Lincoln Riley is an average coach. He did very little with Caleb Williams and not that much more with Jaiden Maiava. … I think Brent Venables, the ultimate good guy, could be the first coach to get a contract extension and a pink slip in the same year. Georgia covering the two-touchdown spread against OU was my lock of the week bet last Saturday. … I think it's very sad that former Texas forward Justice Carlton, now with the Houston women's basketball team, tore an ACL in her knee and will miss the season. … I think people are sleeping on Alabama's football team, as incredible as that sounds. The Tide catch Mississippi State next, one of four road games in its next six opponents.

Farah O'Keefe watches her tee shot on the fifth hole during the second round of the Chevron Championship LPGA golf tournament Friday, April 24, 2026, in Houston. (David J. Phillip/AP) 7. Not the only No. 1 in townTexas senior Farah O'Keefe has climbed to the No. 1 spot on the World Amateur Golf Ranking list after earning her sixth career victory as the co-medalist at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup. O'Keefe was the 2026 NCAA individual Champion and also won the 2026 ANNIKA Award, 2026 WGCA Player of the Year, 2026 Golfweek Player of the Year and 2026 Honda Award for golf and pretty much every award there is. O'Keefe set an NCAA record with 12 top-10 finishes in the 2025-26 season and set a Texas single season career for stroke average at 69.84. She won four events in the 2025-26 season and her six total victories are tied for second all-time at Texas with Sherri Steinhauer, who played from 1981-85. The all-time record for career victories for a Longhorn woman is held by Michiko Hattori, who played from 1987-91 and recorded 10 victories.

8. ScattershootingWhile wondering whatever happened to former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

9. On the couchIt was Scary Movie Night at the Bohls casa Monday night. We watched "Passenger," a legitimately scary horror movie on Apple Plus that, well, jumps out at you throughout the 92-minute film. It's about a young couple on a perpetual road trip that encounters a relentless demon. I'll never take a cross-country trip in a van ever again. I gave it 7½ 1/2 ducks.

Crazy predictionColin Simmons will have three sacks of John Mateer next week and carry the Sooners quarterback to the OU bench, prop him up with a pillow and get him a Gatorade.

SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at On Texas' lack of offense, bad SEC refs and running steps for bad behavior | Bohls' nine things.