Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is using Notre Dame as a cautionary tale as he prepares his team for its Week 3 matchup against UTSA. The Longhorns are coming off the emotional high of a 31-12 road win against Michigan, with the top-10 victory serving as one of the signature moments of the 2024 season thus far.
The Fighting Irish, who ascended to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 poll after a huge Week 1 win against Texas A&M, were in a similar position entering Game 2. Then, as 20-plus point favorites, they watched their College Football Playoff hopes take a huge blow in a 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois.
During his weekly press conference on Monday, Sarkisian said that he has taken time to walk the Longhorns through Notre Dame's situation, even showing them footage of Northern Illinois players storming the field inside Notre Dame Stadium.
"We're capable of anything," Sarkisian said. "We've got a really good team. But we're entitled to nothing. We're going to earn everything. And we've going to have to earn the victory here Saturday night."
Texas is currently favored by 34.5 points against the Roadrunners. The line ballooned following UTSA's 49-10 loss to Texas State which gave the Bobcats their first ever win in the I-35 Rivalry. UTSA only had 318 total yards of offense and played two different quarterbacks as it has struggled to replace former longtime starter Frank Harris.
But the Roadrunners have won at least nine games in each of the last three seasons under coach Jeff Traylor, with two Conference USA championships in that span.
"The worst opponents, or the toughest opponents to play, are the ones that are wounded and that are backed into a corner," Sarkisian said. "UTSA has got a very talented team. Really well-coached. Coach Traylor's done a nice job there and they're a little wounded coming out of last week, so we know we're going to get their best shot. We're going to get their best version."
This is also one of just two remaining nonconference games remaining for the Longhorns, as they face matchups against Red River rival Oklahoma and No. 1 Georgia in two of their first three league tests as an SEC school.
