Suddenly, Steve Sarkisian is singing a completely different tune about playing Ohio State

Key Points:

• The 2026 college football playoff picture has been shaken up early in the season, highlighted by Oregon's surprising loss to Oklahoma State, where they gave up 554 yards and 237 rushing yards to a previously 12-game losing streak team.
• Oklahoma's playoff hopes took a hit after losing to a 1-0 Michigan team, while Texas pulled off a dramatic 24-23 comeback win against Ohio State, boosting their playoff resume significantly.
• Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian received praise for his aggressive coaching in the comeback, but also criticized other programs for scheduling weak opponents, emphasizing that Texas chooses to play tough schedules to build a stronger playoff case.
• Sarkisian previously criticized the playoff selection committee after Texas missed the playoff in 2025 despite a tough schedule, but now advocates for rewarding teams simply for playing strong opponents, regardless of the outcome.
• The article suggests that a more objective playoff selection system combining efficiency ratings, strength of schedule, and human evaluation could reduce controversy, but acknowledges that such reforms are unlikely in college football soon.