Steve Sarkisian: SEC Title Loss 'Stings,' But Texas 'Plenty Good Enough' to Win CFP

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 Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns looks connected against the Georgia Bulldogs during overtime of the 2024 SEC Championship astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected December 07, 2024 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Texas Longhorns caput coach Steve Sarkisian believes his squad still remains a beardown contender for a nationalist championship.

The Longhorns fell 22-19 to Georgia successful the SEC Championship, failing to unafraid an auto-bid into the College Football Playoff. This was Texas' 2nd nonaccomplishment of the play pinch some coming against the Bulldogs.

The nonaccomplishment won't destruct Texas from the 12-team section for the Playoff but it does awesome that the Longhorns will person to play an other game. Following the loss, Sarkisian acknowledged that the nonaccomplishment "stings" but that his squad is bully capable to triumph a nationalist title.

"This stings," Sarkisian said, per the Associated Press. "But we get a chance to regroup successful a mates weeks and get into the College Football Playoff and spell compete for a nationalist championship. I deliberation we're plentifulness bully capable to spell triumph that."

Georgia saw starting backmost Carson Beck suffer an wounded correct earlier halftime and he only played a azygous threat successful overtime to thief the Bulldogs unafraid the win, handing disconnected the shot to moving backmost Trevor Etienne for the game-winning touchdown. Backup Gunner Stockton played the full 3rd and 4th quarters and kept the discourtesy afloat, but he wasn't needfully a awesome threat.

Texas had a premier opportunity to declare the triumph and held Georgia to conscionable 277 full yards. However, 3 turnovers, 11 penalties and 2 missed section goals held the squad backmost and yet allowed Georgia to bargain the victory.

The Longhorns will request to hit immoderate opponents astatine Georgia's level successful the playoff and will person to limit the struggles from Saturday. If they do that, Sarkisian's hopes of a title do look to beryllium possible.