Josh Pate says it’s national championship or bust for Texas in 2026: ‘If not now, when?’
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Josh Pate rarely says “national title or bust,” but he’s using it for the Texas Longhorns in 2026.
“I believe in it here. It’s the only team in the SEC that I would say this about because it’s the only team in the SEC that feels like it is built for this,” Pate said on Thursday’s Get Up.
“It’s like shaking up a soda bottle and you keep waiting for someone to twist the top. And if you don’t twist the top right now… If you’re Texas and I’m a Texas booster – I’m a diehard Texas supporter in every sense of that word – I’m going to look at it and I’m going to say, I love you, Steve Sarkisian… I would say, if not now, when? What is it you needed that these last couple of years have not given you?
“You got the handpicked quarterback. You raided the transfer portal … to stack on top of layers of top-five recruiting classes, the likes of which would be the envy of the rest of the sport. And yet people still look skeptically because in this world, people don’t believe you can win one until you quite literally win one.”
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Sarkisian has led Texas to a 35-8 record over the past 3 seasons, winning 10 or more games each year. After missing the College Football Playoff in 2025, the Longhorns loaded up in the transfer portal with marquee additions such as Cam Coleman, Raleek Brown, Hollywood Smothers and Melvin Siani to join Arch Manning, Ryan Wingo, Colin Simmons and company.
Texas is ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 to open the season and faces Texas State in Week 1.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
