Sarkisian says Ohio State should be rewarded for playing Texas - ESPN

AUSTIN, Texas — After a dramatic 24-23 comeback victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that the Buckeyes should be rewarded for playing a marquee matchup in a nonconference game.

«I hope Ohio State does not get punished for that game Saturday night. They played a heck of a game. I mean, it's 24-23, they lose to us scoring with 25 seconds to go in the game,» Sarkisian said. «I hope if they end up being a 9-3 team, the committee can appreciate the fact that they came to Austin, Texas, in September when it was 100 degrees and played us in that environment and played a heck of a game.»

Last year, with a College Football Playoff spot on the line late in the season, Sarkisian said he believed the Longhorns shouldn't have been punished for their 14-7 loss to the Buckeyes early in the season.

«Ohio State should be rewarded for playing in this game against us,» Sarkisian said Monday. «Time will tell. And this isn't crying over spilled milk. I don't think we got rewarded for going to Columbus last year in Week 1. Hopefully, this year they reward Ohio State for coming and playing in this game with us.»

Ohio State fell to No. 6 in The Associated Press' Top 25 following the loss.

Sarkisian reiterated that he does not know how Ohio State's season will unfold, and that if the Buckeyes go 11-1, the conversation will be moot. Sarkisian said that he seeks to play in big games and that he knows the Texas «brand» means teams and television networks will want the school in marquee matchups, and he added that he has a locker room full of players who come to Austin to do so.

«That's why you come to Texas, to play in these big games,» Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning said Monday. «I think it helps our team