"What an awful, awful call": Stephen A. Smith rips Steve Sarkisian's 'horrible' call that cost Texas CFP natty ticket

At the most critical juncture of the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, Texas and Steve Sarkisian fell flat. Rather than do what seemed obvious, they got fancy — and the risk cost them a possible trip to Atlanta for the national title game.

On second-and-goal from Ohio State's 1-yard line, Quinn Ewers pitched it left to Quintrevion Wisner, who was tracked down by the Buckeyes' defense for a 7-yard setback.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith took to social media to share his opinion on Sarkisian's play calling from a yard out. The failure to get in the end zone gave way to a 28-14 Ohio State win.

"What an awful, awful call on that 2nd Run sweep by @TexasFootball," Smith wrote on X. "HORRIBLE. @OhioStAthletics run defense has been stout with its speed all night long. Run North or South, or throw. That sack, returned for a TD, does not happen if they're at the 1 or 2 yard line — instead of a 7-Yard loss.#AWfUL"

Two plays later, Ewers dropped back and was strip-sacked by Buckeyes standout edge rusher Jack Sawyer, who vacuumed up the loose ball and ran it back 83 yards for a touchdown. That scoop-and-score helped seal things for the Ohio State, which intercepted Ewers on the next series and drained the clock on Steve Sarkisian and his team after.

What next for Steve Sarkisian?

Texas totaled 58 yards on the ground in the defeat, carrying the ball 29 times. Wisner paced the Longhorns in rushing with 46 yards on 17 carries. This marks the second time in two tries that Texas tripped up short of the College Football Playoff national title game. The Longhorns couldn't score late in last year's Sugar Bowl semifinal against Washington.

The Longhorns now enter the off-season, after rumors of NFL teams being interested in Steve Sarkisian popped up earlier this week. With teams like New York Jets, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars looking for a head coach, NFL insider Adam Schefter on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown said these teams to have some sort of interest in Sarkisian.

It was reported before the Cotton Bowl that Ewers plans on entering April's NFL Draft, too, though that hasn't been solidified.

Of course, Ewers could change his mind much like now-former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck did, and enter the transfer portal. It's not far-fetched at all to think that Texas will decide to move onto Arch Manning as its signal-caller.

Ohio State, on the other hand, will look to cap off its revenge tour when it meets up with Notre Dame on January 20. The Fighting Irish reached the national title game by squeaking past Penn State late in the Orange Bowl semifinal.