The Texas Longhorns vaulted up the AP poll this week following a thrilling second-half comeback against then-No. 1 Ohio State—a game that still has Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson smiling ear to ear.
Robinson starred for the Longhorns before being taken by the Falcons in the first round of the NFL Draft, and though he was anxiously waiting for his own start to the NFL regular season, he was tapped in this past Saturday night to see how his alma mater would fare at home in Austin, Texas against the Buckeyes.
It didn’t start at all the way Robinson and Longhorns fans wished, but he noticed something in former head coach Steve Sarkisian that gave him hope the second half would be one to remember.
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Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, center, celebrates with his players after their win over Ohio State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
“I knew when Sark ran off because the interview was taking too long or whatever, I knew exactly where his mind went,” Robinson told OutKick, while also highlighting his partnership with Sonic. “He had to get back [to the locker room]. He doesn’t have that much time, so he has to get back there as fast as possible, and he’s already game planning in his head for the second half.
“So, I knew something was going to change in that second half.”
Whatever changes Sarkisian made worked, and it was quarterback Arch Manning and the Longhorns’ offense going to work as the defense shut down Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith and allowed their teammates to get the ball back.
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In the end, Texas scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, including the decisive touchdown and extra point to win, 24-23, in a game that Robinson believes could be season-altering.
“That can change everything,” he said. “That can change the whole trajectory of the season. That one half can change everything, and I think just confidence wise, it’s a confidence booster doing that against the number one team in the country. Just knowing we can be in any game, and we can do it against the best team, that’s elite confidence.
“But I think now it’s us understanding every team is trying to come to win, come to beat us and we can’t lose that edge. If we lose the edge, somebody’s going to try to come in and beat us. So, I think it’s a really great start, but we have a long season.”
Arch Manning No. 16 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after a win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sept. 12, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Getty Images)
As Robinson said, with the No. 1 team title now, the target is certainly on the backs of the Longhorns moving forward. But as the saying goes, “Pressure is a privilege,” and that’s the mindset he thinks his former college squad will have throughout the season as they hope to get back to the College Football Playoff and make a run to the national championship.
“Everybody was texting me after the game. It’s cool to be a part of Texas and the football team,” Robinson added. “People text me like I’m on the team. I am a part of the team, but I just give all those guys credit on the field. They played their butts off, man.”
Perfect football pairing
With football season officially back, Robinson highlighted his favorite food pairing if he were the one sitting down to watch the Falcons and the rest of the NFL slate on Sundays.
Robinson preached how great the Sonic $7 Big Deal Meal was, as it includes a cheeseburger, medium drink, choice of medium tots or fries, and a vanilla sundae. And after getting the Big Deal Meal, he’ll be sure to throw in a strawberry limeade and a chili dog if he’s feeling extra hungry.
But overall, Robinson loves how great and affordable this special deal is for everyone, especially those families looking for something good to pair with their football each week.
“I feel like it gives everybody an opportunity to get a meal together as a family and they don’t gotta worry about it costing too much, or stuff like that,” he said. “They know they can go right to Sonic, order the $7 Big Deal Meal and enjoy it. They can have a full meal and it’s not just a hamburger or a drink or something like that. They can enjoy something together as a family.
Bijan Robinson as part of Sonic’s new “My Greatest 7” campaign, which highlights their limited-time $7 Big Meal Deal as the football season gets underway. (SONIC)
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“It’s been great to hear the feedback, and all my friends literally went the day they saw it.”
Robinson and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield were featured in the “My Greatest 7” campaign, which will be seen throughout the football season.
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