Leaving the idea of "7 win Sark" aside, I think part of the issue with fan expectations was the 9.95ers. I don't think anyone really expected much more than a 8-4 season until Boyd and others started proclaiming how excellent the Texas passing game was going to be. Losing Neyor for the year hurt but that wasn't the biggest issue. The biggest issue was the way over estimation of how good Ewers was going to be as first year starter. At a base level, QB play didn't get significantly better in 2022 compared to 2021. Even the last game of each season was reminiscent. Sark had to put the whole game on the shoulders of the OL and RBs. It worked both years.
There is a good chance that next year is the year that Texas gets a big upgrade in QB play. Either Ewers will improve with an added year or hopefully Cark sticks around and continues his improvement curve. It was obvious 2021 to 2022.
The point though is don't listen to talking heads. They make money by getting fans excited about the next season. We see the improvement curve now with 5-7 to 8-4 and recruiting well. Sark either builds on these results and makes something of himself or we stay around an 8-4 level and Texas starts looking for another coach in 3-4 years.