Five years ago, if you’d walked into a sports bar in Austin and said the Texas head coach football program would soon be the most stable, terrifying force in the SEC, they’d have probably checked your temperature. This is Texas. The place where "Back" is a meme and coaches go to watch their careers slowly dissolve in a vat of burnt orange expectations. But things changed.
Steve Sarkisian didn't just walk into a job; he walked into a haunted house and decided to remodel the foundation. Honestly, looking at the 2025 season that just wrapped up with a Citrus Bowl win over Michigan, it’s wild to think where this started. In 2021, the guy went 5-7. People were already calling for the next "savior." Now? He’s basically the architect of a professional-grade talent factory that just sent a dozen kids to the NFL draft for the second year in a row.
Why the Steve Sarkisian Era feels different
Most people focus on the big wins—like that 2023 statement at Alabama or the 13-3 record in 2024. But the real story is the culture shift. Sarkisian, often referred to as "Sark" by everyone from the fans to the media, brought a "Pro-Model" to the Forty Acres. It’s not just about flashy plays. It’s about the fact that he actually survived the transition to the SEC without the program imploding.
You’ve probably heard the term "All Gas No Brake." It’s a catchy slogan, sure. But in practice, it’s meant building a roster where the third-string left tackle is better than most starters in the Big 12. He’s obsessed with the trenches. He realized early on that you can’t win in the SEC with just fast receivers; you need "big humans," as he likes to call them.
The Quarterback Room and the Arch Manning Factor
We have to talk about the Arch Manning situation because it's the loudest thing in college sports. Most coaches would have fumbled the transition from Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning. They would have had locker room drama or a transfer portal disaster.
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- Patience: Arch sat for two years. Two years! In the modern era, that's a lifetime.
- Development: Sarkisian’s history as a QB whisperer (think Tua, Mac Jones, Bryce Young at Alabama) gave the Manning family confidence that waiting was better than rushing.
- Results: In 2025, we saw the Arch era finally begin. While the team finished 10-3—a slight "step back" from the 13-win 2024 campaign—Arch threw for over 3,000 yards and showed exactly why he was the most hyped recruit since his uncle Peyton.
The Massive 2025 Contract Extension
Success in Austin isn't cheap. In early 2025, the UT Board of Regents saw enough to know they didn't want Sarkisian looking at any NFL openings. They handed him a massive extension that basically guarantees him $80 million over seven years. By 2031, he’ll be making over $12 million a year.
Is he worth it? Well, look at the numbers. He’s the first Texas head coach football leader to lead the team to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances (2023 and 2024). Before him, Texas hadn't won a conference title since 2009. He broke that drought. He’s turned Austin into a place where elite recruits don't just visit—they sign and stay.
Dealing with the SEC Gauntlet
The move to the SEC was supposed to be a reality check. Instead, Texas looked like they belonged from day one. In 2024, their first year in the conference, they went 7-1 in league play and made it to the SEC Championship game. Even though they lost to Georgia (twice that year, actually), they proved they could take the physical toll of a Southern schedule.
The 2025 season was a bit more of a grind. Losing guys like Kelvin Banks Jr. and Jahdae Barron to the NFL left holes that even the portal couldn't perfectly fill right away. The 2025 schedule included a brutal opener at Ohio State and a late-season trip to Athens. Going 10-3 against that slate? Most programs would kill for that. In Austin, it’s seen as a "rebuilding" year. That tells you everything you need to know about the new standard.
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Breaking Down the "Sark" Strategy
Sark isn't just a play-caller; he’s a CEO. He’s built a staff that’s remarkably loyal. Keeping guys like Kyle Flood (Offensive Line) and Pete Kwiatkowski (Defensive Coordinator) together for multiple seasons is rare in an age where assistants jump for a 10% raise every January.
"The hardest part isn't getting to the top; it's staying there when everyone is pulling at your sleeves." — An anonymous staffer once mentioned this during the 2024 playoff run.
This stability allows Texas to play a specific brand of football. It’s a multiple-look offense that uses a lot of pre-snap motion to confuse linebackers. On defense, they’ve shifted to a 4-2-5 or "Multiple" look that prioritizes speed and versatility. It’s why guys like Anthony Hill Jr. have become household names—they’re allowed to play fast because the system isn't over-complicated.
The NIL and Recruiting Machine
Let’s be real. You can't talk about the Texas head coach football role without mentioning the "Lamborghini" of it all. The Texas One Fund and the school’s massive NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) resources are a weapon. Sarkisian has used this to secure top-five recruiting classes every single year he’s been in town.
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But he’s picky. He doesn't just take the highest-rated guy; he takes the guy who fits the "culture." We saw this with the 2026 recruiting class, which is already shaping up to be one of the best in the country. He’s targeting elite defensive linemen from the portal—like Hero Kanu and Travis Shaw—to ensure the interior remains a wall.
What’s Next for Texas Football?
As we look toward the 2026 season, the expectations are—as always—national championship or bust. The 2026 schedule is already being called the "Schedule from Hell." It features matchups against Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, plus the annual Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma and the renewed grudge match with Texas A&M.
Sarkisian has the pieces. Arch Manning will be a redshirt junior. The defensive core, led by Colin Simmons, will be in its prime. The "Texas is back" jokes have officially died because, frankly, they aren't funny when the team is actually winning ten games a year.
Next Steps for Longhorn Fans:
- Watch the Trenches: Keep an eye on how the offensive line retools in the spring. Replacing NFL-caliber tackles is the biggest hurdle for 2026.
- Monitor the Portal: Sarkisian usually adds 2-3 "instant impact" veterans in May. Look for a safety or a veteran wide receiver to help the younger guys.
- Spring Game Intel: Pay attention to the backup QB battle. With Arch firmly the starter, seeing who emerges as the #2 will be crucial for depth in a long SEC season.
The era of coaching turnover in Austin seems to be over. For the first time in nearly two decades, the Longhorns have a leader who matches the magnitude of the job. It’s a high-stakes, high-stress environment, but Steve Sarkisian seems to be the only one who figured out how to breathe the thin air at the top.