Steve Sarkisian urges Texas to reconsider its non-conference scheduling approach

As the college football season approaches the conference championship weekend, the No. 16 Texas Longhorns face the possibility of being overlooked in the 12-team College Football Playoff rankings, despite securing victories over three top-10 teams. This marks the first occurrence since the 2019 national champion LSU Tigers managed a similar feat during the regular season.

The Longhorns position is affected by two key losses: an early-season defeat to No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus and a road loss to Florida at the start of conference play. The Ohio State loss, in particular, is weighing heavily on head coach Steve Sarkisian as he evaluates future scheduling strategies amid the SECs shift to a nine-game conference schedule next season.

During a Monday appearance on SEC This Morning, Sarkisian addressed the potential for changes in Texas non-conference scheduling philosophy. He stated, We have to rethink our approach. With nine conference games next season, we need to consider that weve faced five top-ten opponents. Other teams ahead of us in the rankings have played far fewer, and some none at all. To improve our record and positioning, we must adjust our schedule strategically.

Sarkisian emphasized the broader implications for the College Football Playoff committee, noting that penalizing teams for challenging non-conference games could reduce high-profile matchups in the future. What matters most is getting the best teams into the playoff, not just focusing on records. College football thrives when teams face top competition, and thats why the SEC is such a strong conference.

Looking ahead, Texas schedule is set to become even more demanding. Upcoming seasons will feature more conference games, replacing easier matchups, along with home games against Ohio State and Michigan. The Longhorns also have planned home-and-home series with Notre Dame in 2028 and 2029, which could be reconsidered if deemed detrimental to Texas playoff chances. If Notre Dame views these games as risky for its own playoff ambitions, the series could be mutually canceled.

For 2030 and 2031, Texas has limited games scheduled against UT system schools, with home-and-home series against Arizona State potentially taking the place of previous marquee matchups. Such changes could disappoint fans, as decisions made by the playoff committee this year may influence scheduling and high-profile contests for years to come.

Author: Sophia Brooks