Daily News 19

Tag: Steve Sarkisian

  • Steve Sarkisian Echoes Nick Saban, Urges CFP Committee Not to Overreact to Texas Longhorns’ Big Win

    Steve Sarkisian Echoes Nick Saban, Urges CFP Committee Not to Overreact to Texas Longhorns’ Big Win

    Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is urging the College Football Playoff selection committee to avoid penalizing Ohio State following the Buckeyes’ narrow 24-23 road loss to his No. 4 team in Austin last Saturday. The dramatic comeback victory, engineered by quarterback Arch Manning, vaulted Texas to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll while Ohio State tumbled five places to No. 6.

    Sarkisian Advocates for “Quality Loss” Consideration

    During his Monday press conference, Sarkisian made a forceful case that the CFP committee should evaluate Ohio State’s performance in context rather than simply reacting to the result. The Longhorns coach emphasized the difficulty of winning in the hostile, late-summer environment at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

    “I hope Ohio State doesn’t get punished for playing that game Saturday night. They played a heck of a game. It’s 24-23. They lose with us scoring with 25 seconds left to go in the game. I hope, if they end up being a 9-3 team, that the committee can appreciate that they came to Austin, Texas, in September when it was 100 degrees and played us in that environment and played a heck of a game. They should not be punished… Quite frankly, Ohio State should be rewarded for playing in this type of game against us”

    Historical Context Shapes Coach’s Perspective

    Sarkisian’s stance is informed by recent history. He referenced Texas’s season-opening visit to Ohio State in 2023, a game the Longhorns lost narrowly on the road. Sarkisian felt that competitive loss was not adequately valued by the CFP committee last season, contributing to Texas’s exclusion from the playoff. He is now advocating for a consistent standard that rewards teams for scheduling and competing in high-stakes non-conference matchups.

    Alignment with Broader Coaching Sentiment

    The Longhorns coach’s argument mirrors comments made by former Alabama head coach Nick Saban during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast last weekend. Saban emphasized that “quality losses” — competitive defeats against elite opposition — deserve greater weight in the committee’s evaluation process. Sarkisian’s public support for this framework signals a growing consensus among top-tier programs that the current selection methodology may undervalue strength of schedule and game competitiveness.

    With the expanded 12-team playoff format debuting this season, the definition of a “quality loss” and its impact on at-large bids will be a central storyline throughout the campaign. Sarkisian’s early advocacy sets the tone for how Texas — and potentially other programs — will frame their resumes come selection Sunday.

  • Sarkisian: Ohio State Should Be Rewarded for Playing Texas

    Sarkisian: Ohio State Should Be Rewarded for Playing Texas

    Steve Sarkisian Urges CFP Committee to Reward Ohio State for Nonconference Road Test

    AUSTIN, Texas — Following a dramatic 24-23 comeback victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that the Buckeyes should be rewarded for scheduling a marquee nonconference matchup.

    “I hope Ohio State does not get punished for that game Saturday night. They played a heck of a game. I mean, it’s 24-23, they lose to us scoring with 25 seconds to go in the game,” Sarkisian said. “I hope if they end up being a 9-3 team, the committee can appreciate the fact that they came to Austin, Texas, in September when it was 100 degrees and played us in that environment and played a heck of a game.”

    Sarkisian referenced last season, when a College Football Playoff spot hinged on Texas’ early 14-7 loss to Ohio State in Columbus.

    “Ohio State should be rewarded for playing in this game against us,” Sarkisian said Monday. “Time will tell. And this isn’t crying over spilled milk. I don’t think we got rewarded for going to Columbus last year in Week 1. Hopefully, this year they reward Ohio State for coming and playing in this game with us.”

    Ohio State fell to No. 6 in The Associated Press Top 25 after the loss. Sarkisian acknowledged the conversation becomes moot if the Buckeyes finish 11-1, but emphasized his program actively seeks high-stakes games. He noted the Texas brand attracts national television interest and that his roster is built for these moments.

    “That’s why you come to Texas, to play in these big games,” Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning said Monday. “I think it helps our team, builds confidence that we can win in any way. We can be down, we can be not playing well, but we can find ways to win. I think that’s what builds confidence in those big games.”

    After Texas scored 21 points in the final quarter to secure the win, Manning sprinted across the field in celebration as the clock expired.

    “That was the most fun ending to a game I’ve ever had,” he said. “I did not know what to do. I was just running around.”

    Sarkisian: Heavyweight Matchups Must Be Valued, Not Penalized

    Sarkisian framed the broader issue: marquee nonconference games should strengthen a team’s resume rather than damage it.

    “Everybody loves those matchups,” Sarkisian said. “Well, if we want to continue with those matchups, we’ve got to reward the teams for playing in those games … because if they don’t reward them for playing in the game, then all of us start playing FCS, [Group of] 6, and then I don’t think that’s the product that we want in college football.”

    He contrasted college football’s subjective selection process with the NFL’s objective criteria.

    “We’re not the NFL where it’s all based on, ‘What’s your record? Who did you beat?’” he said. “You make the playoffs based off of opinions of others, essentially, unless you win your conference.”

    Texas Reaches No. 1 in AP Poll; Sarkisian Preaches Focus

    The victory propelled the Longhorns to No. 1 in this week’s AP poll, marking the third consecutive season Texas has held the top spot. Sarkisian downplayed the ranking two games into the season.

    “A week ago, the narrative was we can’t win the big game,” Sarkisian said. “How are we going to beat Ohio State? What are we going to do? Now we’re the best team in the country allegedly and everybody’s patting us on the back. Two polar opposites of where we are. We need to stay right here, and we need to stay enamored with what we need to do.”

  • Steve Sarkisian Abruptly Walks Away From ESPN Interview After Texas Stuns Ohio State

    Steve Sarkisian Abruptly Walks Away From ESPN Interview After Texas Stuns Ohio State

    Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was visibly elated after his team’s stunning comeback victory over No. 1 Ohio State, but his brief interaction with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe quickly became a talking point of its own.

    Sarkisian Walks Away from Postgame Interview

    Moments after the Longhorns erased a 23-3 deficit with 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to secure a 24-23 win, Rowe approached Sarkisian on the field for a standard postgame interview. The coach offered only a few words before abruptly walking away to join the on-field celebration, leaving Rowe standing alone as he disappeared into the scrum of players and staff.

    Social Media Reacts to Awkward Exchange

    The exchange immediately drew attention online, with viewers noting Rowe’s surprised reaction. The moment sparked a wave of criticism across social media platforms, with many questioning the coach’s decision to bypass the network interview amid the jubilation.

    Historic Comeback Fuels Emotion

    Texas’ rally from a 20-point hole marked one of the most dramatic victories of the college football season. While Sarkisian’s excitement was understandable given the magnitude of the upset, the optics of the interrupted interview dominated postgame discourse alongside the team’s historic performance.

  • Arch Manning Opens 2026 as Heisman Favorite With New Weapon Aiding Family History Bid

    Arch Manning Opens 2026 as Heisman Favorite With New Weapon Aiding Family History Bid

    The Manning family has achieved nearly every major honor available to a quarterback. Archie Manning became a college football legend at Ole Miss, Peyton Manning built a Hall of Fame career and won two Super Bowls, and Eli Manning led two of the most memorable championship runs in NFL history.

    Together, the Mannings have produced generations of elite quarterbacks and left an indelible mark on football. Yet one of college football’s most prestigious honors has remained out of reach: no Manning has ever won the Heisman Trophy.

    That could change in 2026. NFL.com analyst and former player Bucky Brooks has placed Texas quarterback Arch Manning at the top of his early 2026 Heisman Trophy watch list, pointing to the Longhorns’ talented offense and the arrival of a dynamic new playmaker who could take Manning’s production to another level.

    Arch Manning emerges as a 2026 Heisman favorite

    Expectations have followed Manning since he arrived in Austin. As the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning, he entered college football with one of the most recognizable surnames in sports. Although the attention has often been intense, Manning has steadily developed into the centerpiece of Steve Sarkisian’s offense and one of the country’s most intriguing quarterbacks.

    With Texas again expected to compete for a national championship, the spotlight on Manning has grown even brighter. Brooks believes the quarterback is positioned to produce the type of statistical season that appeals to Heisman voters.

    Manning has the size, arm talent, mobility and football intelligence that NFL scouts value. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, he has the physical profile of a future professional starter. However, the talent surrounding him could ultimately be the factor that separates him from the rest of the Heisman field.

    Cam Coleman could boost Manning’s Heisman campaign

    Auburn transfer Cam Coleman is one of the biggest reasons for optimism around Manning’s Heisman prospects. Brooks described Coleman as a potential NFL WR1 prospect, and his arrival gives Texas another explosive weapon in an offense already loaded with talent.

    Coleman’s ability to stretch defenses vertically could create more opportunities for Manning to attack downfield. His size, speed and ball-tracking ability make him a dangerous target on deep routes, while his ability to make plays after the catch gives Texas another way to generate explosive gains.

    For a quarterback pursuing the Heisman Trophy, big plays are critical. Highlight-reel touchdowns, long completions and eye-catching statistics often shape the narrative of a Heisman campaign. Coleman appears capable of helping Manning deliver all three.

    Brooks also noted that Coleman’s versatility should allow Texas to use him in catch-and-run concepts. Those plays could help Manning accumulate completions while maintaining a high efficiency rate throughout the season.

    Steve Sarkisian’s offense could maximize Arch Manning

    Talent alone does not win the Heisman Trophy. The right offensive system is also essential, and few college football coaches have a stronger reputation for offensive design than Steve Sarkisian.

    Over the past several seasons, Sarkisian has consistently built game plans that maximize quarterback strengths and create favorable matchups for skill-position players. His offenses are known for producing explosive plays while creating easier scoring opportunities through creative formations and route combinations.

    Brooks specifically pointed to Sarkisian’s ability to design “winners”, plays that frequently leave receivers open for uncontested touchdowns.

    Those schemes help Texas win games while also increasing quarterback production. If Manning regularly throws touchdown passes while leading one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, his Heisman résumé could become difficult for voters to overlook.

    Source: www.marca.com