Steve Sarkisian, head coach of the Texas Longhorns, made waves at the 2026 SEC Media Days in Tampa. His comments about the College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee, Ohio State, and Texas’ scheduling strategy got people talking online.
But honestly, a lot of folks seemed to miss what he was really getting at. What got painted as griping about tough scheduling was actually Sarkisian diving into the weird incentive structure in college football.
He wasn’t just complaining—he was questioning whether the CFP Committee really recognizes teams that take risks by scheduling elite out-of-conference opponents.
Steve Sarkisian’s Comments at SEC Media Days
During SEC Media Days, Sarkisian talked about several parts of Texas Longhorns football. He didn’t shy away from some hot topics:
- Scheduling Elite Opponents: Sarkisian said Texas is all in on playing top-tier out-of-conference games.
- Ohio State Game: He pointed to the Longhorns’ decision to play Ohio State as proof they’re not afraid of real competition.
- College Football Playoff Committee: Sarkisian questioned how the CFP Committee evaluates teams, especially when it comes to game location and how much they weigh losses versus wins.
Misinterpretation of Sarkisian’s Remarks
Plenty of media outlets and online voices twisted Sarkisian’s comments, making it sound like he was just whining about tough games like Ohio State. But that’s not really what he meant.
Sarkisian actually said playing elite teams is part of Texas’ plan to be great. His real issue is with how the CFP Committee looks at these games.
The Core of Sarkisian’s Argument
Sarkisian’s main point? The system doesn’t reward teams enough for taking on tough schedules. He mentioned that if Texas hadn’t played Ohio State and finished with two losses instead of three, they’d probably have made the Playoff.
That’s not a complaint—it’s just pointing out how the current criteria work.
Incentive Structure in College Football
The way things are set up now, teams get credit for a shiny win-loss record, but not so much for playing tough opponents. Sarkisian argued that this setup pushes teams to avoid scheduling hard out-of-conference games.
The risk of losing just isn’t worth it for most programs.
Location of Games
One thing Sarkisian brought up that really raised eyebrows: the CFP Committee supposedly told SEC coaches that game location—home, away, or neutral—doesn’t matter in their evaluation. That’s a head-scratcher.
Seriously, shouldn’t a road win at Ohio State count for more than beating a mid-tier team at home?
Contradictory Positions
Sarkisian pointed out how the CFP Committee’s criteria just don’t add up. On one hand, they say location doesn’t matter. On the other, they treat losses as a huge deal.
So, teams have every reason to dodge tough games if they want to keep their records clean. That’s just how the incentives shake out right now.
Texas Longhorns’ Commitment to Tough Scheduling
Still, Sarkisian made it clear—Texas isn’t backing down from playing elite opponents. They’ve already faced Ohio State, and there are talks about series with Notre Dame in 2028 and 2029.
He’s not mad about scheduling hard games. He’s frustrated with a system that doesn’t always give teams credit for doing it.
Future Implications
If the CFP Committee doesn’t change how it evaluates teams, college football could see more programs scheduling weaker opponents. That would mean fewer exciting nonconference games for fans.
Honestly, nobody wants that. The sport deserves better matchups—and so do we.
Conclusion
Steve Sarkisian’s comments at the 2026 SEC Media Days weren’t just casual remarks. He was basically challenging the College Football Playoff Committee to rethink how they size up teams.
He thinks the committee should reward programs that take on elite competition. That would make college football a lot more fun to watch, honestly.
Under Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns seem ready to roll the dice against top-tier opponents. But will the CFP Committee actually notice and give them credit for it? That’s still up in the air.
If you want to dig deeper into what Sarkisian said or what this could mean for college football, check out the full story on Yahoo Sports.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
