College football’s been changing at lightning speed lately. From NIL deals to boosters wielding more power and players transferring like it’s free agency, the game’s almost unrecognizable from just a few years ago.
Amid all this chaos, Texas Longhorns’ head coach Steve Sarkisian has been pretty vocal about what he sees as the sport’s biggest headache: the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee. He’s not shy about saying the committee’s lack of transparency and consistency is hurting college football, and honestly, he worries it’s only going to get messier if the playoffs expand.
The Changing Landscape of College Football
Let’s be real, the last few years have been wild:
- Players are now paid through NIL deals.
- Transfers are almost wide open.
- Boosters have gotten pretty influential—sometimes it feels like they’re running the show.
- And, of course, there’s a playoff system now.
Sure, these shifts have opened up new doors, but they’ve also brought some headaches. Money talks louder than ever, and the scramble for top players is intense.
Heck, some athletes are even looking for loopholes to dodge consequences for gambling. It’s a lot to keep up with.
Steve Sarkisian’s Critique of the CFP Committee
People love to blame NIL for everything, but Sarkisian’s laser-focused on the CFP committee. He says they’re just not transparent, and their logic for picking teams? All over the place.
He points to Texas’ 2025 season as a prime example—the Longhorns had a tough schedule but still got snubbed after losing to defending champs Ohio State in week one. Frustrating, right?
According to Sark, the way the committee weighs losses and schedules just doesn’t add up. Playing in the SEC is a whole different animal compared to the Big 12, but you wouldn’t know it from the committee’s decisions.
Texas has a reputation for scheduling big-name opponents, which is bold but risky. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it stings.
Texas Football’s Scheduling Philosophy
Texas doesn’t shy away from tough games:
- There’s always at least one marquee matchup on the calendar.
- They steer clear of FCS teams.
- Past opponents? USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama—you get the idea.
But, let’s be honest, this strategy can backfire. Facing powerhouses like Ohio State and Alabama looks great on paper, but it can mean painful losses too.
With the SEC move, Texas even dropped future games against Florida and Georgia. Next year, they’re up against Ohio State again, and Michigan’s on the horizon for 2027. Beyond that, who knows?
The Inconsistency of the CFP Committee
Sarkisian just can’t get past how inconsistent the committee is. He’s convinced things will get even more chaotic once the playoff expands.
Right now, the committee struggles to keep up with all the teams. They lean pretty hard on polls from the media and coaches.
With a 12-team playoff, they’d have to seriously consider 30 teams. If it ever jumps to 24, we’re talking about 50 teams or more. That’s a ton of football to watch—does anyone really believe they can?
Sark worries this will just make them rely on polls even more, which isn’t exactly reassuring for teams like Texas fighting for a spot.
Possible Solutions and Future Outlook
Sarkisian doesn’t just complain—he’s hinted at some wild ideas, like maybe ditching the NCAA and CFP altogether. Would that even work? Hard to say. But it shows just how fed up people are.
For now, Sarkisian and the Longhorns are just trying to survive the current mess and shoot for the CFP in 2026. The bigger picture? College football’s got some work to do if it wants to keep fans and teams happy in the long run.
Conclusion
Steve Sarkisian isn’t shy about calling out the CFP committee. He points to big problems in college football that just won’t go away.
There’s not enough transparency or consistency in the way the committee makes its decisions. With the sport shifting so quickly, that’s a recipe for confusion and frustration.
Playoff expansion is on the horizon, but it’s not clear if that’ll fix things or just make them messier. Texas, along with plenty of other programs, has to keep pushing for a process that’s fair and open—though who knows if that’ll actually happen.
If you’re curious about Sarkisian’s full take or want to dive deeper into the mess facing college football, check out the article on Longhorns Wire.
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