Texas' Steve Sarkisian Shades In-State Rival With CFP, Schedule Strength Comments

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian took a shot at an in-state rival while discussing how the College Football Playoff selection committee assesses strength of schedule while speaking to reporters on Thursday at the Houston Touchdown Club.

"There's a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a schedule that I would argue if I played with our twos and our threes, we could go undefeated, and they'll probably make the CFP this year," Sarkisian said, per On3's Anwar Richardson.

Five Texas teams were ranked in the top 25 in the CFP selection committee's final 2025 rankings, including Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, North Texas and Houston.

Sarkisian said he thought Texas had the hardest strength of schedule in the country next season, per Inside Texas' Evan Vieth.

That was backed up in April by ESPN's Bill Connelly, who ranked Texas' schedule as the most difficult in college football in a preseason version of his SP+ rankings.

Texas' upcoming schedule features games against playoff contenders including Ohio State, LSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

That slate features higher-ranked teams than those scheduled for other in-state opponents like Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' Big 12 schedule is highlighted by matchups against Arizona State, Arizona and Houston.

That's part of the outcome of the Longhorns' decision as of the 2024 season to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC, where Sarkisian himself said Thursday he thinks every program is spending at least $30 million to build their roster.

The Longhorns are hoping that move will result in the long run in higher revenue distribution, but it could also mean a tougher schedule and a steeper climb to the CFP.