Full Breakdown
Texas Coach Calls Out Playoff Committee Over Aggressive Scheduling
7/25/2026, 12:25:46 PM
Texas Coach Challenges CFP Evaluation at SEC Media Days
On July 23, 2026 at the SEC Media Days in Tampa, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian warned that the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process does not fairly reward programs that schedule elite non-conference opponents. He asserted that the committee told SEC coaches that game location—home, road, or neutral—“does not matter,” a claim he described as “difficult to take seriously.” Sarkisian argued that a loss to a powerhouse such as Ohio State can keep Texas out of the playoff, yet the Longhorns will continue to pursue such high-risk matchups.
Context: Recent CFP Miss and Scheduling Philosophy
Texas entered the 2025 season with a 9-3 record, suffering defeats to Georgia and Florida and an early-season loss at Ohio State. Despite those setbacks, the Longhorns finished No. 13 in the final CFP rankings, ahead of two-loss teams Vanderbilt and Utah and behind No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 12 BYU. Sarkisian framed the season as a “test” of how the committee values strength of schedule, suggesting that an expanded 24-team field would have secured Texas a spot.
Data & Statistics
- Final CFP ranking: Texas No. 13 (three-loss team).
- Comparative rankings: Notre Dame No. 11, BYU No. 12.
- Notable losses: Ohio State (road), Georgia, Florida.
What's Next: Future Non-Conference Scheduling
Sarkisian left the Notre Dame series open, indicating the Longhorns will decide after observing the committee’s handling of this season’s “strength-of-schedule” test. He suggested that any future series will depend on whether the CFP rewards the risk of playing top-tier opponents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don’t know yet about Notre Dame,” — Steve Sarkisian, longhorns head coach
