Story perspectives

Texas to Face No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 10:24 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Texas Longhorns, coached by Steve Sarkisian, will travel to face No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2.
Sarkisian’s contract runs to 2031 with $12.3 million salary and buyouts of $36.5 M (2026), $27.5 M (2027), $18.4 M (2028), $9.2 M (2029).
Texas spent $23 million on portal transfers and pays a $49.32 million roster.
A Texas win would boost its College Football Playoff résumé.
Ohio State entered 2026 with four players drafted in the top 11 of the NFL draft.

History

Historical Context

In 2005, the Texas Longhorns, led by coach Mack Brown, secured the BCS National Championship after a $30 million contract extension. Brown’s ten-year deal, worth $30 million, followed Texas’s $23 million 2026 portal spending and a $49.32 million roster budget for the season. Similarly, Steve Sarkisian’s 2031 contract, featuring $12.3 million salary and escalating buyouts, mirrors Brown’s high-value agreement as Texas seeks another playoff berth against Ohio State. The precedent shows that massive coaching contracts can catalyze recruiting spikes, prompting both programs to intensify spending and reshape the College Football Playoff landscape.

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Story summary

Texas Longhorns, coached by Steve Sarkisian, will travel to face No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2.
Sarkisian’s contract runs to 2031 with $12.3 million salary and buyouts of $36.5 M (2026), $27.5 M (2027), $18.4 M (2028), $9.2 M (2029).
Texas spent $23 million on portal transfers and pays a $49.32 million roster.
A Texas win would boost its College Football Playoff résumé.
Ohio State entered 2026 with four players drafted in the top 11 of the NFL draft.

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