Is Steve Sarkisian leaving Texas? After an ESPN analyst suggested Texas could have a new coach in 2026, Sarkisian addressed the rumors head-on.
Texas’ Steve Sarkisian Denies Latest Report
This is news to me… Thanks for the insight 🫵🏽🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/9oD7wr24Ha
— Chris Del Conte (@_delconte) November 18, 2025
On Monday, ESPN’s Desmond Howard posted a video stating that Texas and Sarkisian could mutually part ways at the end of the season.
“Don’t be surprised if that Texas job opens up at the end of the season,” Howard said on X. “You guys were shocked when LSU opened up. Imagine how you’re going to feel if that job in Austin pops open. I’m not calling or saying anyone’s going to get fired — maybe a mutual parting of ways, you dig?”
Later that night, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte sarcastically responded to Howard’s video, saying, “This is news to me. Thanks for the insight.”
On Wednesday, Sarkisian addressed Howard’s video and set the record straight on his future.
“I’d like to comment something before I get into our team that has been bothering me now over the past few weeks. That is people reporting that are insinuating that there’s a possibility I could leave the University of Texas, and that is absolutely false and untrue,” Sarkisian told the media via On3. “I’m not going anywhere. Never do I do this because I never want to be a distraction, so I never address these things. At this point, I feel like this is important that I do this because it’s important for our team. It’s important for our university.”
This is the second time this season that Sarkisian discussed rumors about a departure from Texas. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Sarkisian representatives have let NFL teams know that he’s interested in a return to the professional game.
Sarkisian served as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 and 2018. Sarkisian also denied those reports on Wednesday.
“I’ve had no discussions, not with my agent, not with the university, not with any other school, not with any NFL team, about ever going anywhere else,” Sarkisian explained. “I came here to win championships. I’ve got two kids enrolled at the University of Texas, one in law school, one on our team. I’ve got a third that hopefully decides to enroll at the University of Texas next fall. My wife and I just had our son here in Austin. This is our home.”
Can Texas Somehow Sneak Into The College Football Playoff?
I’m told that representatives for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have let NFL decision makers know that he would be interested in potential head coaching openings, including the Titans’. pic.twitter.com/WhBmN28ela
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 25, 2025
After a 2024 season that ended in the College Football Playoff semifinals, expectations for the Longhorns in 2025 were high.
Texas entered the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the AP Poll. The Longhorns dropped their season opener to No. 3 Ohio State.
Texas then lost to unranked Florida before falling to No. 5 Georgia this past weekend.
Texas is 7-3 with two games remaining on the schedule. Texas hosts Arkansas on Nov. 22 before closing the season at home against No. 3 Texas A&M.
If the Longhorns can beat Texas A&M, they will have a compelling case to make the CFP if other teams like Oklahoma, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Alabama lose another regular-season game.
If those losses don’t happen, the Longhorns are probably not making the CFP.
