Steve Sarkisian projected to stay at Texas into the next decade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
What will the college football landscape look like in 2030? Just think about where we were just one recruiting cycle ago and add in the NIL era on steroids.
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For Steve Sarkisian, being near the top among his SEC peers reflects his standing after bouncing around the coaching ranks. The Texas coach enters his sixth season in Austin and under contract through 2030. He has elevated the Longhorns into playoff contention, guiding Texas to multiple double-digit wins and CFP appearances since arriving from the Big 12.
Unlike well-established SEC leaders who boast decades of tradition and deep recruiting roots in the deep south, Sarkisian’s rapid ascent against Georgia, Alabama and others is notable. Where coaches such as Kirby Smart are consistently ranked among the nation’s elite, the Longhorns’ figurehead must show he belongs year after year.
It’s one of the reasons why The Athletic’s Ralph Russo believes Sark will be at Texas in 2030.
“NFL speculation will always loom over Sark, but we’ll go against conventional wisdom and say he stays put in Austin and leads the Longhorns to their best run since Mack Brown’s heyday,” Russo wrote.
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Out of all the coaches in the SEC, only five coaches, including Sarkisian, are projected to not be on the move. So why will he push off any potential NFL offers? The simple answer is more control and job security. Sarkisian has fused his offensive-minded approach with aggressive roster management to quickly position Texas atop the league’s title conversation. That didn’t come overnight.
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However, his projection within the conference’s coaching hierarchy carries unique caveats. The NFL speculation will always be there, with some analysts suggesting Sarkisian is among the top current FBS coaches who could be lured to the professional ranks before decade’s end. That potential departure would be rare, especially at this stage of his career. His mentor Nick Saban jumped from LSU and made his way back to establish a dynasty at Alabama.
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Sarkisian’s mix of rapid achievement sets him apart. How his projection compares to rivals through 2030 will hinge on both continued on-field results and whether he remains rooted at Texas. For now, neither of those are questioned.
