"I Don't Need To…": Steve Sarkisian Makes Feelings Clear on Scheduling Texas Tech

Steve Sarkisian by no means anticipated an offhand booster-event joke to spark faculty soccer’s summer season controversy. When Texas Tech challenged Texas for a recreation after his viral feedback, the Longhorns’ coach clarified that it wasn’t in regards to the Pink Raiders. As an alternative, he provided his stance on the scheduling debate.

Showing on The Triple Choice, Steve Sarkisian defined that his viral feedback a few group in Texas enjoying a schedule that his “twos and threes may in all probability go undefeated in opposition to” have been geared toward a much bigger concern. It’s a jab at how the CFP committee evaluates the power of the schedule.

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“It wasn’t a slight in opposition to Tech,” he stated on the present. “I do know Tech’s soccer group. I’ve no umbrage in opposition to that.”

However when Steve Sarkisian first stated it final month, everybody thought it was a jab at Texas Tech. Head coach Joey McGuire fired again by difficult Texas to open a season in Lubbock, whereas billionaire booster Cody Campbell added gas to the hearth with a dare, saying, “Schedule us then.” Somewhat than escalating the confrontation, the Texas head coach simply dropped the very fact.

“I’ve acquired sufficient powerful schedules that I take into consideration anyone within the nation has,” he stated. “I don’t want so as to add one other prime 10-ranked group to our schedule proper now.”

Sarkisian isn’t new to this argument. After Texas missed the 2025 CFP as a 10-2 group, he advised reporters in Orlando: “You take a look at the ideas of the CFP. The primary bullet level is power of schedule. We have to honor the standards.” He warned that if the committee doesn’t worth powerful schedules, Texas can be keen to rethink how they strategy the nonconference scheduling past 2027. This Texas Tech controversy isn’t ego, however the identical frustration he’s voiced for months.

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The change has been entertaining, however Sarkisian’s underlying level deserves consideration. Texas enters 2026 with what ESPN’s Invoice Connelly ranked as faculty soccer’s most troublesome preseason schedule. The Longhorns face Ohio State, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU, and Texas A&M. Texas Tech’s path is smoother: Abilene Christian, Sam Houston, Houston, Oregon State, plus a manageable Massive 12 rotation.

That’s why Steve Sarkisian retains returning to the identical query. His important concern is how the CFP committee evaluates groups with very completely different schedules. He believes a group that goes 9-3 in opposition to one of many hardest schedules within the nation could possibly be simply as deserving of a playoff spot as a group that wins 11 video games in opposition to weaker competitors. That’s why he retains citing the power of schedule.

The larger level Steve Sarkisian was making an attempt to make

Steve Sarkisian pointed to the primary two years of the 12-team CFP format, the place no group with a 9-3 file has earned a playoff berth. Consequently, he’s curious to see whether or not the committee will reward groups that survive a brutal schedule, even when they end with three losses.

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“Extra of my concern is how is the CFP committee going to acknowledge that and acknowledge the schedules that individuals are enjoying,” he added. “The place does 9-3 match? As a result of for 2 years now, no 9-3 group has made the Faculty Soccer Playoff. 10-2 is type of that Mendoza line. And it’s going to be fascinating to see if 9-3 popping out of the SEC and/or the Massive Ten. There’s some powerful schedules within the Massive Ten this yr, too, is it going to make the CFP or not.”

That’s the true debate for Steve Sarkisian. As for Joey McGuire, there doesn’t look like any unhealthy blood. The Longhorns’ head coach revealed the 2 have truly been joking in regards to the scenario via textual content messages. So regardless of a month of social-media fireworks, the coaches appear completely fantastic.

However whereas followers maintain dreaming about Texas vs. Texas Tech, Steve Sarkisian is concentrated on a a lot greater problem. Earlier than worrying about including the Pink Raiders, Texas has to outlive what often is the most unforgiving schedule within the nation.

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