In a candid and wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian didn't hold back his frustration with the current state of college football. Calling it a "Wild West" culture, Sarkisian sounded off on everything from the College Football Playoff selection process to NIL bidding wars, free player movement, and what he sees as a troubling decline in academic priorities.
"I try my best to not get consumed with how bad it is," Sarkisian admitted. "It just wears you out."
At first glance, you might think Sarkisian is complaining about his own situation—but that couldn't be further from the truth. He's built a national title-caliber team at Texas, arguably his best ever. With top-tier financial backing, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong support system from Athletic Director Chris Del Conte down to the assistant trainers, Sarkisian has everything a coach could want. Yet, he can't stay silent about what he sees as a systematic breakdown of amateur sports.
"We all signed up to be part of the NCAA, and then we all allegedly make the rules," Sarkisian said. "Everyone knows the rules, right? Then we go to our attorney general and say we don’t like that rule, let’s just sue. Right now, no one is afraid of the consequences."
His concerns go beyond just the game on the field. Sarkisian pointed out that big programs—Texas included—now spend millions on their rosters, with boosters acting like de facto owners. Meanwhile, student-athletes who can command "real money" are sparking bidding wars, and some are even judge-shopping to avoid consequences for gambling violations. To stay competitive, programs feel forced to play the same game.
"It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL," Sarkisian lamented. "At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player’s academic credit hours from a junior college. That's how much we value education."
After five years navigating the "new" college football landscape, Sarkisian is tired—and he's not afraid to say it. For fans and players alike, his words serve as a stark reminder that even at the top of the game, the system needs fixing.