Steve Sarkisian calls it ‘morally wrong’ to cut college players to add NFL players
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Steve Sarkisian wasn’t shy about another issue that has cropped up amid the NFL-to-college player controversy that’s taken hold of college football as the 2026 season begins.
The Texas head coach is apparently aware of some examples of college football players being cut so college coaches can add NFL players who are returning to the college game to continue their football life.
Sarkisian was adamant about that transaction being totally wrong, as college players would be penalized for pro players coming back to the sport and potentially stealing their dream of playing college football.
“The fact that somebody out there is going to take a player off of an NFL roster and tell somebody who’s been doing it for nine months to go kick rocks, that doesn’t sit well with me,” Steve Sarkisian told reporters on Monday. “I think that’s wrong. That, morally, is wrong.”
Texas isn’t a total stranger to this whole controversy, with offensive lineman Cole Hutson recently rejoining the Longhorns after regaining a 5th year of eligibility. Hutson played in 48 games and made 23 starts for Texas before apparently playing out the rest of his college eligibility last season.
But Hutson went undrafted in 2026 and didn’t land an NFL contract after participating in minicamps with the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns. Now, he’s landed back in Austin playing for Sarkisian, who presumably didn’t have to cut anyone off his roster to make room for Hutson’s return to Texas.
Sarkisian will be trying to get Texas back to the College Football Playoff after falling short last season. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the Longhorns’ chances to be among the 12 elite teams playing for a national championship in December:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
