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Steve Sarkisian is on the hot seat as he enters his 3rd season at the helm in Austin.
That’s according to ESPN’s hot seat breakdown, which was released on Monday. Sarkisian was 1 of 3 Big 12 coaches who were identified as hot seat candidates.
Here’s some analysis from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg:
Sarkisian is 13-12 at Texas, continuing a head-coaching tenure — no 10-win seasons, only one nine-win season — that hasn’t come close to what he accomplished as a coordinator. He’s signed through 2026 and would be owed $12.6 million if fired this year, but Texas has the funds if the team backslides this fall. The arrival of decorated quarterback recruit Arch Manning helps Sarkisian’s chances of coaching in 2024. What could hurt him: two attractive replacement candidates within the state in Sonny Dykes, who just took TCU to the national title game, and UTSA’s Jeff Traylor.
Per Rittenberg, Texas would owe Sarkisian a $12.6 million buyout if it fires him this year.
Texas took a big step forward in 2023, but the results didn’t necessarily show it. The Longhorns finished with an 8-5 record despite a No. 7 ranking in ESPN’s final SP+ standings.
Sarkisian is 13-12 in 2 seasons as Texas’ head coach. With Quinn Ewers and other key players set to return, Texas is expecting to compete for the Big 12 title in 2023.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
