After Jim Harbaugh’s departure, Longhorns’ Steve Sarkisian is the only CFP coach who remains.
Steve Sarkisian, head coach of the Texas Longhorns, is the lone remaining coach among the four College Football Playoff teams.
Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns were newbies to the College Football Playoff in 2023.
They are also the last team to return production.
With Jim Harbaugh’s departure from Michigan to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, Sarkisian is the lone head coach left at his respective programme heading into 2024. Harbaugh, who led the Wolverines to their first national championship since 1997, signed a five-year deal to replace Brandon Staley in the AFC West on Wednesday night.
Nick Saban, Sarkisian’s former Alabama coach and seven-time national champion, retired earlier this month after losing to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Kalen DeBoer, who led Washington to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over the Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl, took over for Saban in Tuscaloosa after a 25-3 record with the Huskies.
DeBoer was replaced by Arizona’s Jedd Fisch, and Wolverines offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is the favourite to succeed Harbaugh. In Austin, Sarkisian is preparing for a postseason run in 2024, but as members of the Southeastern Conference.
Whether or if Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne considered Sarkisian as the Longhorns’ head coach, his familiarity with Saban made him an obvious candidate. Sarkisian, 49, was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when they went 13-0 in 2020 and defeated Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
He also led the offence to consecutive top-five scoring units in 2019 and 2020. Sarkisian influenced the development of quarterbacks Tua Tagoviloa and Mac Jones, both of whom were first-round picks in their respective classes.
After leading the Longhorns to their first Big 12 title since 2009 and a College Football Playoff appearance, Sarkisian was considered a front-runner to replace Saban. Before discussions could begin, the Texas football programme posted a brief video of Sarkisian with the tagline, “Just getting started.” Sarkisian responded with the “Horns up” emoji.
