Each year, CBS Sports ranks every head coach in the Power Five.
The rankings are generated by a panel of college football writers from CBS Sports and 247Sports who submit ballots and vote. Some value accomplishments on the field, while others heavily weigh the recruiting proficiency or possibility of future success.
Texas’ first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian will no doubt bring a brilliant offensive scheme to Austin and has learned from Alabama head coach Nick Saban over the last few years. Coupled with the fact that he hired a strong support staff, it’s enough to get the fan base excited for the future of the program.
However, some don’t believe that Sarkisian will find immediate success with Texas. CBS Sports lists Sarkisian at No. 46 overall in the Power Five head coach rankings for the 2021 season.
So, how about this spot for Sark? He was 46-35 in seven seasons at Washington and USC, and he hasn’t been a head coach since 2015, but he starts out in our rankings two spots ahead of the man who replaced him at USC. And you can argue that Sark was more underwhelming at USC than Helton has been! Of course, it’s easy to understand why given he’s coming off an extremely successful stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and was a surprise hire.
Sarkisian was the eighth Big 12 coach listed just ahead of Texas Tech’s Matt Wells and Baylor’s Dave Aranda. Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley was understandably the highest ranked coach in the conference at No. 3 overall, while Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and TCU’s Gary Patterson each landed within the top 25.