Steve Sarkisian earns bonus with CFP win against Clemson.
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian is in for a delightful holiday season, and his bank account will certainly be delighted.
The Longhorns’ victory over Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday has secured Sarkisian another $250,000 in bonus money.
In addition to the bonus, Sarkisian has received a substantial $10.3 million salary in 2024. He ranks third in compensation, behind the likes of Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney and, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, both of which top Sarkisian based on public compensation information. Notably, his salary is slated to increase by $100,000 annually, culminating in a maximum salary of $10.9 million in 2030.
Sarkisian’s bonus structure is below:
$100,000 for participating in a bowl not associated with the College Football Playoff
$250,000 for making CFP first round
$500,000 for making CFP quarterfinal
$750,000 for making CFP semifinal
$1 million for making CFP national championship
$1.25 million for winning the CFP national championship
This season alone, Sarkisian has already amassed a total of $650,000 in performance-related bonuses. Earlier this month, he secured an additional $250,000 for qualifying in the first round of the College Football Playoff. A week prior to that, he earned an additional $150,000 for securing the Longhorns’ spot in the SEC championship game.
Included in Steve Sarkisian's new contract at Texas:
• Two cars • Private jet • Game tickets • Country club membership • 2024: $10.3 million • 2025: $10.4 million • 2026: $10.5 million • 2027: $10.6 million • 2028: $10.7 million • 2029: $10.8 million • 2030: $10.9… pic.twitter.com/SPAGTL8k3i
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian refuses to answer Quinn Ewers question.
Texas Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian is known for withholding information about players’ injuries until all the details are available. Sarkisian avoids speculation and sticks to the facts, which is a common practice in today’s sports world.
During a media availability session on Thursday, beat reporter Anwar Richardson asked Sarkisian about the impact of Quinn Ewers on the team. As Richardson was asking his question, he mentioned that this might be Ewers’ final game with the Longhorns. Sarkisian abruptly cut him off, saying, “I’m not doing hypotheticals, next one.”
There used to be a time when things like this bothered me. But I’m at peace. I have a lot of respect @BobbyBurtonOTF I have nothing against @CJVogel_OTF You won’t get any negativity from me. One love! https://t.co/Ls232sZHzt
Sarkisian refused to address the hypothetical scenario but did touch on the impact that Ewers has had on the team. It was a valid question that Richardson was attempting to ask. If Texas loses the game, Ewers will have a decision to make.
While many reports suggest that he has already made his choice and is headed to the NFL Draft, early projections by USA TODAY Sports indicate that he could be selected in the second round.
The Texas Longhorns will face the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Darrell K. Royal Stadium in Austin at 3:00 pm CT.
Sarkisian has great things to say about Dabo Swinney and the Tigers.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian had nothing but praise for Clemson and head coach Dabo Swinney as the Tigers prepare to face the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff. Speaking earlier this week, Sarkisian credited Swinney’s leadership and Clemson’s culture for the Tigers’ ability to fight through adversity and return to the national stage.
“They’ve faced some adversity this year,” Sarkisian said. “But I think the way Dabo leads that program, it’s clear why they’ve been able to turn things around. It speaks volumes about the culture he’s built there.”
Clemson (10-3), the No. 12 seed in the inaugural 12-team playoff, secured its spot with a gritty 34-31 win over SMU in the ACC Championship Game. Despite being underdogs heading into their matchup against No. 5 Texas (11-2), the Tigers remain confident. Swinney believes his team hasn’t played its best football yet and sees the playoff as an opportunity to finally put together a complete game.
Sarkisian isn’t taking the Tigers lightly. “That’s a championship program,” he said. “They’re always competitive, and you can see they’re peaking at the right time. We’re going to have to play really well to come out on top.”
Clemson is embracing an “us against the world” mentality as it travels to Austin. This mindset has fueled the Tigers throughout the season, especially as doubters questioned whether they deserved a playoff spot. Swinney’s squad is determined to prove they belong, just as they did in the ACC title game.
“Anytime you face a team like Clemson, you know it’s going to be a battle,” Sarkisian added. “They’re well-coached, disciplined, and have the talent to compete with anyone.”
Saturday’s game, set for 4 p.m. at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, will showcase two proud programs aiming for a spot in the semifinals. Texas brings one of the nation’s best defenses, while Clemson hopes its experience and resilience will give the Tigers an edge in a hostile environment. Both teams know there’s no room for error with the high stakes.
Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian explains the Longhorns’ red zone struggles, failure to stop UGA’s fake punt
The Texas Longhorns and coach Steve Sarkisian lost their first SEC championship game appearance to the Georgia Bulldogs. Texas fell, 22-19, in the first SEC title game to go to overtime.
Texas’ loss means the Longhorns don’t have a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Instead, Texas, which is the No. 5 seed, will play the 12th-seeded Clemson Tigers.
Sarkisian laments missed opportunities
“I think the challenge in games like this is to maximize the opportunities when you get them. In the first half we had some great opportunities and we just couldn’t capitalize the way we would have liked,” said Sarkisian.
“Clearly the penalties were an issue in the first half where we stalled out on some things and for the in some third-and-longs and whatnot. Our defense played a fantastic first half. I think it was like 260 yards to 54. But the score was 6-3. Clearly we weren’t capitalizing on the opportunities we had.”
Texas’ offense moved the ball more consistently than Georgia, but the Longhorns totaled three turnovers and 11 penalties for 94 yards. Texas struggled blocking Georgia’s front seven and allowed six sacks while only accumulating 31 rushing yards on 28 attempts.
Sarkisian unhappy with Texas’ high red zone offense
Texas Longhorns place kicker Bert Auburn converted four of six field goal attempts against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game. Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Texas drove the ball inside Georgia’s 25 yardline on five different occasions. The Longhorns always seemed to stall once the field shrank around the red zone. Texas scored just one touchdown and settled for six field goal attempts including one in overtime.
“At the end of the day we weren’t effective enough in the high red (area) to put touchdowns on the board. I think that in and of itself was probably a microcosm of the game because we had plenty of opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them,” said Sarkisian.
Sacks and penalties plagued Texas around the red zone.
On Georgia’s fake punt
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“We had a return set up,” said Sarkisian on Georgia’s fake punt. “They ran a motion. I thought we actually defended it relatively well. … We lost some of our edge containment there.”
“The kid (Arian Smith) they flipped the ball to is a 10 200-meter guy. I know him well, recruited him out of high school. It turns into a foot race at that moment. It wasn’t like we got completely duped and had no clue,” continued Sarkisian. “Nice play by them. Good execution.”
On UGA’s red zone defense
Butch Dill/Getty Images
“They’re a good football team. They’ve got good schemes, good players. There were a couple bang-bang plays we weren’t able to get. I think the negative plays kind of hurt us when we got there (to the red zone),” said Sarkisian. “The overtime was kind of a microcosm of the game. We couldn’t put the ball in the end zone. We had to settle for a field goal. That opened the door for them to score and win the ballgame.”
“If we’re fortunate enough to see them again, we’re going to have to improve in that area,” Sarkisian noted.
Sark didn’t have much to say, but he made his point clearly.
Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian apparently didn’t have too much to say at halftime during the SEC championship game, but in just 12 words, he still slammed the game’s officiating.
With a 6-3 lead over No. 5 Georgia, the No. 2 Longhorns collected eight first-half penalties for 80 yards, while the Bulldogs had two for 19 yards before the break. Obviously, eight first-half penalties is not great, and an extra sting was attached to some, like a pair of penalties forcing two Texas interceptions on Georgia quarterback Carson Beck to be called back.
ESPN’s Laura Rutledge led with a question about penalties during her halftime interview with Sarkisian, who kept his comments brief but definitely made his feelings known.
Rutledge: Coach, eight penalties in this first half. How do you get your team to clean some of that up?
Sarkisian: Well, hopefully they call them for holding one of these times too.
That’s it. That was the whole interview, which ended with a very awkward silence as Rutledge was clearly giving Sarkisian room to elaborate and the Longhorns coach obviously not being interested.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian utilized a really nifty trick play to pick up a big fourth down against Georgia in Saturday’s SEC championship game in Atlanta.
Needing just a yard to keep a drive going early in the second quarter, Sarkisian drew up a fake quarterback sneak that snapped the ball directly to running back Jaydon Blue instead of giving it to Quinn Ewers for the push.
Blue made it nearly untouched around Georgia’s defense to pick up the first down.
The play call was brilliant and rather innovative, and we won’t be surprised to see this one used in the NFL sooner than later. It takes a great snap from the center to pull it off, but the reward is key yardage to keep the drive alive.
Here’s where every former Nick Saban assistant ranks in our 2024 college football head coach rankings.
It’s a great time of year for college football. The biggest games of October are behind us and teams in the Power Four conferences are gearing up for the final stretch of the regular season in November before conference championship games land on the first week of December.
From there, it’s on to the 12-team College Football Playoff. Whether or not one of those teams are the Alabama Crimson Tide, there are going to be some former members of Nick Saban’s expansive coaching tree leading their own respective programs to the playoff.
After Week 9’s slate of games, we rank members of the Saban coaching tree who are head coaches at the FBS level based on how their teams have performed so far this season, along with salary information from the USA TODAY Sports College Football Head Coach Salaries Database.
Note that private schools are not required to release salaries, bonuses, etc. Here are the 14 coaches in order from the up-and-comers to the top of the list.
14. Jim McElwain (Central Michigan Chippewas)
Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Central Michigan: 32-33
2024 Record: 3-5
Week 9 Game: Miami OH 46, Central Michigan 7
2024 Salary: $1,048,493
Three of the Chippewas’ five losses this season have been by 21 or more points, including their 46-7 blowout loss to the RedHawks over the weekend. With the type of salary McElwain is being paid in Year Six at Central Michigan, it’s time the school reassesses.
13. Mike Locksley (Maryland Terrapins)
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Maryland: 33-37
2024 Record: 4-4
Week 9 Game: Minnesota 48, Maryland 23
2024 Salary: $5.8 million
While Maryland is a tough place to win, especially in a crowded, top-heavy Big Ten, the results just aren’t there for Locksley in Year Six in College Park. The Terps dropped their third game in the last four over the weekend and sit at 4-4. With games against the Oregon Ducks, Iowa Hawkeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions still on the schedule, getting to a fourth straight bowl game is far from a given.
12. Billy Napier (Florida Gators)
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Florida: 14-17
2024 Record: 4-3
Week 9 Game: Bye
2024 Salary: $7.3 million
The Gators have won three of their last four games and have climbed up USA TODAY Sports’ re-ranking of all 134 FBS teams (they’re currently No. 44). But unless Florida can finish strong, which would include pulling massive upsets against either Georgia or Texas, then LSU and Ole Miss, it’s likely too late for Napier to save his job. A better bet is the Gators drop all four before their annual rivalry game with Florida State.
11. Major Applewhite (South Alabama Jaguars)
Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Overall/Current Record at South Alabama: 4-4
Week 9 Game: South Alabama 46, UL Monroe 17
2024 Salary: $825,000
South Alabama is in a position to fight for a Sun Belt title in Applewhite’s first season. The Jags are 3-1 in conference play after handing ULM its first Sun conference loss of the year. South Alabama has big games against Georgia Southern and Louisiana on its November slate, two programs that are also vying for a chance at the conference sweepstakes.
10. Butch Jones (Arkansas State Red Wolves)
Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Record at Arkansas State: 16-29
2024 Record: 5-3
Week 9 Game: Arkansas State 34, Troy 31
2024 Salary: $825,000
Year 4 at Arkansas State could be a turning point for Jones, whose team improved to 5-3 after its third win in the last four games. With a bye this week, the Red Wolves have a huge game in Sun Belt play against Louisiana on Nov. 9. A win in Lafayette would give Arkansas State a big boost toward playing for a conference championship.
9. Charles Huff (Marshall Thundering Herd)
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Record at Marshall: 26-20
2024 Record: 4-3
Week 9 Game: Bye
2024 Salary: $755,500
Marshall’s 21-point fourth-quarter collapse against Georgia Southern on Oct. 12 is the only thing standing between the Herd and an unbeaten record in Sun Belt play.
8. Bill O’Brien (Boston College Eagles)
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Overall/Current Record at Boston College: 4-4
Week 9 Game: Louisville 31, Boston College 27
2024 Salary: Private
The Eagles have dropped three straight since their 4-1 start. They have a bye this Saturday, then host longtime rival Syracuse on Nov. 9. With games against two Top 25 opponents in Pitt and SMU in November, the Eagles’ synch for a bowl berth may not be as tight as once expected.
7. Lance Taylor (Western Michigan Broncos)
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Record at Western Michigan: 9-11
2024 Record: 5-3
Week 9 Game: Western Michigan 52, Kent State 21
2024 Salary: $850,000
The Broncos improved to 4-0 in MAC play last Saturday with a win over a Kent State program that is widely regarded as the worst in the FBS ranks this year. In just his second season in Kalamazoo, Taylor has Western Michigan positioned to win a conference title. Following a bye this Saturday, the Broncos will look to run the table against Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Eastern Michigan in November.
6. Brent Key (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Georgia Tech: 16-14
2024 Record: 5-4
Week 9 Game: Virginia Tech 21, Georgia Tech 6
2024 Salary: $2.9 million
Georgia Tech became bowl-eligible in Key’s second year in Atlanta in 2023, marking their first postseason berth since 2018. The Yellow Jackets are coming off back-to-back losses (to Notre Dame and Virginia Tech) but have a chance to play spoiler against Miami when the Hurricanes visit Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 9. Tech also has a promising start on its 2025 recruiting class, ranking No. 17 nationally by 247Sports.
5. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss Rebels)
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Ole Miss: 40-17
2024 Record: 6-2
Week 9 Game: Ole Miss 26, Oklahoma 14
2024 Salary: $9 million
Kiffin hasn’t been able to win the big one yet, but the time he’s spent at a historically underwhelming SEC program has been worth what Ole Miss is paying him. The Rebels’ Week 9 win over Oklahoma wasn’t pretty, but the team got it done in the second half and kept their slim Playoff hopes alive. They face the Arkansas Razorbacks this week in Fayetteville before a must-win game in Oxford against Georgia on Nov. 9.
4. Mario Cristobal (Miami Hurricanes)
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Miami: 20-13
2024 Record: 8-0
Week 9 Game: Miami 36, Florida State 14
2024 Salary: $7.7 million
Is “The U” really back? Or will “Little ol’ Clemson ” be the cream of the ACC’s crop once the dust settles in Charlotte on Dec. 7? For now, Cristobal has the ‘Canes at 8-0 after some close calls (literally) against both Virginia Tech and Cal. Beyond what Miami does against Clemson or in the 12-team Playoff (if they get there), I’m curious to see whether the Hurricanes can become the new standard in the ACC — or if this is simply a good team having a one-off year in a down conference similar to Florida State’s 2023 squad.
3. Curt Cignetti (Indiana Hoosiers)
Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti during practice at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Overall/Current Record at Indiana: 8-0
Week 9 Game: Indiana 31, Washington 17
2024 Salary: $4.25 million
Cignetti has the Hoosiers off to their best start in almost 60 years (1967). His program just hosted “College GameDay” in Week 9, and the Hoosiers have thrust themselves squarely into the College Football Playoff conversation. Indiana’s Nov. 23 trip to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes is shaping up to have a Game of the Year type feeling in the Big Ten.
2. Steve Sarkisian (Texas Longhorns)
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Texas: 32-15
2024 Record: 7-1
Week 9 Game: Texas 27, Vanderbilt 24
2024 Salary: $10.6 million
Vanderbilt was looking to add another top-ranked team to their hit list, three weeks after their upset win over Alabama. Instead, Texas bounced back from a double-digit loss to Georgia with a quality road win against a Top 25 opponent, shaking off an early interception by Quinn Ewers and some other sloppy play (10 penalties and four sacks allowed).
1. Kirby Smart (Georgia Bulldogs)
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Record at Georgia: 100-17
2024 Record: 6-1
Week 9 Game: Bye
2024 Salary: $13,282,580
Smart tops our rankings entering November based on the total body of work this season. The Bulldogs have bounced back strong after their 41-34 loss to Alabama on Sept. 28. Georgia’s 30-15 victory over Texas on Oct. 19 in Austin sent a message that the road to Atlanta still runs through Athens.
Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian shares what he said to officials during the controversial waived penalty against Georgia
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian did not think Texas played its best game against the Georgia Bulldogs, but Sarkisian gives a lot of credit to UGA.
“Unfortunately we didn’t play our best football tonight,” said Sarkisian. “But we were still competitive. Hopefully we get another crack at (Georgia).”
Georgia and Texas could meet in the SEC championship game. Georgia holds a tiebreaker edge over Texas and is higher in the SEC standings than the Longhorns, but both teams only have one SEC loss.
“That’s a good football team. Credit to Kirby and their staff and their players being ready to go in the first half. And like I said, they’ve been the standard in college football now for about five, six, seven years,” Sarkisian said.
Georgia has won two national championships over the last three seasons, but the Bulldogs played with a sense of desperation and desire that Texas could not match on Saturday.
“I thought we played them really well in the second half. But we just, when you get behind the eight ball with the way we played the first half, it’s a lot to overcome,” added Sarkisian.
Georgia outscored Texas 23-0 in the first half. Texas made the game interesting in the second half, but never threatened to take a lead. The Longhorns lost 30-15.
“I was literally just asking the official what he saw to warrant DPI (defensive pass interference). And then at that moment, the trash came on the field,” said Sarkisian on the conversation the officials during the controversial penalty reversal.
“All of us, Longhorn Nation, I know we can be better than that. The fact that we’re able to get that stopped and get that taken care of and then regroup, then they overturn that call, give us an opportunity to get a short field and punch one in and close it to a one-score game,” continued Sarkisian.
Texas’ touchdown following the interception cut Georgia’s lead to eight points. However, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and the Bulldogs marched down the field to retake a 15-point lead on the next drive.
Georgia’s offense was not the problem for the Longhorns. The Bulldogs relied on their defense, which forced four Texas turnovers to set up the Georgia offense.
Linebackers Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams headline Georgia’s ferocious pass rush, which totaled seven sacks and prevented Texas from finding any offensive rhythm.
“I think No. 13 (Williams) being healthy helped them. He hadn’t played there for a while. I think he played nine snaps last week and then came back tonight ready to go, and he’s a problem,” said Sarkisian.
“No. 11 (Walker) is a physical player off the edge as well at linebacker,” added Sarkisian. Walker finished the first half with three sacks and seven tackles.
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“You don’t have the top one or two recruiting classes in the country for six straight years and not have good defensive personnel,” said Sarkisian. “They’ve got good players, and like I said, they’ve got a good scheme.”
Steve Sarkisian and Kirby Smart threw understandable sideline tantrums over pass interference calls.
Things got heated and controversial late in the third quarter of No. 5 Georgia’s road game against No. 1 Texas on Saturday.
After a dominant first half, the Bulldogs had a 23-8 lead over the Longhorns through much of the third quarter. On third-and-10 from Georgia’s 31-yard line, Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron picked off quarterback Carson Beck and returned it 36 yards just nine shy of completing a pick-six.
But officials called it back for a pass interference flag against Texas, which outraged the fans at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. So they threw water bottles and maybe other things on the field.
After Texas coach Steve Sarkisian went over to the crowd and told them to stop, he returned to the sideline and had a proper tantrum over the questionable penalty.
The game didn’t immediately resume, and eventually, after a notably long amount of time and the field was cleaned up, officials reversed the penalty call back in Texas’ favor. So then it was time for Georgia coach Kirby Smart to lose his cool on the officials.
Controversy in the third quarter of Georgia-Texas benefited the Longhorns
A wild scene in the third quarter in Austin on Saturday night.
It appeared as if Texas had intercepted Carson Beck for the third time.
However, a penalty flag for pass interference led to a storm of water bottles being thrown on the field from the Texas student section delaying the game with Georgia.
It’s raining beer cans and water bottles in Texas vs Georgia after a horrible pass interference call
However, while the field was being cleaned and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian pleaded with the students to sop throwing bottles, officials got together and what came out of it was the referee saying the Jahdae Barron interception was good and it was Texas football at the Georgia nine.
After cans start flying onto the field during Texas vs Georgia, Coach Sark walks onto the field asking fans to stop pic.twitter.com/AqcxBwZKX7
