Steve Sarkisian took aim at what many considered the weaker schedules in college football last week. The Texas coach said his second- and third-string players could go undefeated against certain opponents’ schedules.
Sarkisian never named Texas Tech directly. But most college football observers immediately connected his comments to the Red Raiders.
The remarks have sparked controversy beyond just scheduling debates. Sports analyst Todd Fuhrman questioned whether Sarkisian’s bold words match Texas’ actual willingness to schedule tough opponents.
“We’ve talked about Texas Tech for a little while about their schedule and lack of strength that they’ll encounter being more than a double-digit favorite in all their games even without Brandon Sorsby. But look if Sark wants to do all of this, Sark needs to make sure that he goes out of his way to give Texas Tech the opportunity to schedule a non-conference game.”
Fuhrman didn’t stop there.
“Because I’ve spoken to people in Lubbock and said that they’ve done everything they can to try and get Texas on their non-conference schedule and go figure the burnt orange will not return their phone call.”
Texas Tech finished the 2025 regular season with just one loss. The Red Raiders avoided most major opponents outside Big 12 play.
Texas faced a much tougher schedule after joining the SEC. The Longhorns battled powerhouse programs like Ohio State throughout the season.
The move to the SEC didn’t pay off for Texas in 2025. They failed to reach 10 wins and missed the College Football Playoff entirely.
Texas fans have defended Sarkisian’s comments about schedule strength. They point to the Longhorns consistently facing elite opponents as justification for the coach’s remarks.
The controversy has intensified tensions between the former Big 12 rivals. Any future matchup between Texas and Texas Tech would now carry significant drama and rivalry energy.
