AUSTIN, TX – In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, the University of Texas announced late Tuesday night the termination of Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately. The decision comes on the heels of a season that, despite moments of brilliance, ultimately fell short of the sky-high expectations that perpetually surround the Longhorns football program.
Sources close to the university indicate that the growing frustration among the fan base, coupled with an inability to consistently convert high-level talent into on-field dominance, ultimately led to Athletic Director Chris Del Conte’s decision. While Sarkisian did achieve significant milestones during his tenure, including a Big 12 Championship in 2023 and two consecutive College Football Playoff semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 season’s performance was deemed unacceptable.
“This was not an easy decision,” Del Conte stated in a press conference held at the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center this morning, his voice somber but resolute. “Steve Sarkisian is a good man and a talented coach. He brought a tremendous amount of energy and dedication to this program, and we are grateful for his contributions, particularly leading us to a Big 12 title and two playoff berths. However, the University of Texas demands sustained excellence, and after a thorough evaluation of the 2025 season, we believe it is time for a change in leadership to achieve our long-term objectives.”
Sarkisian, who took over the reins of the Longhorns in 2021, leaves Austin with an overall record of 38-17. His tenure was marked by an initial rebuilding phase, going 5-7 in 2021, followed by an 8-5 improvement in 2022. The 2023 season, where the Longhorns went 12-2 and won the Big 12, offered a glimpse of the program’s potential. They followed that up with a 13-3 record in 2024, tying a school record for wins and making another CFP appearance. The 2025 season, however, saw the team regress, struggling to find consistency and losing several critical games. While the full 2025 season record has not been officially released, whispers of underperformance and a failure to capitalize on a highly touted roster have circulated for weeks.
“The standard at Texas is national championships,” Del Conte emphasized, directly addressing the lofty aspirations of the Longhorn faithful. “We have the resources, the fan base, and the commitment to compete at the very highest level of college football. We will now embark on a national search to find a leader who can not only recruit and develop elite talent but also instill the discipline, strategic vision, and winning culture necessary to consistently contend for and win national titles.”
The firing comes as a surprise to some, given Sarkisian’s recent successes and the program’s increasing recruiting prowess. Under his guidance, the Longhorns attracted top-tier talent, evidenced by breaking school records for NFL Combine invites in both 2024 (11 players) and 2025 (14 players). The highly anticipated takeover of the starting quarterback position by rising superstar Arch Manning, following Quinn Ewers’ departure for the NFL, was expected to usher in a new era of dominance. However, it appears that even a strong recruiting pipeline wasn’t enough to secure Sarkisian’s future.
The pressure on the Texas football program is immense, particularly with its recent entry into the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The move to college football’s most competitive conference has only amplified the demand for immediate and sustained success. The university’s wealthy donor base and successful NIL collectives have fueled an expectation that Texas should be a perennial contender. Recent reports, albeit conflicting, about the Longhorns’ astronomical spending on NIL further highlight the stakes involved.
The search for Sarkisian’s successor is expected to be swift and thorough, with university officials aiming to have a new head coach in place as soon as possible to minimize disruption to recruiting and team preparations. Speculation is already running rampant across social media and sports networks regarding potential candidates. Names of prominent coaches from successful programs, as well as rising stars in the coaching ranks, are being floated as the athletic department begins its arduous task of identifying the next leader to restore the Longhorn football program’s glory.
Longhorn Nation, known for its passionate support and demanding expectations, awaits with bated breath to see who will be tasked with guiding their beloved team back to the pinnacle of college football. The pressure is on Del Conte and the university leadership to make a hire that will unite the fan base and deliver the consistent winning that has long been the hallmark of the Texas football program. The burnt orange faithful are hungry for a return to dominance, and the coming weeks will undoubtedly shape the future of Texas football.
