Texas Football: Where CBS ranked Steve Sarkisian among head coaches?

The ever-growing college football landscape will feature a record 69 teams competing at the Power Five level in 2023, including four new ones that will compete against Texas football in the Big 12. Those 69 teams are led by some of the most notable names in college football. For the eighth consecutive offseason, the writers over at CBS Sports have ranked all 69 Power Five coaches from No. 1 through 69.

Texas’ Steve Sarkisian checks in at No. 37 in the CBS Sports 2023 college football coach rankings. This is two spots higher than his 2022 ranking of No. 39.

Sarkisian was slotted as the eighth highest-ranked coach in the Big 12 behind Sonny Dykes (11), Chris Klieman (12), Mike Gundy (17), Lance Leipold (23), Dave Aranda (28), Gus Malzahn (34), and Matt Campbell (35).

Of Sarkisian, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli wrote:

"“What happens if Quinn Ewers doesn’t get hurt against Alabama? Where does Texas finish, and where is Sark ranked in this alternate universe? We’ll never know. Instead, the Longhorns went 8-5 but were never serious contenders in the Big 12, so Sark moves up two spots and nothing more.”"

Texas football HC Steve Sarkisian slighted a bit by CBS Sports in 2023 coach rankings

I will take some liberty with the last statement from Fornelli.

Texas entered its Nov. 12 Saturday night showdown against No. 4 ranked TCU controlling their own destiny when it came to making a Big 12 title appearance in Arlington. Unfortunately for the Longhorns and Coach Sarkisian, that game went in the Horned Frogs’ favor.

The Longhorns finished the 2022 regular season at 8-4 (6-3) in sole possession of third place in the Big 12. While their 2022 goals were not achieved, I would push back on the notion that Texas and Coach Sark “were never serious contenders in the Big 12.”

That said, I do believe Sarkisian’s ranking of 37 out of 69 Power Five college football head coaches is justified.

These rankings are primarily predicated on what a coach has accomplished in the past. For Sarkisian, that is a 59-47 record in nine years as a Power Five head coach. The latter two years have been in Austin, where Sark has certainly underachieved on the field with a 13-12 mark.

Coach Sarkisian has proven to be an elite recruiter and play-caller. Not many coaches across America rival his prowess in these two areas. That said, those strengths have yet to result in tangible on-field success for the Longhorns.

As Texas fans go through CBS Sports’ complete list of Power Five head coaches, I understand where gripes may arise seeing names such as Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher slotted in the No. 20 spot. While I believe most sane people would prefer Sarkisian leading their program than his advisory in College Station, Fisher has proven himself over his career. With six New Year’s Day bowl appearances and a National Championship in 2013, Fisher is one of the more decorated active head coaches in the sport.

Despite most of his success coming as the head man in Tallahassee, Fisher gets the benefit of the doubt for what he has accomplished over his 13-year head coaching career. Sark does not (and rightfully so).

This is a microcosm of Sarkisian’s tenure thus far at Texas. His first two seasons saw blown leads, sloppy play, and losses against much less talented opponents. He has exhausted his “benefit of the doubt” years and must now prove it on the field with the Longhorns.

If Texas and Coach Sarkisian finish the 2023 season with a Big 12 title and 10+ wins, I would almost guarantee he skyrockets up the 2024 version of these rankings.