Steve Sarkisian cites Alabama win while making Texas' College Football Playoff case

Texas is still in contention to reach the College Football Playoff entering conference championship weekend. The Longhorns are 11-1 and ranked No. 7 in the CFP poll ahead of Tuesday night’s rankings release.

Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian believes that if Texas takes care of business against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game on Saturday, his team deserves to be in the College Football Playoff.

“Well, I like our resume,” Steve Sarkisian said Tuesday on SportsCenter. “You know, clearly I think our strength of schedule speaks for itself. I think we’ve played quality opponents, from our nonconference schedule all the way through our conference schedule.”

Sarkisian pointed to Texas beating Alabama in Week 2 as a big reason why the Longhorns should make the College Football Playoff.

Sarkisian was previously on staff at Alabama for three seasons and knows how hard it is to win there. He believes the Longhorns deserve more credit for winning in Tuscaloosa than they are getting.

“To me, and I say this because I was at Alabama, to go into Tuscaloosa, Alabama and win by 10 points, where they’re 59-2 in their last 61 games. And the only other team to beat them Was Joe Burrow and LSU, I think that that speaks for itself,” Sarkisian said. “And again, I think to the versatility and depth of our team.”

If Texas doesn’t take care of business against Oklahoma State on Saturday then the Longhorns have no shot at reaching the College Football Playoff. But if they do, Sarkisian believes Texas should be in.

“I’m not here to campaign for us. What I do know is we’ve got to take care of business Saturday, and then hopefully you guys have me on Saturday night, and then I can really start campaigning,” Sarkisian said.

Steve Sarkisian praises Ollie Gordon: ‘He can take it the distance’

Texas is a win over Oklahoma State away from having a real case to make the College Football Playoff.

In order to beat Oklahoma State, the Longhorns are going to have to slow down Cowboys star running back Ollie Gordon.

Sarkisian spoke Tuesday about what kind of challenge Gordon presents.

“I love Ollie Gordon,” Sarkisian said. “I love the way that he plays. He’s a big, physical back, and they utilize him out of the pistol and he runs downhill. But, the thing that he also has is big playability. When he gets in the open field, he can take it the distance.”