Steve Sarkisian reveals Texas' focus entering final season in Big 12 Conference

In about a year’s time, Texas will officially be a member of the SEC. Alongside Red River rival Oklahoma, a new era for the program will get underway. Even now, much of the discussion is about how head coach Steve Sarkisian will have his team looking in the new conference.

But there are still at least 12 football games to be played before switching to the SEC. A new-look Big 12 is going to present a challenge to Texas and Sarkisian wants all focus on 2023. Leaving the Big 12 with a conference championship is the goal in Austin. Otherwise, they will leave with their last title occurring in 2009.

“I really don’t hear anything about the SEC from our players,” Sarkisian said. “We’re focused on the Big 12 championship. To think, we’ve won three.”

Sarkisian currently sits at an even .500 in Big 12 play, drastically improving last season with a 6-3 record. In order to head to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas will likely have to improve by one game in conference play at a minimum. 7-2 has consistently been good enough to place you in the game since its rebirth in 2017.

Texas lifted a trophy in the inaugural Big 12 season before waiting nine years for another one in 2005. Mack Brown’s 2009 team was the last one the current drought sits at 13 seasons. If Sarkisian is not able to win the Big 12 title this year, they likely never will again.

As much as staying focused on the present can be preached, there can still be a desire to look ahead. Sarkisian seems to have his team fully focused, claiming it’s been the mindset since the official move was announced.

“It’s really not very difficult,” Sarkisian said. “I’m pretty adamant, and I’ve been this way with our players, I talk about things that are pertinent to them.”

Texas will open conference play against Baylor on Sept. 23 and close out just over two months later against Texas Tech on Nov. 24. Matchups against newcomers Houston and BYU will occur along the way, while Oct. 7 presents the last Big 12 game against Oklahoma.

Soon, historical SEC programs will be littered throughout the schedule. Until then, all focus is on taking down nine Big 12 opponents in the fall. Making the move with one last Big 12 Championship trophy would be quite the mic drop from Texas.

“I know everybody wants to talk about the SEC in 2024 and what our schedule looks like in 24, and who’s playing who, and what pod are you in? That’s ’24. We’re in 2023 and we’re in the Big 12,” Sarkisian said. “I think we all agree nothing would be sweeter, nothing would be better than to be hoisting that trophy in Arlington in early December as Big 12 champion.”