Steve Sarkisian on getting Texas to the playoff: 'This is why I came here'

Steve Sarkisian is the coach that finally got Texas back into the national title conversation. For him, though, the Longhorns’ selection in the College Football Playoff is a form of culmination of all that he thought that the program could be.

Sarkisian spoke about the achievement of getting Texas into the playoff during a press conference on Sunday. He said this success is why he came to Austin in the first place. He knew that it was possible to accomplish there from the moment he decided to take the job in 2021.

“It’s why I came here,” said Sarkisian.

“I was referencing this the other day that there became a point when I was at Alabama where I said, ‘Alright, I’m going to be a head coach again. I want to go somewhere where I have a legitimate chance to win championships,'” said Sarkisian. “When this opportunity came? To me, this was the no-brainer because I know what this place can do.”

Sarkisian didn’t run away from the spotlight that comes with his job either. He continued by saying how happy he has been to embrace what people expect of them on The 40 Acres. That, in turn, has made their playoff berth that much sweeter.

“I understand that there’s high expectations and a high standard here for winning championships – but that’s why I came here,” Sarkisian said. “I wasn’t naive to think, ‘Oh, I just get to be a head coach’. Ho-hum, win eight games, and everything is going to be great. You’re brought here to compete for championships year in and year out.”

“So, now, to be here in year three? This is why I came,” said Sarkisian.

Winning the Big 12 and making the College Football Playoff are significant, positive steps for Texas. There’s work left to do, though, with a date with Washington in the Sugar Bowl between them and a shot at their ultimate goal.

Still, Sarkisian isn’t letting what’s left ahead of them take this moment of celebration away from his program and players. They are the reason that they’re here and, because of that, he thanked them for buying into them and bringing Texas back to a championship stage.

“I never wavered off that with our players. I stayed consistent with that through 5-7, through 8-5, and into this season,” said Sarkisian. “Like I said, I’m grateful for our players that they believed in me, the path, and the process that it was going to take to get to this point.”