Steve Sarkisian: Texas isn't shying away from expectations

Texas‘ expectations are through the roof heading into the 2023 season — and according to head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns are completely embracing the pressure.

“I chose to be the head coach of the University of Texas, and our players chose to come to the University of Texas. With that comes the responsibility and the expectations that come with that,” Sarkisian said during Big 12 media day. “We don’t shy away from that. We accept it. We have to acknowledge it. Then we push it to the side, and then we get back to the daily grind of what we need to do.

“I think we’ve got a mature enough team to respect what you guys think of us, but at the end of the day, now we have to go back to work. Expectations are just that. What will ultimately define us is how we play on Saturdays, and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.”

At the heart of that effort is Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Having an up-and-down first year in Austin, Ewers finished the season passing for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 starts. Texas finished 6-4 in Ewers’ 10 starts, but the Longhorns and Ewers are expected to be improved this year.

Texas also returned its two leading receivers in Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington. In 2022, the two combined for 1,372 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns — nine of which were provided by Worthy. They are joined by transfer AD Mitchell, who joins the Longhorns after two national championship seasons at Georgia. 

There, Mitchell caught 38 passes for 560 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. Of course, Mitchell will always live on in Georgia history — catching a go-ahead touchdown pass in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Alabama.

With just one season remaining in the Big 12, Texas has a rare opportunity to solidify itself and regain its reputation as a national power heading into its transition into the Southeastern Conference. Adding the conference realignment along with the expanding 12-team College Football Playoffs, and jokes of Texas being “back,” could be a thing of the past if the Longhorns’ upward trend continues as expected.

The Longhorns will kick off their 2023 college football campaign on Sept. 2 against Rice, but Sept. 9’s matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide will prove where the Longhorns really are actually back — for real this time.