Steve Sarkisian reveals whether or not Texas would have won 2009 title if Colt McCoy doesn't get hurt

Even over a decade later, there has been a debate — at least on the Texas side — over the 2009 BCS National Championship. The Longhorns were facing off against Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, where quarterback Colt McCoy went down with a shoulder injury. McCoy was never able to recover and was not able to finish the game.

Texas fans have always said something along the lines of “If Colt wasn’t hurt” and imply they would have won the football game. Current head coach Steve Sarkisian gave his take on the situation, being asked by Alabama’s quarterback in the game, Greg McElroy.

Sarkisian spoke highly of McCoy and the quarterback he has become in the NFL and even hyped up the 2009 Alabama team to McElroy. At the end of the day, Sarkisian is not into playing hypotheticals and knows injuries are just part of the game.

“I am not a hypothetical guy, man,” Sarkisian said. “If you know me from any press conference, I don’t answer the hypotheticals. Two great teams though. It would have been great to see. It would have been fun for everybody to see the game and have Colt play. He was a fantastic player, still is. The guy is still playing in the NFL, which is unbelievable. Goes in for the Cardinals last year and lights it up for like four games.

“I think it would have been great to see. When he wasn’t in there, I think it was a shock for Texas there for about a couple quarters and then try to come back there late. But (Alabama) was a heck of a team that year, man. Physical, tough. So, it is what it is. That’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. It’s football and injuries happen.”

Sarkisian can be considered a neutral party in this scenario, working for both Alabama and Texas. Back during the 2009 season, he was a first-year head coach with the Washington Huskies. So if anyone can take a step back and have an unbiased opinion on the matter, it’s Sarkisian.

McElroy only threw 11 passes on that January night in Pasadena, competing six and going for just 58 yards. At the end of the day, none of that matters. He was able to win Nick Saban’s first national championship in Tuscaloosa, starting the dynasty.

Whether or not McCoy played in the title game, McElroy will still feel the same way about his ring.