Steve Sarkisian named Bear Bryant Coach of the Year finalist

Texas Football head coach Steve Sarkisian has been named a finalist for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the American Heart Association announced Wednesday. It’s the second-straight season Sarkisian, who has led the Longhorns to back-to-back College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal appearances, has been selected as a finalist for the award.

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Sarkisian has led the Longhorns to an 13-2 record, an SEC Championship Game appearance and his Longhorns are the only program to advance to the CFP in each of the last two seasons. The Horns are set to face No. 6/7/6 Ohio State in the CFP semifinals and the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With a 39-31 (2OT) win over No. 10/10/12 Arizona State in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Texas claimed the program’s first 13-win season since 2009 while tying the program record in single-season victories. It’s just the third 13-win season in program history (2005, 2009). Texas also has back-to-back 12-plus win seasons for the first time since 2008-09. It’s the program’s fifth 12-plus win season (2005, 2008, 2009, 2023, 2024). The Horns sport an 11-game true road game winning streak – the longest active streak by an FBS team. Since the start of the 2023 season, Texas is 25-4 with only four losses against AP top-12 opponents. Texas has also won 13 of its last 15 conference matchups and carries an 18-3 record at home over the last three seasons with its three losses coming against top-five ranked foes (No. 5/4 Georgia on Oct. 19, No. 1/1 Alabama in 2022 and No. 4/4 TCU in 2022).

Under Sarkisian’s guidance, Texas’ offense ranks No. 6 in the FBS in first down offense (334), 10th in completion percentage (66.5 percent), 15th in total offense (448.9 ypg), 15th in team passing efficiency (156.23), 15th in passing offense (278.5), 17th in total offense (443.9 ypg) and 21st in scoring offense (34.3 ppg). The Texas offense has rushed for over 100 yards in 12-of-15 games, and three different Longhorn running backs have each registered at least one 100-yard effort. Through 15 games, Texas’ offense is averaging 6.3 yards per play. UT is averaging 165.5 yards on the ground per game and 4.5 yards per carry with 26 rushing scores. The Longhorns have scored on 38 passing touchdowns.

Junior left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a unanimous first-team All-America selection, became the first Longhorn to win both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in the same season. It marked the second-straight year, and fifth time overall, the Longhorns have claimed the Outland Trophy with defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat earning the honor last season. Texas is the first school to claim back-to-back Outland Trophies since Nebraska won three in a row in 1981-83, but UT is the only program to have back-to-back winners on both sides of the ball.

Junior QB Quinn Ewers, a second-team All-SEC performer and finalist for the Manning Award, has completed 270-of-406 passes (66.5 percent) for 3,189 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 245.31 yards per contest in 13 starts. Ewers sits 13th in the FBS in passing touchdowns (26), 22nd in completion percentage (66.5 percent), 26th in completions per game (20.83), and 28th in passing efficiency (148). Ewers boasts a 26-game passing touchdown streak – the longest active streak by an FBS quarterback and the second-longest streak in program history behind Colt McCoy’s program-record 29 games. The Southlake, Texas, product ranks third in the program’s record book in passing touchdowns (66) and passing yards (8,845), respectively.

The Longhorns boast one of the nation’s most elite and dominant defenses in 2024. Texas ranks second in the FBS in turnovers gained (30), passes intercepted (21) and team passing efficiency defense (101.26). The Longhorns rank third in the FBS in passing yards allowed this season, surrendering an average of 166.1 yards per game, third in red zone defense (0.676), fourth in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), ninth in 3rd-down conversion percentage defense (0.315), 14th in rushing defense (111.5 ypg) and 15th in both team sacks (2.93) and team tackles for loss (7.2). UT also leads the nation in opponent passing yards per attempt, restraining opposing teams to just 5.46 yards per attempt, along with ranking second in passing yards per completion (9.3). Texas, along with Ohio State, limited opponents to just four passing touchdowns during the regular season – the lowest in the FBS. Texas’ eight passing touchdowns surrendered are the fewest by an FBS team that has played in 15 or more games.

Senior defensive back Jahdae Barron, who has also earned consensus first-team All-America praise, became the program’s third Jim Thorpe Award winner this season. Barron is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the nation, consistently playing multiple positions in the Texas defensive backfield, while providing leadership as a fifth-year veteran. Through 15 games, the Austin, Texas, native leads the Longhorns in interceptions (5) and pass break-ups (11) to go along with 61 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. Barron paces the SEC and ranks fourth in the FBS in total interceptions this season.

Sarkisian is also a finalist for the 2024 George Munger Award.

Sarkisian is one of eight finalists for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston during an awards ceremony presented by Marathon Oil. The event will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

2024 Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award Finalists

Shane Beamer – South Carolina

Curt Cignetti – Indiana

Spencer Danielson – Boise State

Kenny Dillingham – Arizona State

Marcus Freeman – Notre Dame

Rhett Lashlee – SMU

Jeff Monken – Army

Steve Sarkisian – Texas

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Up next, the Sarkisian and the Longhorns travel to Arlington, Texas, for the CFP Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl against No. 6/7/6 Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at AT&T Stadium. The game will air on ESPN with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) on the call. ESPN’s College GameDay will also broadcast live from the Cotton Bowl from 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday.

(via Texas release)