Three Things from Sark: Playoff contention, the challenge of Oklahoma State, transfer portal process

Steve Sarkisian‘s team is 11-1 and has the chance not only to go 12-1, but also to win a Big 12 title and solidify its status as a College Football Playoff contender.

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Sarkisian was available to the media on Monday to preview the Longhorns’ game with the Oklahoma State Cowboys and look back on the 2023 season. Here are three things to know from his meeting with the press.

CFP Contender?

The College Football Playoff selection committee won’t release its penultimate rankings of the season until Tuesday night, but there’s a chance the Longhorns could rise if the Ohio State Buckeyes drop behind the currently No. 7 Longhorns.

And with a win on Saturday, Texas could finalize the resume of a team the committee could find to be one of the top four in the nation.

Does Sarkisian think his team is a CFP contender?

“I don’t know why I wouldn’t think we’re a College Football Playoff contender,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll talk more about that, I’m sure, after the game Saturday. But we’re in great position.”

It’ll take a win on Saturday, something Sarkisian didn’t want to be lost in the conversation about the top four, the top six, or the top eight.

“What I also know is we have to take care of our business like I touched on Friday,” Sarkisian said. “We have a huge game in front of us here Saturday, and there’s no College Football Playoff talk if we don’t play really good Saturday and try to find a way to win that game. If that happens, then there’s a discussion to be had.”

The opponent the Longhorns are set to face is the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who started 2-2 but finished 7-1 with wins over Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Kansas to finish second in the Big 12. The Longhorns didn’t face OSU during their final regular season slate in the Big 12, but Sarkisian thought it peculiar his team’s final matchup in the conference would be against a team remaining in the league instead of the Oklahoma Sooners.

“At this point in this stage, and we’ve been on this kick all year, we’ve been focused on what we need to do and have been enamored with what we need to do,” Sarkisian said. “I think in a unique way, it’s kind of fitting that we’re playing Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game knowing we didn’t get an opportunity to play each other in the regular season.”

Sarkisian on the Cowboys

Even with the 2-2 start and the loss to South Alabama, Sarkisian spoke highly of Mike Gundy‘s team. The Cowboy offense is led by Ollie Gordon, who leads the nation in rushing at 1580 yards, and Sarkisian knows it’ll take a spirited effort to stop No. 0. Sarkisian said Gordon gets the hard yards and can make the big plays behind a variety of schemes.

“Ollie Gordon is a heck of a player, and they have done a great job offensively of leaning into him,” Sarkisian said. “He really signifies who their team is. I feel like he gets stronger as the game goes on like a lot of big, physical backs do.”

Some of the things Sarkisian said about Tahj Brooks applied to Gordon, including needing multiple players to get him on the ground.

“Your defensive line, your linebackers have to do a great job of fitting those things,” Sarkisian said. “Then you have to tackle him. Generally with a guy like him, one guy is not enough. Our ability to populate the ball Saturday and make sure we’re fitting these runs right is going to be really critical.”

On the other side of the ball, Sarkisian noted the quality of OSU linebackers Nickolas Martin, Collin Oliver, and Xavier Benson, saying they make up the best linebacking corps the Longhorns have faced all season.

“They’ve got three very, very good linebackers who impact the game,” Sarkisian said. “They rush the quarterback extremely well. They tackle really well. They force turnovers really well. They fly around the field. Those three guys, Oliver, Benson, Martin, they’re big time players.”

Those players make up a roster who can play up to competition, as seen often throughout the course of Big 12 play.

“I know what they’re capable of, and they’re capable of being a very dangerous team, one that can play at a very high level and match the quality of the opponent,” Sarkisian said.

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Portal process

The transfer portal fully opens on Monday for most players around the country. And players who have had their head coach fired or are graduate transfers can enter at any time and still be immediately eligible for the following season at their next destination.

Sarkisian admitted while he’d like to be able to scout the portal, he’d leave that up to his personnel department while he gave his “undivided attention” to the Big 12 Championship.

Still he understands his program will be shopping in the portal for some positions and scouting for physical ability, scheme fit, and character fit.

“I think we have a pretty good idea and understanding of where we’re going to potentially have some depth concerns at a couple of positions that we’ll monitor,” Sarkisian said. “If a player goes in, then we’ll start the evaluation process.”