Texas’ Steve Sarkisian Doubts Undefeated Champions in Modern College Football Playoff Era

The Texas Longhorns are riding high after reaching the College Football Playoff for two straight seasons, but head coach Steve Sarkisian is pumping the brakes on sky-high expectations. With projections buzzing about another playoff run in 2025, Sarkisian dismissed the idea of an undefeated national champion, saying, "I don’t think we’ll see an undefeated champion." His reasoning? The grueling modern college football season makes a perfect 16-0 record nearly impossible. "It’s so difficult to stay healthy for so long," he noted during SEC Spring Meetings, half-joking that a team pulling off such a feat deserves a statue.

The expanded 12-team playoff format, introduced last season, stretches teams to their limits. A squad could play 12 regular-season games, a conference championship, and then three more playoff games to claim the title—a marathon that tests depth and durability. Reflecting on his days coaching at Southern California in 2003, Sarkisian marveled at how far the sport has come. "We went from a two-team playoff to four, and now this," he said, emphasizing that the system now gives the best teams a fair shot, but the season’s length is brutal. Last year, Texas played 16 games just to reach the semifinals, falling to Ohio State.

Sarkisian also addressed the hype around quarterback Arch Manning, who steps into the starting role after Quinn Ewers’ leap to the NFL. "Arch is a great player, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves," he cautioned, urging fans to let Manning enjoy his moment. "This is his lifelong dream." Texas’ recent playoff journey saw them edge Arizona State in a double-overtime thriller but fall short against the Buckeyes. With Manning at the helm, the Longhorns aim to push deeper in 2025, but Sarkisian’s message is clear: perfection is a tall order in today’s game.