**“‘\$40 Million and Still No Title’: Analyst Johnny Mocks Steve Sarkisian as Texas Longhorns Fail to Turn Record Spending into Championship Success”**

The University of Texas has long prided itself on its football tradition, massive fanbase, and seemingly unlimited resources. In a sport where money increasingly talks, the Longhorns have made it clear they’re not just here to participate—they’re here to dominate. At least, that’s the message being sent by a football budget that reportedly exceeds \$40 million, the highest in the nation. Yet, for all the fanfare, for all the five-star recruits, for all the NIL collectives and investment in staff, facilities, and branding, one glaring reality remains: Texas hasn’t won a national title in football since 2005. And it’s not just fans or rival schools pointing that out—it’s analysts too. One particularly blunt voice, known as Analyst Johnny, has recently turned the spotlight on head coach Steve Sarkisian and the program as a whole, ridiculing their inability to turn financial dominance into on-field glory.

Johnny didn’t pull punches. In a recent segment, he laughed off Texas’s \$40 million roster and described Sarkisian’s efforts as “paying top dollar for a mid-tier return.” The implication was clear—Texas might be winning in the booster battles, in NIL agreements, and on social media, but when it comes to delivering championships, the results just don’t match the investment. He went further, noting that schools with a fraction of Texas’s budget, like Washington and TCU, have found themselves in the College Football Playoff or knocking on its door in recent years. The comments quickly went viral, prompting debate across the college football landscape. How can a program with such financial muscle continue to fall short when it matters most?

Steve Sarkisian, now entering a pivotal season at the helm in Austin, finds himself at a critical juncture. Since taking over, he’s undoubtedly raised the program’s recruiting profile. Texas has consistently landed top-tier talent, flipped highly rated prospects from rival programs, and generated buzz across the country. But with every five-star commitment comes an expectation, and expectations in Austin are unlike anywhere else. This is not a place where ten-win seasons are celebrated for long. This is not a program that exists to be “back” someday in the distant future. The Longhorn faithful believe their time is now—and with \$40 million being spent, anything less than a legitimate championship run feels unacceptable.

The mockery from Analyst Johnny wasn’t just about the money. It was about results. Texas went 12-2 last season, won the Big 12 title, and made a College Football Playoff appearance. But for many critics, including Johnny, even that wasn’t enough to justify the sheer scale of investment. Losing in the semifinals, despite all that financial firepower, still left a bitter taste. Sarkisian has yet to show he can take this program all the way, and the coming season will be a referendum on whether Texas is merely flashy or actually formidable.

In the world of modern college football, money is more important than ever. NIL deals are reshaping how rosters are built. Facilities arms races dominate the headlines. Coaches’ salaries are skyrocketing. Texas, with its Longhorn Foundation and deep-pocketed alumni base, has leaned into this reality harder than any other program. The \$40 million roster figure reflects not just salaries and scholarships, but also NIL packages, off-field support staff, nutrition programs, mental health services, and other costs designed to create a championship environment. It’s an elite infrastructure. But as Johnny pointed out, the infrastructure doesn’t win games—players and coaches do.

And that’s where the pressure really lands: on Sarkisian. He was hired not just to recruit, but to win. To bring swagger, creativity, and results. For all his offensive acumen and Alabama pedigree, the numbers are what matter. Since arriving in Austin, Sarkisian has a 25-14 record. Not disastrous, but hardly dominant. He’s had flashes of brilliance—a win over Alabama on the road, a gritty Big 12 championship run—but also moments that raise eyebrows. Inconsistencies on defense, in-game management questions, and losses in games Texas should have won have all played a part in the narrative that Johnny is now voicing loudly.

It’s not just about Johnny’s comments either. Around the country, rival fans are piling on. They call Texas the “offseason champion.” Memes circulate every summer when the Longhorns top the recruiting rankings, only to be followed by jokes in the fall when another College Football Playoff comes and goes without them. For all the tradition, the branding, the burnt orange mystique—results are the ultimate equalizer.

To be fair, Texas is not that far off. The talent is there. Quarterback Arch Manning, the most hyped recruit in years, waits in the wings. Quinn Ewers, if healthy, has shown flashes of brilliance. The offensive line is young but experienced. The defense has improved. The coaching staff has NFL-caliber minds in multiple spots. This is not a broken program. It’s a powerful machine that’s just a few clutch wins away from proving Johnny and others wrong. But moral victories won’t cut it anymore. Not at \$40 million a year.

What stings even more for Texas is the comparison to rival programs. Alabama and Georgia have become the standard, winning national titles while maintaining similarly robust financial backing. But even schools with less prestige and spending, like Michigan and Florida State, have surged past Texas in recent seasons. Meanwhile, the SEC move looms—a transition that will only increase the scrutiny. When Texas joins the SEC full-time, there will be no more “gimme” games, no more excuses about conference parity. Every week will be a battle, and \$40 million won’t shield them from upsets or from criticism if they don’t measure up.

Sarkisian has remained relatively quiet in the face of the mockery. He’s focused on recruiting, development, and setting the tone in the locker room. Players, too, have largely brushed aside the noise, citing unity, preparation, and belief in the system. But make no mistake, they hear it. Players are on social media. Recruits are watching. Donors are watching. Everyone is watching, and Johnny’s mocking tone is only the latest reminder that the time for patience is running out.

The Longhorns have the resources to be a perennial national title contender. That’s not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether they have the leadership and execution to match their ambition. The pressure on Sarkisian and his staff has never been higher. If they falter this season—especially in their inaugural SEC campaign—the whispers of discontent will grow louder. The \$40 million narrative won’t just be a footnote; it will be a headline.

But pressure can also be a catalyst. Many great programs have taken the next step when pushed to the brink. Perhaps Johnny’s mockery will serve as fuel. Perhaps the Longhorns will use the skepticism as a rallying cry. The talent is in place. The infrastructure is world-class. The expectations are sky-high. Now, all that remains is execution.

Texas doesn’t just want to be back—they want to dominate. They want to reclaim their spot among college football’s elite, not just in budget rankings, but in championship conversations. Analyst Johnny may be laughing now, but if Sarkisian can finally convert potential into production, the joke will be on everyone who doubted them. And maybe then, the \$40 million won’t be seen as excess—it’ll be seen as investment returned. For now, though, the ridicule stings, and the only way to silence it is with wins that matter most.