“LONGHORNS LOCKED IN: Coach Steve Sarkisian Declares Texas Has All the Right Pieces to Capture a National Championship in a Make-or-Break Season for Greatness”
In Austin, the atmosphere surrounding Texas Longhorns football hasn’t buzzed with this kind of electricity in over a decade. As the program charges full-steam into the 2025 season, Coach Steve Sarkisian has made it abundantly clear that he believes the time is now. Not next year. Not a few recruiting classes away. Not when the playoff field expands again. Now. With a battle-tested roster, elite talent at key positions, and a culture that’s matured through adversity, Sarkisian is not shy about declaring the lofty goal: Texas has all the pieces to win a national championship this year.
Confidence isn’t new in Austin, but this time it feels different. Sarkisian’s belief doesn’t stem from hype or headlines. It’s grounded in results. The 2024 season saw Texas make a serious push into the College Football Playoff, stunning doubters and silencing critics who believed the Longhorns were still years away from elite contention. While the ultimate prize remained elusive, the taste of meaningful postseason football only ignited the hunger. The team returns with more experience, better depth, and a mindset hardened by the scars of just missing out. The fire burning inside this program isn’t just about proving people wrong—it’s about fulfilling the promise of Texas football on the national stage.
Coach Sark has never been one to mince words, and his message to his team and fanbase ahead of fall camp was unambiguous. “We’re not hoping anymore. We’re expecting,” he stated at Big 12 Media Days. “We’ve built this thing to win it all. It’s time to go do it.” That kind of declaration might be considered bold elsewhere, but at Texas, it’s what the burnt orange faithful have waited to hear for years. Not cautious optimism. Not long-term rebuilding plans. Just the kind of fearless commitment to greatness that defined Texas football at its peak.
Much of Sarkisian’s confidence comes from his quarterback room, and more specifically, the continued development of star signal-caller Arch Manning. After showing flashes of brilliance during limited action in 2024, Manning has now fully stepped into the spotlight as QB1. His arm strength, field vision, and poise have all improved under Sarkisian’s tutelage, and according to multiple reports from spring practices, he’s taken a commanding role in the locker room as well. Manning’s presence alone puts Texas in the upper echelon of title contenders. He has the pedigree, the tools, and now the experience to lead a championship run. Behind him, the depth chart remains strong, offering insurance and competition that keeps the QB unit razor-sharp.
Beyond quarterback, Texas boasts one of the most complete rosters in college football. The offensive line returns all five starters from a unit that allowed the fewest sacks in the Big 12 last year, and they’ve added two blue-chip freshmen who could push for time early. The running back room is deep and explosive, led by junior sensation Cedric Baxter Jr., who rushed for over 1,200 yards last season and enters 2025 as a Heisman dark horse. His balance of power and agility gives the Longhorns a workhorse back who can dominate games and wear down defenses late.
Wide receiver talent has never been in short supply under Sark, and this year is no different. With Isaiah Bond returning for his senior year and transfer phenom DeAndre Moore Jr. looking like a breakout candidate, Texas has both speed and size on the perimeter. Add in the tight end prowess of Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Manning is surrounded by a truly elite set of targets. The offense has the potential to average over 40 points per game—and might need to, given the shootouts that often define the Big 12’s final chapter before the move to the SEC.
Defensively, Texas has made strides that rival any top program in the country. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski has steadily crafted a unit that plays with physicality and discipline, and this season’s group looks to be the best yet. Anchoring the defensive line is All-American candidate T’Vondre Sweat, whose ability to plug gaps and collapse pockets makes him a disruptive force against both the run and pass. The linebacker corps, headlined by Branson McCoy and David Gbenda, brings speed, intelligence, and a nose for the football. In the secondary, the emergence of Malik Muhammad as a lockdown corner has elevated the entire defensive backfield, which now plays with the swagger and toughness that championship defenses are known for.
Perhaps the most transformative factor in Texas’ rise under Sarkisian has been culture. When he arrived in Austin, the program was stuck in a frustrating cycle of underachievement. Elite recruiting classes came and went without delivering consistent success. Big wins were often followed by inexplicable losses. The culture lacked accountability, consistency, and the kind of brotherhood that sustains winning. Sarkisian attacked that problem from day one, instilling a player-led culture that demanded commitment, discipline, and unity. He empowered veterans to take ownership of the locker room. He built trust through transparency. He didn’t promise quick fixes—he promised a foundation built to last.
Now, three years later, that culture is bearing fruit. Texas is no longer just talented—it’s cohesive. Veteran leaders like Quinn Ewers, despite now backing up Manning, remain vocal and involved, helping maintain a competitive and supportive environment. Younger players speak openly about the standard being set by upperclassmen. Accountability is no longer top-down—it’s internalized across the roster. And it’s that shift, perhaps more than any tactical change, that has Sarkisian so confident that Texas is ready to take the final step.
The external pressure is mounting, too. Fans are hungry. Alumni are restless. And with the move to the SEC just around the corner, the stakes feel higher than ever. A national championship would validate the vision Sarkisian brought to Austin. It would signal to recruits that Texas isn’t just talking the talk. And it would cement this era of Longhorn football as more than just potential—it would become legend. Sarkisian isn’t running from that pressure. He’s embracing it. “Pressure is a privilege,” he’s said multiple times this offseason. “It means people believe you’re capable of something special. And we are.”
Texas’ schedule won’t be forgiving, but that’s exactly how the staff wants it. Early road tests and ranked matchups will challenge the team’s resolve, but it also gives them the chance to build a résumé worthy of playoff seeding. The Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma looms large, as always, and there are trap games aplenty in a conference that continues to play with a chip on its shoulder. But this team has learned how to handle adversity. They’ve been tested in close games, in hostile stadiums, and under the microscope of national attention. They know what’s coming. And they’re ready.
Recruits have taken notice, too. Texas’ 2025 recruiting class currently ranks among the top five nationally, with several five-star prospects citing the program’s culture, coaching, and upward trajectory as major factors in their decisions. Sarkisian and his staff have built not just a team, but a sustainable pipeline. And with the Longhorns set to join the SEC, that pipeline will only gain more exposure and influence. A championship this season could turn Texas into the premier destination for elite high school talent in the country. The ripple effect would be monumental.
As fall camp kicks off, every rep, every meeting, every practice carries weight. There’s no more time to build. The building is done. Now it’s time to execute. Inside the Texas program, the players aren’t just dreaming of a title—they’re preparing for it. Every detail matters. Every mistake is corrected. Every goal is elevated. Sarkisian has set the tone, and his team has followed with intensity. The mission is clear. The mindset is locked in. And the belief runs deep.
In a college football landscape constantly shifting due to NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment, stability is a rare currency. Texas has it. Coaching continuity. Quarterback certainty. Locker room leadership. National exposure. For the first time in a long time, all the elements are aligned in Austin. This isn’t just another hopeful season. It’s a moment of convergence. A chance for Texas to reassert itself as a powerhouse not only in name, but in result.
There’s no guarantee in college football—injuries, turnovers, and one off day can end a dream. But if you ask Steve Sarkisian, the dream is worth chasing because the pieces are finally in place. His declaration isn’t based on arrogance. It’s a reflection of years of work, resilience, and relentless belief. The road to a national championship is brutal. But Texas isn’t backing down. They’re charging forward, horns up, eyes forward, and hearts on fire.
