The comeback has been remarkable, especially when you consider the condition of the Texas program when Steve Sarkisian took over as coach in 2021. In his three and a half years with the Longhorns, Sarkisian has steadily improved, going from a 5-7 record in his rookie season to a berth in the College Football Playoffs the previous season.
After soundly defeating then-No. 18 Oklahoma in last week’s Red River Rivalry, he has Texas as the top team in the country and 6-0 so far this season.
The Longhorns will play Georgia at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in a top-five battle when they return home for another ranked SEC game. Both teams are in the top five of the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, which rates all FBS college football teams according to how their players were evaluated as recruits, so it will be an exciting matchup.
High recruitment outcomes have played a major role in Texas’ recovery. The Longhorns produced three top-five classes in Sarkisian’s first three full recruiting seasons. Several lower-ranked prospects have played crucial roles for the Longhorns in their pursuit of a national championship, despite the fact that players like Quinn Ewers, Anthony Hill Jr., and Colin Simmons were hailed recruits with lofty reputation. Acquiring outstanding talent is nearly as vital as discovering and nurturing hidden talent.