It appears that in the SEC, not only does it “Just Mean More”, but it also allows for paying more. Steve Sarkisian, who led Texas to the College Football Playoff in 2023, will be getting a contract extension that will increase his contract from $5.8 million per year to $10.3 million with a $100,000 raise every season until his contract ends in 2030. This means that in 2030, Sarkisian will be making $11 million, which in today’s market would make him the second-highest-paid coach, only behind Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.
SEC Brings a Big Money Increase to Texas
There is no question that the SEC is able to bring more money to a program than the Big 12 ever was. In the Big 12 when their new media contract begins in 2025, teams will be set to bring in about $31.7 million from primary media partners ESPN and FOX. The SEC, at the same time, will be bringing in $46.8 million the same year, with that number increasing by a few million dollars every year.
With Texas certainly already able to bring in enough through donors and other programs, the extra $15 million can easily be used towards helping pay coaches more. What’s crazy is that by the time the contract ends, it may be a very average-sized contract with as much as other coaches are expected to make in the next couple of years.
Sarkisian is the First Great Coach Since…Mack Brown
Texas is one of the proudest programs in the nation; this is evident with how sensitive they get when someone shows them ‘Horns Down,’ yet for the most part, Texas hasn’t been very good for a very long time, or at least until last season.
The last coach who really led Texas to success was Mack Brown, but even he struggled in his last four seasons, going a combined 30-21, which by most teams’ standards would be pretty good, but for Texas, that may as well be 0-51.
Yet, it hasn’t been like the Longhorns haven’t made ‘great hires’. Charlie Strong and Tom Herman were both very hot names when they were hired, yet neither could get Texas to the top. Sarkisian is the first coach since 2008 to show that he can lead the team to the top.
Texas Trying to be a Strong SEC Contender
Texas wants to show not only that it belongs in the SEC but that it should be considered a top contender in year one. To do that, they are going to have to elevate their game from last year. Despite going 11-1 in 2023, including a win over Alabama, Texas played in too many one-score games that could have easily gone in either direction.
In 2024, the Longhorns will have to face the following: Michigan, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas A&M, among others. The good news is that even with losses to Michigan and Georgia, the Longhorns’ resume may still be impressive enough to make the new 12-Team College Football Playoff.
The SEC will also be doing away with divisions, meaning Texas will not be in direct competition with Alabama to get a spot in an SEC Championship.
Conclusion
Texas is going all in on Steve Sarkisian. While the contract isn’t quite as crazy as the contract the Jimbo Fisher got, it is pretty close. If things were to go south completely, the buyout to get a new coach would force the Longhorns to perhaps settle for someone less expensive, in a way that Texas A&M settled for Mike Elko, who is set to make only $7 million (compared to the $9.5 million Fischer was making).
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