Texas Coach Sarkisian Defends Play-Calling Role Amid Championship Debate

Steve Sarkisian is keeping his play-calling duties. The Texas Longhorns head coach confirmed his decision this week. He was firm in his response to questions about a potential change.

His stance has ignited a fiery debate among college football analysts and fans. Many are questioning if a head coach can win a national title while calling plays. Sarkisian believes his offensive expertise is a primary reason he was hired.

The National Championship Precedent for Play-Callers

A common argument against Sarkisian is historical data. No head coach has won a College Football Playoff national title while calling their own offensive plays. This fact is often cited by critics. According to ESPN analysis, the statistic is technically accurate.

The sample size of coaches, however, is very small. Only seven coaches have won championships in the Playoff era. Most were either defensive-minded or head coaches who never served as primary play-callers. This narrows the field of comparison significantly.

Examining the Ryan Day Comparison at Ohio State

Ohio State’s Ryan Day is a frequent point of comparison. He was an offensive play-caller before giving up duties for the 2024 season. His Buckeyes offense then struggled and ranked 45th nationally in scoring.

Day reportedly took a more hands-on role during their playoff run. He was seen with the play sheet during the national championship game. This suggests the transition was not a simple fix. His experience shows that delegating play-calling does not guarantee success.

The situation highlights a key problem. The pool of head coaches who are also elite play-callers is tiny. Finding a successful long-term model is difficult due to this limited data. Sarkisian’s success in previous years makes his case unique.

Roster Management Versus Play-Calling Blame

The core issue for Texas may not be play-calling. Personnel decisions appear to be a larger factor. The Longhorns have faced significant injuries at running back and wide receiver.

The offensive line has also underperformed at times. CEO duties, like roster construction, fall on Sarkisian as head coach. According to Associated Press reports, the team’s offensive struggles are multifaceted. This suggests the problem is broader than just the plays being called.

Making a midseason change would be highly unusual. There is no clear successor on the current staff to take over the responsibility. Such a move could create more instability for the offense.

Steve Sarkisian remains confident in his offensive system. His track record supports his decision to continue calling plays. The ultimate test will be how the Texas offense finishes the season.

Thought you’d like to know

Has Steve Sarkisian always called plays as a head coach?

Yes, he has primarily called offensive plays throughout his head coaching career. This includes his tenures at Washington, USC, and now Texas. His identity as an offensive play-caller is a key part of his coaching profile.

Which coaches have won national titles without calling plays?

Recent winners like Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, and Jim Harbaugh did not call offensive plays. They delegated those duties to their offensive coordinators. This has become the more common model for championship teams.

What was Texas’s offensive ranking last season?

The Longhorns finished 29th nationally in scoring offense in 2024. This was a drop from being 15th the previous season. Injuries were a major contributing factor to the decline.

Why is giving up play-calling difficult for a coach?

It requires surrendering control of a core part of the team’s identity. The head coach must fully trust the new play-caller’s philosophy and in-game decisions. This transition can be challenging and does not always improve performance.

Could Sarkisian hire an offensive coordinator after this season?

It remains a possibility for the offseason. The fit would need to be perfect for both philosophy and working relationship. Such a move would allow Sarkisian to focus more on overall program management.