Steve Sarkisian’s Jab at TTU Backfires Via Cody Campbell’s Challenge

Steve Sarkisian’s Jab at TTU Backfires Via Cody Campbell’s Challenge

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Steve Sarkisian’s Jab at TTU Backfires Via Cody Campbell’s Challenge

Steve Sarkisian wasn’t happy when Texas was left out of the College Football Playoff with a No. 13 ranking and a 9-3 record.

The Longhorns played a rigorous schedule that included Ohio State, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Texas A&M. UT lost on the road to Ohio State and Georgia, but finished the regular season with a convincing 27-17 win at home over then-No. 3 Texas A&M.

Texas’ 29-21 loss at Florida hurt Sarkisian’s argument. It was an inexcusable defeat to start SEC play. The Gators fired head coach Billy Napier midseason and finished with a 4-8 record.

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Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns
Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns looks on prior to the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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During an appearance at The Touchdown Club of Houston on Thursday, a fan asked Sarkisian if there was a way to get the CFP selection committee to factor the strength of schedule into their decision-making for the tournament. Per Anwar Richardson of orangebloods.com, Sarkisian took a jab at former Big 12 rival Texas Tech.

“Sarkisian said there’s a team in this state that plays in another conference that, if he played his 2s and 3s, his team would go undefeated, and they’ll make the playoffs this year,” Richardson posted on X.

The answer immediately backfired.

Texas Tech Chairman of the Board of Regents and booster Cody Campbell fired back on X, tagging Sarkisian and Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte.

“Schedule us then!” he posted. “We’ve been talking about it for years and we are more than willing!! @CoachSark @_delconte.”

TTU would have more to gain by putting Texas on the schedule than the Longhorns would. Still, Campbell’s post shows a flaw in the argument of wanting to rank teams just based on the perceived strength of schedule. 

As we had last year with Texas, Penn State, LSU and Clemson, certain Power 4 teams often receive inflated rankings based on their prior history. Teams like Texas can avoid scheduling Texas Tech and use the strength of schedule argument to exclude playoff-worthy teams from other conferences, including teams from the Group of 6.

It’s a problem that will continue with college football until a super league is created. Unlike the NFL, which has a mathematical path to determine its playoff, college football has to use human judgment to create the playoff. 

Texas should feel confident in scheduling TTU. The Longhorns lead the series 55-18 and have won five of the last six meetings.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.

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