LIVE COVERAGE: Texas coach Steve Sarkisian takes SEC Media Days stage

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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian will be the final contingent to take the stage at this week's SEC Media Days. The four-day event in Tampa, Florida serves as the unofficial start of the 2026 season.

Sark will be joined by quarterback Arch Manning, offensive tackle Trevor Goosby and defensive end Colin Simmons. Manning will be a big focus of the gathered media. The SEC third generation legacy quarterback will be one of the league's biggest stories, win or lose, until me moves onto the NFL.

SEC breakaway talk will surely come up during Sarkisian's time on stage. Sark has previously hinted at the possibility. The southern media will mostly likely ask the Longhorns coach about his Ole Miss comments. Many conference media members speculated that Sarkisian might get fined by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

The good news for Longhorns fans is you don't have to be in Tampa or wait for quotes online. Follow along right here:

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey's introduction

One thing the commissioner pointed out was that Sark is a big soccer fan and was locked in on the World Cup.

Sark Takes the Stage

Sark is wearing a bronze colored suit and a burnt orange tie.
Sark opened with "Best for last. Right? I'll make it brief. Nah, Just kidding."

Thanks You, Thank You

Sark thanked commissioner Sankey, the UT leadership group, his staff and the fans.

Sark is Proud of the 2025 season

Sark: "You know, Commissioner Sankey touched on a few things and a few stats that I'm really proud of our organization and our program and what we've been able to accomplish. Last season alone, we beat three Top 10 teams. In a down year. The last two years, we've beaten 10 Top 25 ranked teams. Which is more than any other school in the country. I believe it's 14 wins over To 25 teams over the last three years. And so, there's a lot to be proud of for us at the University of Texas.

The Standard is the Standard

Sark: But I will say this, at the University of Texas – the Standard is the standard. The Standard is the standard. And I know the expectations are high outside of our building. Everyone wants to say, what percentage are we to make the playoffs. Or what percentage are we to win the conference championship, or make the CFP or be a national champion. But the expectations are always high within our organization. They're higher than you would imagine. They're higher than the are in the outside world. And now, more than ever, external factors don't motivate us. It is what we're doing internally.

Players are Hungry

Sark: We've got a very hungry football team. We've got a team that competed their tails off a year ago and fell short of making the college football playoff. After the previous two years of being in the college football semifinals and knocking on the door to play for a national title with the ball inside the ten yard line. So, those external factors, whether it's a comment, or a Tweet, or a podcast, or an interview by a pundit, that's not gonna motivate us. What motivates us is what we do every single day. And I'm proud of the leadership on our team for buying into that idea.

Tough Schedule

Sark: We are going to have to. Our schedule is real. It is a real football schedule. I think the key to that is focusing on us. Being enamored by what we do. That takes great leadership. That takes commitment. That takes tough mental and physical toughness to make that happen.

Mentally tough team leaders

Sark: We've got three players here that I think exude all three things. Obviously, We've got Arch Manning here. We've got Colin Simmons. We've got Trevor Goosby. The first thing I'd like to say about those three guys is, all three signed with the University of Texas out of high school. So in this era of the transfer portal. In this era of guys coming from different places and building rosters, these were three guys thats chose to be part of our program, when maybe our program wasn't where it was today. Arch and Trev came four years ago when we were an 8-5 team, coming off an Alamo Bowl loss to Washington. They chose the University of Texas. Colin came the next year. But I think all three of these guys exude the leadership that is needed. The commitment to the program. The commitment to their teammates. And the mental and physical toughness to be a champion. So, I'm proud to have all three of those guys with us today.

Talented Roster (no coach speak)

Sark: I know you all say it, but I'm gonna say it. We do have a talented roster. We do have a good football team. We're balanced. I think we're good on offense, we're good on defense, we're good on special teams. I'm not gonna shy away from that to give you the 'coach speak.' We do have a talented team. But we've got to make that come to life on every single Saturday against a challenging schedule. And that's the challenge as their coach, to get them in the right mental spade and the right physical space to go out there and be at their best when their best is needed. And with our conference, and in our non-conference schedule, that's every Saturday.

When are Texas Longhorns at SEC Media Days?

Day: Thursday, July 22, 2026
Time: 1:55 p.m. CT
Location: Tampa, Florida
Venue: JW Marriott and Tampa Marriott Water Street

What channel is Texas Longhorns at SEC Media Days on?

Channel: SEC Network
Streaming: ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

Watch Texas Longhorns at SEC Media Days

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: LIVE COVERAGE: Texas coach Steve Sarkisian takes SEC Media Days stage

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