Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns are facing an uphill battle in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals as they prepare to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on January 1 at 1 p.m. ET.
Texas enters the matchup as 13.5-point underdogs, according to ESPN BET. Before the game, Sarkisian was surprisingly named a finalist for the George Munger Award. Despite leading the Longhorns to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the SEC title game in their first year in the conference, Sarkisian’s performance is now being questioned.
The George Munger Award, given to the Division 1 Coach of the Year, highlights strategic innovation and leadership, though some argue Sarkisian’s coaching has not had the desired impact on the game. He joins other finalists such as Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Penn State’s James Franklin, and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, making it a highly competitive field. Sarkisian, who has been with Texas since 2021, earned his first postseason win in the CFP after defeating Clemson, but doubts linger over his team’s ability to maintain momentum in the playoff.
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