Texas Coach Sees Echoes of Alabama Greats in 2026 Longhorns Squad

Steve Sarkisian believes his current Texas team has the talent and competitive spirit to end the school's national title drought.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college football practice scene, with players and equipment broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color, conveying the intensity and competitive energy described in the story.Sarkisian sees the competitive spirit and talent depth of his 2026 Texas squad mirroring the great Alabama teams he coached.Austin Today

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sees shades of the great Alabama teams he coached under Nick Saban in his current Longhorns squad. Sarkisian highlighted the team's competitive spirit and depth of talent across both sides of the ball, drawing comparisons to standout Alabama players like Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith. With a roster led by quarterback Arch Manning and other high-profile additions, Sarkisian is optimistic this Texas team has what it takes to end the school's over 20-year national championship drought.

Why it matters

Texas is one of college football's most prestigious programs, but the Longhorns have struggled to recapture their championship glory in recent decades. Sarkisian's comments suggest this year's team could be poised for a breakthrough, potentially returning the program to national prominence and ending its long title drought.

The details

Sarkisian highlighted the 'engagement in the competitive spirit' he's seen from his players in practice, drawing parallels to the intense but respectful rivalries he witnessed between Alabama's star receivers and defensive backs during his time as an assistant under Nick Saban. With a roster stacked with talent, including quarterback Arch Manning and transfers like former Auburn star Cam Coleman and NC State's Hollywood Smothers, Sarkisian believes this Texas team has the depth and top-end ability to compete for a national title.

  • Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian made these comments in an interview on March 30, 2026.

The players

Steve Sarkisian

The head football coach of the University of Texas Longhorns, who previously served as an assistant coach under Nick Saban at Alabama.

Nick Saban

The legendary head football coach of the University of Alabama, under whom Sarkisian worked as an assistant coach.

Arch Manning

The highly touted quarterback who is part of Texas' talented 2026 roster.

Cam Coleman

A former star player at Auburn University who has transferred to play for Texas in 2026.

Hollywood Smothers

A transfer from NC State University who has joined the Texas Longhorns for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“It's the engagement in the competitive spirit, on both sides, that jumps out. I'll never forget in those years at Alabama with Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle and Smitty (DeVonta Smith), and those guys could be assholes in the way they went at the defensive guys, but they respected Pat Surtain. They respected Xavier McKinney. There was a lot of that, but at the end of the day, they walked off the field together.”

— Steve Sarkisian, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

“I would say probably for the first time I feel like we have the top-level talent across the board position by position on both sides of the ball. But, yet, we also have the depth behind it across the board.”

— Steve Sarkisian, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

What’s next

The Longhorns will look to translate Sarkisian's optimism into on-field success as they prepare for the 2026 season, with high expectations to end their national title drought.

The takeaway

Sarkisian's comments suggest the 2026 Texas Longhorns could be a special team, with the talent, depth, and competitive spirit to potentially challenge for a national championship and restore the program to its former glory.