**Longhorns Locked In: Coach Steve Sarkisian Declares Texas Has All the Right Pieces to Capture a National Championship**
The Texas Longhorns are no strangers to high expectations, but the buzz surrounding the program in 2024 feels different. Head coach Steve Sarkisian, now entering his fourth season at the helm, has made a bold declaration: Texas has everything it takes to win a national championship. With a loaded roster, elite recruiting classes, and a coaching staff that has finally found its rhythm, the Longhorns are poised to make a legitimate run at college football’s ultimate prize.
For years, Texas has been the sleeping giant of college football—a program with unlimited resources, a passionate fanbase, and a storied history, yet unable to reclaim its place among the sport’s elite. However, under Sarkisian’s leadership, the Longhorns have steadily rebuilt, culminating in a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2023. Now, with the program transitioning to the SEC, Sarkisian believes his team is ready to compete at the highest level.
The foundation of any title contender is talent, and Texas has it in abundance. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, who flirted with the NFL before deciding to return for another season, is the centerpiece of the offense. After a breakout 2023 campaign, Ewers has refined his game, showing improved decision-making and leadership. Behind him, Arch Manning waits in the wings, ensuring that the Longhorns have one of the most enviable QB rooms in the nation.
The offensive firepower doesn’t stop there. Texas boasts a deep and explosive receiving corps led by Isaiah Bond, the Alabama transfer who brings game-breaking speed, and returning standout Johntay Cook II. The backfield is equally dangerous, with CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue forming a dynamic one-two punch that can wear down defenses. The offensive line, anchored by All-American candidate Kelvin Banks Jr., is one of the best in the country, providing Ewers with the protection he needs to dissect opposing secondaries.
Defensively, the Longhorns are just as formidable. Pete Kwiatkowski’s unit has evolved into a relentless, attacking group that thrives on creating turnovers. Edge rusher Ethan Burke and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. are emerging stars, while the secondary, led by safety Derek Williams Jr., is loaded with speed and playmaking ability. The addition of several impact transfers has bolstered the depth, ensuring that Texas can withstand the grueling schedule of an SEC season.
One of the biggest factors in Texas’ resurgence has been the stability within the coaching staff. Sarkisian, once viewed as a risky hire, has proven himself as one of the top offensive minds in the game. His ability to develop quarterbacks and design creative schemes has transformed the Longhorns into an offensive juggernaut. Equally important has been the continuity among his assistants, with coordinators Kyle Flood (offensive line) and Kwiatkowski (defense) providing consistency in philosophy and player development.
The move to the SEC presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Sarkisian has emphasized that his team is built to compete in the physical, week-to-week grind of the nation’s toughest conference. The Longhorns have prioritized size, speed, and depth—key ingredients for surviving an SEC slate that includes matchups against Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Sarkisian’s message to his team has been clear: Texas isn’t just joining the SEC; it’s coming to dominate.
Talent alone doesn’t win championships—it takes the right mindset. Sarkisian has worked tirelessly to cultivate a culture of accountability and resilience within the program. Leaders like Ewers, Banks, and linebacker David Gbenda have set the tone, ensuring that complacency doesn’t creep in. The locker room is filled with players who have bought into the process, understanding that greatness requires sacrifice.
The near-miss in 2023, when Texas fell just short in the playoff, has only fueled the fire. This team isn’t satisfied with just making the playoff; it wants to win it all. Sarkisian has repeatedly stressed the importance of finishing, using last season’s heartbreak as motivation. The Longhorns know what it takes to get to the top—now, they’re determined to take the final step.
The schedule is brutal, but Sarkisian wouldn’t have it any other way. Early tests against Michigan and Oklahoma will reveal just how ready this team is, while the SEC gauntlet will demand peak performance every week. Yet, the Longhorns embrace the challenge. They’ve been building for this moment, stacking elite recruiting classes and developing players who thrive under pressure.
If everything clicks—if Ewers plays like a Heisman contender, if the defense lives up to its potential, if the team stays healthy—Texas has all the pieces to hoist the national championship trophy. Sarkisian’s confidence isn’t just coachspeak; it’s a belief rooted in the work his team has put in.
The Longhorns are locked in. The pieces are in place. Now, it’s time to finish the job.
