Classroom dominance. That’s not something you usually hear when you talk about student-athletes. But the University of Texas is an exception. Because what Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns just achieved is the kind of thing that makes NFL scouts, SEC rivals, and even old-school alums sit up and take notice. The Longhorns didn’t just dominate the field over the past two seasons — a 25-5 record, a Big 12 title in 2023, back-to-back CFP semifinal runs, and 23 NFL draft picks in two years. With Texas football, it’s athleticism with brains! 

“I’m holding my breath to see what the heck CDC is going to give me here in about two weeks for our team GPA this year,” Sarkisian said a few weeks ago. “Because it’s probably going to serve as a pretty good precursor for what we can expect this fall.” Well, this is the time for celebration. On May 15, Texas Football and the proud HC shared an Instagram post celebrating the team getting a 3.31 GPA during the spring semester. That’s not just flex. It’s an all-time record for the program.  

For a man who got his job in Texas back in 2021, staring at a poor 2.33 GPA and a 5-7 meltdown that fall, Steve Sarkisian has every reason to celebrate this moment. And he’s got the right mindset to build a winning team. “If we want to be a really good football team, if we want to be a really disciplined football team,” he said. “We’ve got to be a disciplined football team off the field as much as we want to be a disciplined football team on the field.”

You see, every year is an upward trajectory with Coach Sark at the helm. In 2022, GPA jumped to 2.78. 8-5 on the field. And five NFL picks. In Year 3, GPA goes 2.98, season record was 12-2, Big 12 champs, 11 players drafted. In his fourth year, 3.27 GPA in the fall, 13-3, SEC title contender, 12 draft picks, and 3.31 GPA this spring. Notice the pattern there? If that’s not an improvement, we don’t know what improvement is! And Steve Sarkisian may have his best season yet on the football field too…

Steve Sarkisian is excited for Arch Manning era

Just like everybody else, Steve Sarkisian is waiting to see what happens with Texas football’s crown jewel. The Arch Manning name says it all, but his HC just gave him a new title, and this time, it’s being the “leader.” On the On Second Thought podcast, he pulled back the curtain on what’s coming. With Quinn Ewers off to the Miami Dolphins in the NFL, it’s Arch’s time to run the show in Austin. But Sark made it clear. It’s not just about talent, it’s about presence. 

“We have players on this team who are going to be really significant contributors this fall, who in their first two years of college football have gone to the College Football Playoff semifinal. They don’t even know any different,” Sarkisian said. “The difference now for those guys is their role has evolved. Anthony Hill has really got to be a leader on this team. Arch Manning has got to be a leader on this team.” The expectations are already sky-high for the former 5-star and No. 1 overall player who waited behind Ewers. 

Maybe the Longhorns lost some big-time players to the NFL. But with guys like Arch Manning taking the reins, and with Steve Sarkisian building a culture that’s winning both on Saturdays and in the study halls, Texas isn’t just back. They might be built to last.