Steve Sarkisian Makes College Football Playoff Case for Texas Longhorns, Shades SEC

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian had some choice words for his former and future conference.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian admitted when speaking to the media on Monday that it's still too "early" for him and his team to begin paying attention to the College Football Playoff rankings. The CFP's first batch of rankings are set to be revealed Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.

But he made it clear that he's confident in his team's current chances thanks to the Longhorns' 7-1 record ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Kansas State Wildcats along with what he calls "the best win in the country" over Alabama. If Texas were to get an ideal end to their season and win the Big 12, the win over the Crimson Tide would do wonders for the Longhorns' CFP chances.

"I'd argue we have the best win in the country right now," Sarkisian said. "The fact that we go into Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and beat a team that was 52-1 in the previous 53 games."

Sarkisian also had some choice words about his former and future conference, saying that other teams haven't been able to do what Texas did against an Alabama team that is on a six-game winning streak and is right below the Longhorns at No. 8 in the country.

"I hear so much about how tough the SEC is, but I haven't seen any of those teams go into Alabama and win either," Sarkisian said. "So I feel pretty good about our team, and I think over time, this whole thing will play itself out.”

Steve Sarkisian (left) and Savion Red / © Troy Taormina, USA TODAY

Ask Sarkisian and he'll likely tell you that it goes without saying, but the Longhorns' CFP chances will be a thing of the past if they don't defend their home field and beat K-State on Saturday.

But the adversity the team has shown gives him confidence in the potential to pull off what will have to be a hard-fought win.

“Not every team out there has had to endure some of the things that we've had to, and if they had to play with their backup (QB), how would they play?" Sarkisian said. "But I think it speaks to the type of team that we have."

The Longhorns and Wildcats kickoff from DKR on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.