Longhorns Steve Sarkisian a Middle-of-Pack Coach in Big 12 Rankings

Texas Longhorns head man Steve Sarkisian could be a top-three coach in the Big 12, but also could be bottom-five in the SEC.

Coaching rankings are subject to opinion and can only be determined within the eyes of the beholder. Where does Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian rank among those in the Big 12 entering Year 3 in Austin?

CBS Sports recently released its Power Five and conference coaching rankings heading into the 2023 season. Sarkisian, who will spend one more season as a Big 12 coach before joining Oklahoma's Brent Venables as members of the SEC, found himself in the middle of the pack in both instances. 

Among the conference, Sarkisian ranked eighth overall. At the national level, he was listed as No. 37. 

It remains to be seen if Sarkisian's tenure on the Forty Acres will be a success. The Longhorns improved from a 5-7 mess in his 2021 debut to an 8-5 finish in 2022, but that's far from reaching the threshold of Texas being "back." Sarkisian is 59-47 all-time as a college coach and has yet to win more than nine games in a season, a mark he hit at USC in 2014. - CBS Sports

Internally, there's evidence that the Longhorns have improved. They're coming off back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes under Sarkisian, including landing a top-three class in 2023. Prospects who often would be caught in a conundrum of deciding between Alabama, Georgia, and LSU now have to factor the Forty Acres franchise into the fold.

The on-field production, however, still needs refinement. Year 1 for Sark was about weeding out the weak and building a foundation. Year 2 was meant for culture building and establishing relationships on the recruiting trail. However, the Horns saw their fair struggles along the way, including losses to teams like Texas Tech, Kansas and Iowa State.

On paper, this should be Texas' year to take control of the Big 12 at least one more time before departing for the conference that features perennial powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU. Quinn Ewers is set to return for another go-around at quarterback and enters the year as a Heisman candidate. The weapons cabinet is full of returning production in receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and running back Jonathon Brooks.

Texas added five-star talents at receiver and running back as part of its 2023 class in receiver Johntay Cook and running back C.J. Baxter Jr., respectively. The Horns also brought back a healthy Isaiah Neyor and added AD Mitchell from Georgia via the transfer portal.

TCU's Sonny Dykes earned the top spot after leading the Horned Frogs to an undefeated regular season and a National Championship appearance in Year 1. He's a proven name in the industry as well, posting an 84-65 overall record with stops at Louisiana Tech, Cal, and SMU prior to his arrival in Fort Worth.

Kansas State's Chris Klieman landed in the sliver medal standings after leading the Wildcats to their first outright conference title since 2003. Klieman continues to punch out consistent eight-plus win seasons at the Power Five level after winning four FCS national titles at North Dakota State in five seasons.

Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy, who entered last season as CBS' top Big 12 coach, dropped to No. 3 in the polls following a 7-6 finish in Stillwater. Kansas' Lance Leipold and Baylor's Dave Aranda rounded out the top five, while Iowa State's Matt Campbell ranked No. 7 ahead of Sarkisian.

Among the four newcomers, UCF's Gus Malzhan garnered the highest praise at the No. 6 spot in the Knights' inaugural season. Experience-wise, few hold a track record to Malzhan's success, who posted a 67-35 record from 2013-20 while at Auburn. The third-year Knights coach also led the Tigers to an SEC title and BCS National Championship appearance in his first year on the Plains. He's 18-9 since heading to Orlando. 

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