Texas Longhorns Steve Sarkisian Named George Munger College Coach of the Year Award Semifinalist

Steve Sarkisian posted the most wins in Austin since 2009 after leading Texas to a Big 12 title victory.

The accolades keep coming for Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian after dominating year on the Forty Acres. 

Sarkisian was named a semifinalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Thursday morning. Sarkisian was one of 14 coaches to advance to the semifinal stage, joining others like Florida State's Mike Norvell, Arizona's Jedd Fisch, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz and Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, among others. 

Sarkisian led the No. 3 Longhorns (12-1, 9-1 Big 12) to their first Big 12 Championship since 2009 with a victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Arlington. The victory earned Texas a shot to play in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. 

The 12 victories are the most for the Longhorns since 2009 and marks the fourth season in program history with 12-plus wins (2005, 2008, 2009). The Longhorns' seven-game win streak is also the longest since 2008-09 (17 games).

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian yells during the annual Red River Showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl / Aaron E. Martinez-USA TODAY NETWORK

After helping Alabama win the national title in 2020, Sarkisian took his offensive prowess to Austin and helped the Longhorns become one of the nation's more balanced attacks in three years. This season, Texas ranked 16th nationally in scoring offense (36.0 points per game) and ninth in total offense (475.9 yards per game). 

Defensively, the Longhorns are allowing the 13th-fewest points among FBS schools (17.5 points per game), and rank 23rd in total defense (321.7).

Sarkisian was influential in the improvements of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who won the Big 12 Championship Game Most Outstanding Player after breaking Sam Bradford's passing record during the third quarter. Ewers currently ranks eighth nationally in completion percentage (70.7 percent), 10th in passing efficiency (162.6) and 13th in passing yards per game (287.4). He finished the regular season throwing 3,161 yards and 21 touchdowns against six interceptions. 

The Longhorns' supporting cast carried the weight while Ewers was sidelined for two games. Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards in 10 games before sustaining a season-ending injury. Receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell each finished with at least 51 receptions for over 800 yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders averaged 15.6 yards per reception, second-most among FBS tight ends. 

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Defensively, the Longhorns featured a top-three run defense, headlined by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year T'Vondre Sweat and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy Il. The duo headlined a unit that held opponents to 80.8 rushing yards per game. 

Linebacker Jaylan Ford and defensive back Jahdae Barron were influential in the open field and helped Texas finish second in third-down defense (26.5 percent) and fourth in red zone efficiency (71.4 percent).

Finalists will be announced on Dec. 21 and the winner of the 2023 George Munger Award will be announced on Jan. 10, 2024.