Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has expressed frustration over the challenges posed by the NCAA transfer portal and early signing day, which have created a chaotic and demanding stretch for college football programs. With early national signing day on December 4 and the transfer portal opening on December 9, both of which overlapped with the SEC Championship and the first round of the College Football Playoff, Sarkisian has found himself juggling multiple responsibilities at once.
He acknowledged that the past few weeks have been unexpectedly exhausting, particularly with players making decisions about their future, including potential NFL prospects. Sarkisian described this period as “challenging,” having to manage recruiting, postseason preparation, and player decisions all at the same time.
Despite the chaos, Sarkisian successfully signed three recruits for the class of 2025 and secured transfers, including Purdue defensive lineman Cole Brevard, Arkansas linebacker Brad Spence, and Utah punter Jack Bouwmeester.
To help others understand the pressure he’s facing, Sarkisian drew an analogy to the NFL playoffs. He explained that it’s as if every player in the league becomes a free agent the moment playoff teams are announced. In college football, this dynamic is mirrored by the influx of transfers during a time when teams are focused on championship runs. For teams still in contention, such as Texas, the balance between preparing for games and dealing with the transfer portal becomes increasingly difficult, as teams not involved in playoff action can dedicate more time to recruitment.
So far, nearly 10 Longhorns have entered the portal, including defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell and pass rusher Justice Finkley. Some players have committed to staying with the team through the playoff run, but Sarkisian’s main concern is how to effectively practice with so much roster uncertainty. Although he’s not worried about game-day depth, he’s concerned about the challenges of preparing for opponents while also managing the portal’s impact on team practice.
Sarkisian acknowledged that the timing of the portal opening during playoff preparation wasn’t ideal, and he believes other teams are facing similar difficulties. In response, Texas has adjusted its practice plans to ensure that the team stays prepared for the upcoming game. With the playoff match against Clemson approaching, Sarkisian remains focused on ensuring his team is ready despite the distractions.
As the Longhorns look ahead to their playoff matchup with the Tigers, Sarkisian and his staff are committed to navigating the transfer portal challenges and ensuring their focus stays on securing a strong postseason run.
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