Sark eyes ‘excellent send-off,’ title as UT exits Big 12

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterJul 12, 2023, 05:33 PM ET

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  • College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

ARLINGTON, Texas– Not considering that 2009 have actually expectations been so high for the Texas Longhorns.The Longhorns are an

overwhelming preseason favorite to win the Huge 12, and coach Steve Sarkisian stated he hopes a league title will be”an excellent send-off “in Texas ‘last season prior to heading to the SEC in 2024.

“I ‘d be lying if I wasn’t stating that I want to win a champion,” Sarkisian told ESPN when asked if this might be a career-defining season for him. “There’s no question, and I seem like I’ve had great teams in the past. I haven’t had the ability to do it. When you enter coaching, I’m a highly competitive guy. I would love to win a championship. I would like to win a championship our last year in the Big 12.”

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Texas hasn’t won a Huge 12 title given that 2009, and the 13-year drought is the longest in school history dating to when it joined a conference in 1915. This year, regardless of design– computers, betting markets or media polls– Texas is the favorite.For the very first time considering that the Huge 12 conference went to a division-less format, the media chose the Longhorns to win the title. First-place votes were spread out amongst 6 teams with Texas receiving 41 and an overall of 886 points. Reigning Big 12 champion Kansas State put 2nd with 14 and 858 points.ESPN’s Football Power Index offers the Longhorns a 54%possibility

to win the Big 12. The only FBS group with a higher possibility to win its respective conference entering this season is Ohio State in the Big Ten(71% ). Sarkisian, who is entering his third season leading the Longhorns,

finished 8-5 last year with all five losses coming over seven points or fewer. It was just the 2nd time in the past 9 years that Texas reached eight wins in the regular season. In 2021, Sarkisian went 5-7 in his first season.He stated the difference this season is that those within the program are “not just feeling it, they’re taking action.

“” It ‘d be a terrific send-off,” Sarkisian said.”The Huge 12 and Texas have actually been fantastic partners for decades. For us to attempt to enter into that game at the end of the year as a send-off would be amazing. “If the Longhorns are going to take the leap, they’ll have to evolve on offense after their 2 star tailbacks left for the NFL. Bijan Robinson was taken

No. 8 general in the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, while Roschon Johnson went to the Chicago Bears in the 4th round.Sarkisian hinted to ESPN on Wednesday that the offense will likely feature the passing game more, as the absence of those two stars hits the maturation of quarterback Quinn Ewers. The Texas pass receiver space is likewise bristling with skill, consisting of first-team All-Big 12 pass receiver Xavier Worthy and Georgia transfer AD Mitchell.”I seemed like in 2015 we practically ended up being too one-dimensional, too [dependent] on Bijan and Roschon for what they were able to do running the ball,”Sarkisian said.”We felt like we had to progress our death game to get

back to where I’m accustomed to doing it. …”Our ability to throw the football now is going to have the ability to be back to where we like it to be.”Ewers brings an evolution both physically and psychologically, as he brings a higher awareness to the line of scrimmage.

Ewers joked with ESPN that when he went to the line last season, he was concerned about remembering the play. This season, he’s concentrated on recognizing fronts and tendencies of opposing defenses and then choosing them apart. “Usually and historically, Year 2 in our system is where you take that big action,”Sarkisian stated. “And we’re seeing it out of him. We’re seeing it in his preparation. He’s in great physical condition, and his understanding of what we’re doing is at a high level. “ESPN’s Pete Thamel added to this report.