Texas HC Steve Sarkisian has interesting take on Longhorns' college Football playoff run in 12-team format

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian gave an interesting take on his team's chances to win the national championship in 2024. Texas officially became members of the SEC in 2024 which makes their path to a title that much harder due to their conference schedule now being harder.

Although the Longhorns are now members of the SEC, Sarkisian is confident his team can still win the title. However, he says the road has gotten harder as he knows his team will have to beat Georgia or Alabama more than once, during the regular season, the SEC Championship game, and possibly the playoffs.

"When I talk about beating those teams late in the year, that's why I say it," Sarkisian said (via ESPN). "You're going to have to withstand the grind of a season and then beat those teams when it counts if you want to win a national championship."

"The good thing for us is that the plan to build this roster really didn't have to change from what the initial plan was," he added. "We knew the road to winning a national championship was going to go through Alabama, Georgia and those teams. Now you might have to go through them more than once."

It is an interesting take as with the new SEC, Texas could theoretically play Georgia three times, during the regular season, and if they are the top two teams in the conference they would play in the SEC Conference Game, as the conference is getting rid of the divisions. Then, with 12 teams making the playoffs, it could open the door for the Longhorns to play them again.

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Sarkisian focused on building a team to beat SEC teams

Even before Texas was in the SEC, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said he was building a team to beat SEC teams.

Now, that will be put to the test as Texas will be competing in the SEC in 2024.

"We need to build a team that come January can beat Alabama, LSU and Georgia, and I'd throw in Ohio State and Clemson, too, because those are the teams that in some shape or form are in the playoff just about every year," Sarkisian told his new bosses on the Forty Acres.

"We can't get enamored with just building a team to win the Big 12. We're going to have to build a team that can take down Alabama in January. I'm not talking September, but in January be equipped to beat those teams you're going to have to beat to win a national championship," he added.

In their first year in the SEC, Texas has notable games against Georgia, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Florida, and Arkansas.