"'Let's get our man a raise' play": CFB insider delivers verdict on Steve Sarkisian's NFL rumors ahead of Ohio State clash

For the second time in as many seasons, Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns are in the College Football Playoff semifinals. That sort of coaching success draws attention from the NFL level.

Or does it?

NFL insider Adam Schefter spoke about Steve Sarkisian on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown", saying he would expect teams to kick the tires on the Longhorns coach. However, Andy Staples of the "Andy & Ari" On3 podcast thinks there's an ulterior motive.

"It's probably more of a 'let's get our man a raise' play," Staples told his co-host, Ari Wasserman, about any rumor involving Steve Sarkisian and the pros.

Despite spending most of his coaching career at the college level, Steve Sarkisian had a two-year stint as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator from 2017-18. He jumped from there to Nick Saban's coaching group at Alabama, serving in the same position with the Crimson Tide. He netted the Longhorns job after helping 'Bama to a national title in 2020.

Texas returned to the national spotlight last season when it battled Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies all game and gave itself a chance to win the Sugar Bowl. Instead, that final drive was cut 13 yards short and sent the Huskies to the national title game against Michigan.

Why Steve Sarkisian could be an interesting hire for NFL teams

The Longhorns' only two losses this time around came against the Georgia Bulldogs, the latter in the SEC Championship game last month. Since then, Texas has gotten past Clemson and Arizona State to set up its much-anticipated meeting with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl.

The game will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and should seem like a home game for Steve Sarkisian and his crew.

"He is interesting," Staples said of Sarkisian. "I like the way he's developed Texas, but I also think ... there's nothing that screams great pro coach versus great college. The things that he's done at Texas that are really good — building NFL draft picks, recruiting offensive linemen well and then scheming them up — the roster construction is unique to college."

Staples further contended that the clash with the motivated Buckeyes would be a test for Sarkisian's roster construction. Ohio State is the hottest team in college football as it stands, having rolled Tennessee and Big 10-champion Oregon on the way to the Lonestar State.

"Ohio State is in buzzsaw mode," Staples added. "Texas is going to have to be its absolute best to win this game, or to keep this game close."

If Sarkisian can get past a daunting opponent and to Atlanta to compete for a national championship, he'll be revered in Austin. The Longhorns haven't won it all since 2005 when Vince Young put together a performance to remember in the Rose Bowl against USC.