Steve Sarkisian Bowl Record: 5 craziest postseason games of Texas coach before Peach Bowl 

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian has had a winding career arc to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. Sark coached at Washington and USC and spent time in the NFL, but has since found his calling at Texas.

He has just a 3-4 career record in post-season play, well below his 83-51 career collegiate mark. But here are his five biggest bowl moments to date.

5 craziest Steve Sarkisian postseason games

Sarkisian and Texas bested Clemson in their 2024 first-round matchup. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

#5. Holiday Bowl 2010, vs. Nebraska

This game mattered because Sarkisian, who was coaching at Washington, took the Huskies to their first bowl game since 2002 and picked up their first bowl win since 2000. The Bowl pitted a 6-6 Washington team against a Nebraska team with 10 wins on the season. Washington took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and held on for a 19-7 win by giving up just 189 total yards.

#4. Holiday Bowl 2014, vs. Nebraska

In his first season at USC, Sarkisian took the Trojans to the Holiday Bowl where he again faced Nebraska. Coach Bo Pelini, who had faced Sark in the game mentioned above, had just lost his job, and Nebraska had an interim coach against an 8-4 Trojans squad.

USC was sharp offensively throughout the game and worked to a 45-27 lead late in the third quarter before holding on for a 45-42 win. Both teams passed for over 300 yards in the shootout.

#3. Alamo Bowl 2022, vs. Washington

Sarkisian took the Longhorns back to their first bowl game in the Alamo Bowl against Washington. While Texas lost the game 27-20, the game was a sign of the progress within a Texas program that had often appeared beleaguered before Sarkisian arrived. Quinn Ewers also passed for 369 yards in the game, making it an important preview of things to come.

#2. Sugar Bowl 2024, vs. Washington

If the Alamo Bowl was a big step toward getting Texas back, this was the next big step. The Longhorns reached the old four-team College Football Playoff and got a rematch with Washington. Yes, Texas lost the game, but the 37-31 matchup showed the Horns to be as capable as any team of advancing deep in college football's postseason. Ewers passed for 318 more yards.

#1. CFP First Round Game 2024, vs. Clemson

All of the games above were leading to the first-round beatdown of Clemson. After Texas broke the game open early with a 28-10 halftime lead, the Longhorns held on for a 38-24 triumph and a shot in the quarterfinals of the CFP. Ewers passed for only 202 yards this time, in part because a balanced Texas team didn't lean as hard on him.

Particularly if Texas goes deeper in the CFP, this game will be even more significant in Sarkisian's legend. Time will tell whether this was just another step or the big jump ahead of a national title.

What do you think of Sarkisian's bowl history? Can the Longhorns go all the way this season? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.