Coach Sark didn't hold back!
Steve Sarkisian Gets Real on Punishment for Breaching NIL Cap originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns recruiting staff have stepped it up yet again with the commitment of Derek Cooper. After his announcement, the Longhorns have broken into the top 5 recruiting classes for 2026.
However, these big-time moves and flips have led to some rumors around the Longhorns' spending. Coach Sarkisian put the rumors to rest with a clear stance on the issue.
He spoke to the media, talking about the overspending issue and punishment for those who breach the NIL cap.
The Longhorns HC said, "Somewhere down the road, I don’t know if it is tomorrow, next week, next year, someone is going to get punished for going over the cap. And I surely don’t want to be the school that gets punished."
Sarkisian's Longhorns were rumored to have $35M-$40M for roster budget, but the head coach refuted these claims in May. He labelled these figures as "irresponsible reporting."
He pointed at the way things are in the media today, saying, "I’m talking real publications ran with it, and it was like, that’s what’s going on in Texas. Nobody asked me one question. Like, okay, sure, but if that’s what you think, that’s fine. If that’s the narrative you want to paint for our team. That’s fine, whatever."
Longhorns have assembled a formidable team this year. Arch Manning gets to lead a splendid offense. This team has been quickly growing in the conference.
Even last year, they proved that despite being new to the conference, they were much better suited to be the face of the SEC than the other teams.
Alabama Crimson Tide will remain the biggest name, but if Kalen DeBoer is not able to achieve as much and as quickly as expected, the Longhorns have a real chance to be the best team in the conference for the foreseeable future.
Related: Cooper Manning Hilariously Trolled for Arch Manning's 'Frat Boy' Outfit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
