Steve Sarkisian Makes History in Cotton Bowl Classic

ARLINGTON, Texas — University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is set to make history Friday at the 89th Cotton Bowl Classic, becoming only the fourth person to both play in and later coach in the prestigious game. Sarkisian, who led Brigham Young University (BYU) to a victory in the 1997 Cotton Bowl as its quarterback, will guide the Texas Longhorns against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.

Only three individuals have achieved this dual feat in Cotton Bowl history: Ken Hatfield (Arkansas), David McWilliams (Texas), and Art Briles (Houston and Baylor). Sarkisian, however, will stand alone as the only former Cotton Bowl Outstanding Player to later coach in the game. In 1997, he earned the title after leading BYU to a win over Kansas State.

Kelvin Walker, Board Chairman for the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, expressed excitement about the matchup. “It’s going to be electric. It’s going to be a lot of hype. We have the privilege of playing on the Friday night game to be the last game of this first year of the 12-team playoff, and to have a Texas team play in that game in Texas is pretty special,” Walker said.

Sarkisian’s Longhorns enter the game with a 13-2 record, having secured back-to-back College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal appearances. Texas claimed its first 13-win season since 2009 after defeating Arizona State in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The team’s offense ranks among the nation’s best, averaging 448.9 yards per game and scoring 34.3 points per game.

Under Sarkisian’s leadership, Texas has also excelled defensively, ranking second in the FBS in turnovers gained (30) and passes intercepted (21). Junior quarterback Quinn Ewers has been a standout, completing 66.5% of his passes for 3,189 yards and 29 touchdowns this season.

The game marks a pivotal moment for Sarkisian, who is also a finalist for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on January 22, 2025, in Houston.

The Cotton Bowl Classic kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Friday and will be broadcast on ESPN, with College GameDay providing pregame coverage from Arlington.