Texas is discontinuing its annual tradition as the team starts gearing up for the next season.
“We’re not going to have a spring game… Over the past two years, we’ve played 30 games,” head coach Steve Sarkisian stated on “Up and Adams” Thursday. “That’s a lot for college football. We had 14 games two years ago, 16 this year, and I’m also mentioning that we’ve had 25 players invited to the NFL combine over the last two years. So there are many young athletes on our roster.”
Due to this youth, the team needs to adapt its development strategy, according to Sarkisian, who noted that the Longhorns will implement a more “NFL-driven” approach, akin to how the league conducts OTA activities before spring practices. Sarkisian believes a spring game doesn’t maximize the team’s time, especially since each school is allowed only 15 practices.
The Longhorns have participated in the Big 12 and SEC title games over the last two seasons and made it to the College Football Playoff each time. Texas concluded its 2024 season with a 13-3 record after being eliminated in the CFP semifinals by Ohio State.
Texas is part of a growing trend among programs that are forgoing spring games in response to the evolving landscape of college football. Other programs, such as Ohio State and USC, have canceled their spring games, while Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule expressed doubt about holding the annual event.
Additionally, the Texas board of regents approved a salary increase and contract extension for Sarkisian on Thursday, raising his pay from $10.4 million to $10.8 million in 2025 and extending his deal through the 2031 season. Under Sarkisian, the Longhorns have a 38-17 record over four seasons.
Texas will kick off its 2025 season against Ohio State on August 30 in a rematch of last year’s Cotton Bowl.
