Can academic excellence lead to dominance on the football field? At the University of Texas, head coach Steve Sarkisian believes it can—and the Longhorns’ results over the last three years make a strong case.
Speaking at the Texas High School Coaches Association convention, Sarkisian broke down how the Longhorns’ steady climb in the classroom has paralleled their rise in wins and NFL Draft picks.
When Sark first arrived in spring 2021, Texas Football’s team GPA was 2.33. That fall, the team finished just 5–7, and no players were drafted.
After emphasizing academic standards, the team GPA rose to 2.76. That year, the Longhorns improved to 8–4, with five players drafted.
In the following academic cycle, the GPA climbed to 2.9. On the field, Texas went 12–2, made the College Football Playoff, and set a program record with 11 players drafted.
Now, Texas Football has achieved a 3.1 team GPA heading into the 2025 season. Coach Sarkisian addressed it with optimism:
“I’m not one for predictions, but with that team GPA, it seems like we’re set up for something really special this coming fall.”
Texas is expected to be a national title contender by many analysts. If this trend between GPA and performance continues, the big question becomes: Does Texas finally get over the hump and win it all? That remains to be seen.
Sarkisian also shared a core belief that’s been adopted inside the Longhorns’ facility:
“We have an old adage around the building that who you are some of the time is who you are all the time. We don’t get to pick and choose to represent what a Longhorn looks like.”
That mindset—consistent discipline, character, and accountability—is showing up in every phase of the program.
It’s clear that who Texas is being all the time is translating to success both on the field and off of it. So maybe there’s real truth in what Sark believes. Maybe it does correlate.
And when Texas coaches talk to families about the program offering the full package, they’re not selling a fantasy. The results speak for themselves.
The GPA is rising.
The draft picks are rising.
The wins are rising.
What else could you ask for?
