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The Texas football program is gearing up for another deep run in the SEC. Yet, the team will have to pay extra attention to details with new conference policies possibly being implemented. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey outlined some potential injury report mandates on Monday afternoon. Moreover, head coach Steve Sarkisian gave an honest take on how to effectively implement the system.
Sarkisian gave a straightforward response when asked how to make sure coaches are truthful if required to provide injury reports.
“Fine us. That’s what they do in the NFL. The NFL has figured this out. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. If you don’t report a guy, fine us. We all like the money we make,” Sarkisian said, per Brett McMurphy.
Steve Sarkisian's solution to the potential mandate seems pretty logical. However, Greg Sankey explained that the new change is more complex than it appears. He said the conference is taking caution with how it could implement it, as it would not be a traditional “injury report” policy.
“We don’t want to just rush into something,” Sankey said, per On3. “It’s not injury reporting. It’s a very different circumstance given some of the privacy issues we have. Yet when you start to see the numbers of dollars being bet on legalized sports gambling around college sports — not just football, but men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball — all of those catch your attention.”
As Greg Sankey alluded, having a form of availability reporting would help maintain the integrity of the game to prevent injury intel from being manipulated in the sports betting market. Regardless of what happens, Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program are focused on the ultimate prize.
Texas football looks for a championship in 2024-25
The Longhorns finished the 2023-24 season with a 12-2 overall record and won the Big 12 championship over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. As a result, they earned a No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff. Texas was on the brink of advancing to the national championship but lost 37-31 to the talented Washington Huskies.
Texas wants to get back to the CFP in 2024-25, but the road will not be easy. The Longhorns joined the SEC, which is arguably the toughest conference in college football. They will have to battle the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and the rest of the conference's tough competitors to make a deep postseason run.
Nevertheless, Texas is returning one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the country to their roster. Rising junior Quinn Ewers will be back leading the Longhorns' offense during the 2024-25 season.
Ewers had a breakout season during his sophomore year. He threw for a collegiate-career-high 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns, and boasted a QBR of 78.3. He looks to take his passing game to a new level amid Texas' change in scenery and high aspirations.
The Longhorns have the pieces necessary to compete with the best. As the summer offseason continues, Steve Sarkisian will do everything he can to prepare his team for a challenging journey.
