Steve Sarkisian doubles down on play-calling, saying he is not considering staff changes after Texas’ loss to Oklahoma

Texas entered the Red River Rivalry looking to steady its season momentum. After the Longhorns’ loss to Oklahoma, coach Steve Sarkisian publicly indicated he is not considering staff changes, and that he will still call plays himself. The message matters because it frames how Texas plans to respond to in-season criticism, particularly around offense and in-game decision-making, where play-calling is often treated as a direct accountability lever.

Sarkisian’s stance positions the Texas offense in a familiar structure: the head coach remains the play-caller rather than handing primary play-calling duties to another staff member. In college football, that choice can create clarity when things are working, but it also concentrates responsibility. If the offense struggles, critics often look first to the person making the weekly plan and the calls from the sideline, not only to coordinators.

The reluctance to pursue staff adjustments is also notable because Texas has to manage expectations while competing in a league where margin for error is thin. A season can force rapid recalibration, yet Sarkisian’s approach suggests he believes the best path forward is not replacing coaches during the year. That is a high-stakes bet, especially when an offseason roster is already built around a particular offensive identity and scheme continuity.

CBS Sports’ reporting highlighted the broader risk of this posture, arguing that “tough” coaching staff adjustments might be the kind of move that prevents early-season frustrations from hardening into longer-term problems. In the college game, in-season changes can sometimes report that leadership has identified a correctable failure point, whether it is game-plan design, situational play-calling, or how a unit responds under pressure.

Even without detailing specific internal disputes, Sarkisian’s comments carry practical implications for how Texas prepares next week. When the head coach retains play-calling, offensive meetings and schematic collaboration tend to stay tightly connected to the weekly call sheet. Players also often take cues from whether a staff shuffle is on the table; avoiding it can be interpreted as a vote of confidence in current coaching continuity, but it can also reduce the hope that a different voice would bring a new approach quickly.

For the rest of the Longhorns’ schedule, the question is whether Sarkisian’s continued control over play-calling produces the kind of sharper offensive execution that can quiet the staff-change debate. If Texas’ offensive output improves, the decision will likely look like leadership taking accountability while sticking to its system. If it does not, the lack of adjustment after a high-profile loss could intensify calls for changes, not only in the coaching room but in how Texas distributes responsibility on game day.

At this stage, the most concrete confirmed elements are Sarkisian’s stated intention to continue calling plays and his reported position that staff changes are not under consideration after the Oklahoma loss. The next key development to watch is whether Texas’ offensive performance responds in the weeks ahead, and whether the program expands on its plan for adjustments if results remain uneven.