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Texas' Steve Sarkisian goes all-in with stunning move

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Texas' Steve Sarkisian copies Ohio State's Ryan Day, goes all-in with stunning move

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 19, 2025 2:41 AM ET

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is taking a page from Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day's playbook.

Before the start of the 2024 season, Day hired former Oregon Ducks/UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly as his offensive coordinator. This move helped the Buckeyes win the national championship. Sarkisian has pulled a similar one, just on the defensive side of the ball.

On Thursday, the school confirmed it has fired defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and defensive passing game coordinator Duane Akina, replacing them with former Florida Gators/South Carolina Gamecocks HC Will Muschamp. The coach also served as DC under national championship-winning head coach Mack Brown from 2008-10 and as an analyst for the Georgia Bulldogs this season.

Steve Sarkisian explains why he made the change

"We appreciate all that Pete Kwiatkowski has done for the program in his five years of coordinating our defense and are grateful for Duane Akina's efforts in returning to the program this past year," Sarkisian said, via a statement. "But at this time we just felt it was best for our program to move in a different direction, and having the opportunity to hire Will Muschamp provides us the leadership to take our defense to another level."

Welcome back to the Forty, Will Muschamp pic.twitter.com/vD9KGfstHE
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 18, 2025

Will the unexpected move work?

The Longhorns defense hasn't been one of the team's weaknesses under Kwiatkowski. This season, Texas ranks sixth in the SEC in points allowed (19.8).

There was reason to believe the unit would continue to excel in 2026, given that the DC clearly has an eye for talent. During his tenure, the Longhorns have sent multiple defenders to the NFL, including cornerback Jahdae Barron (now with the Denver Broncos).

Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. — who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft — is expected to be a Day 2 pick in April. NFL Mock Draft Database projects that he'll be a second-rounder.

However, Kwiatkowski's defense often folded on the biggest stage. In a 37-31 loss to the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff semifinal during the 2023 season, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. shredded the unit, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns.

In last season's CFP semifinal against the Buckeyes, RB TreVeyon Henderson scored a 75-yard TD on a short pass before halftime. The play proved pivotal in a 28-14 Longhorns loss.

TREVEYON HENDERSON 75 YARDS TO THE HOUSE, WOW‼️

Ohio State immediately answers after Texas' TD. pic.twitter.com/a0OdS0eORK
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025

Muschamp, who has a championship pedigree, may deliver in these moments. He served as LSU Tigers DC from 2002-04, helping former HC Nick Saban win his first national title.

Muschamp will have his first test in Week 2 of the 2026 season when the Longhorns host the Buckeyes on Sept. 12. A victory would give Texas the early momentum it needs to return to the CFP and win a championship. In 2025, Texas backslid, going 9-3 in the regular season and missing the postseason tournament.

If Texas beats Ohio State next season, Sarkisian should give Day props. He's hoping that copying one of his plays will help his program reach the next level.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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