Sarkisian says Texas State is a CFP contender, but Texas should still dominate

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Steve Sarkisian says Texas State is a CFP contender, but Texas should still crush Week 1 matchup

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 2, 2026 5:23 PM ET

The No. 5 Texas Longhorns' first real test comes against the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes on Sept. 12, but head coach Steve Sarkisian isn't overlooking their Week 1 matchup.

The Longhorns host the Texas State Bobcats in their season opener on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET). The Pac-12 school has never been ranked in the Associated Press poll or the College Football Playoff, but Sarkisian insists the Bobcats are a sleeper.

Steve Sarkisian offers bold Texas State take

"I'll tell you what, I know everyone's wanting to talk about next week, this team we're playing this week, don't be surprised in the end of November if they're not in the talk of making the College Football Playoff," Sarkisian said Wednesday, via Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com. "I think Texas State's a really good team, so they got our attention."

Texas State went 7-6 in 2025, but it may take the next step in its fourth season under HC GJ Kinne. Led by sophomore quarterback Brad Jackson (3,224 passing yards in 2025, No. 24 in FBS), the Bobcats own the third-best preseason odds to win the conference (+475), behind the San Diego State Aztecs (+425) and Boise State Broncos (+134), via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about his perference of playing a big game in Week 1 vs. Week 2 during the SEC Coaches Conference Call on Wednesday and shut it down: "I'll tell you what, I know everyone's wanting to talk about next week [Ohio State], this team… pic.twitter.com/IlsTxN41O5
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) September 2, 2026

Kinne suggested the Bobcats' high-octane offense should give them a chance against Texas. Last season, Texas State ranked ninth in the country in scoring (36.6 points per game).

"We've really built this offense the way we want to, and every year it's evolved," Kinne said Monday (h/t Field Level Media). "Feel like it puts a lot of pressure on the defense. 'What are you trying to take away? How can we attack you?' Combine that with tempo and some different wrinkles and it's been a pretty good offense, top-five offense, the last four years."

However, Texas' loaded defense, which features preseason first-team All-American edge-rusher Colin Simmons, should ground Texas State's offense in a cakewalk for the Longhorns. As of Wednesday, DraftKings Sportsbook lists the school as a 29.5-point favorite in the matchup.

Sarkisian is praising the Bobcats to keep his team on its toes and avoid a Week 1 letdown. Texas can't afford a hiccup before its prime-time matchup against Ohio State (ABC, 7:30 p.m. ET). The Longhorns lost their last two games to the Buckeyes in 2024 and 2025.

Clark Dalton

Clark 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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