Outside of coaches in the Big 12, arguably nobody has spent more time preparing for Texas under Steve Sarkisian than Kalen DeBoer. His Washington teams have faced the Longhorns in two consecutive postseasons, with the latter meeting being in the College Football Playoff. DeBoer has come out on top on both occasions, winning the Alamo Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
Now, DeBoer and Sarkisian will go up against one another as SEC foes. The Alabama head coach was asked about the program Sarkisian is building in Austin, giving his thoughts on the direction they are going. Positive reviews for the job another former Washington head coach has done.
“He’s done a great job, building it, improving it each and every year,” DeBoer said via SEC Spring Meetings. “And of course, I’ve seen that the last two years. Extremely competitive team with a lot of talent, played with great physicality, and been through it now. Won some big games, also learning from the experiences that they’ve had together as a program.”
Sarkisian certainly has earned some big wins over the past two seasons, mainly during 2023. Texas beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa — although Nick Saban was the coach at the time. Many around the program will remember taking down Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game too, earning a first conference title since 2009.
Those moments will carry Texas into the SEC, where they officially become members a week from Monday. Sarkisian will have a new-looking roster heading into one of college football’s top two conferences — specifically on the defensive end.
Consider DeBoer a believer in what Sarkisian has done, though. He thinks Texas is still trending the right way under Sarkisian.
“I know guys graduate, guys move on, but I can see the direction it’s going,” DeBoer said. “So, giving some props to Coach Sark and what he’s what he’s building.”
DeBoer and Sarkisian are not scheduled to play one another for the next two seasons, at least during the regular season. There is always the possibility of meeting in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game, a place both programs want to be this December.
There is certainly a respect between the two, though. Both have previous ties to the Pacific Northwest and now take charge of top-end SEC programs. If anything, Sarkisian would like to find a way to get one over DeBoer on the field sooner rather than later.
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