Sarkisian Defends Texas Football Amid NIL Spending Accusations
May 30, 2025 – Austin, TX
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has come out strongly in defense of his football program amid growing scrutiny and widespread media speculation that the team has spent excessively through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals to build its current roster. Speaking to reporters during a media session at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Sarkisian criticized what he described as “irresponsible reporting” and a “misleading narrative” that he believes undermines the hard work of his staff and players.
The controversy began swirling following Texas’ high-profile recruitment victories over the past year. The Longhorns have consistently landed top-tier talent — including several five-star high school recruits and elite transfers — and now boast one of the most stacked rosters in the nation heading into the 2025 college football season. While the program’s upward trajectory has been welcomed by Texas fans eager for a return to national prominence, it has also attracted criticism and suspicion from outside observers, particularly concerning the influence of NIL collectives and financial incentives.
However, Sarkisian was adamant that the speculation is both unfounded and disrespectful. “It’s unfortunate and, frankly, irresponsible reporting,” he said. “A lot of what’s being said out there lacks context and accuracy. We’re not breaking any rules, and we’re certainly not out here buying a football team.”
In his remarks, the fourth-year head coach emphasized that Texas has been operating fully within NCAA guidelines and that any suggestion otherwise does a disservice to the athletes and the integrity of the program. He expressed frustration that public discourse has shifted away from player development and coaching to sensationalized headlines about spending.
“People see the results — a strong recruiting class, returning talent, and momentum — and they want to create a story,” Sarkisian said. “But the truth is, we’re building this program the right way: with culture, development, and opportunity. Our focus has always been on building a team that competes the right way, that earns its success on and off the field.”
Texas has indeed seen a resurgence since Sarkisian took the helm in 2021. After a rocky start, he has turned the Longhorns into legitimate College Football Playoff contenders. The team’s impressive run to the semifinals in the 2024 season reestablished Texas as a national powerhouse. For many fans and alumni, the return to relevance has been long overdue. But with success often comes scrutiny — particularly in the modern NIL era, where the line between player compensation and recruitment influence remains blurry.
The NCAA’s 2021 decision to allow student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness ushered in a new era of college athletics. Though intended to empower athletes, the move has also introduced a new competitive landscape where schools with well-funded donor bases and NIL collectives appear to hold a significant advantage. Texas, with its vast alumni network and deep pockets, has naturally found itself at the center of that conversation.
Reports from unnamed sources and speculative social media posts have painted a picture of Texas as one of the biggest “spenders” in college football, insinuating that top recruits are choosing the Longhorns because of NIL windfalls. While Sarkisian acknowledged that NIL has changed the landscape of recruiting, he strongly refuted the idea that Texas is crossing any ethical lines.
“There’s a big difference between supporting student-athletes through legitimate means and the narrative that we’re ‘buying’ players,” he said. “Our players come here because they believe in this program, our staff, and what we’re building. They know they’re going to get better — as athletes, as students, and as people.”
He also emphasized that the relationships and culture built inside the program are what ultimately convince recruits and transfers to join the team. “We recruit based on fit, character, and potential. Yes, NIL is a factor now, but it’s not the only factor. If someone thinks we’re just throwing money around and hoping players show up, they don’t understand how we operate.”
Sarkisian’s comments were echoed by several players, many of whom expressed pride in their decisions to come to Texas and rejected the notion that money was their primary motivation. One player, who asked not to be named, said, “NIL helps, sure, but I came here because I believe in Coach Sark, I believe in this team, and I want to win a championship. People need to stop acting like we’re just chasing paychecks.”
In addition to defending his program, Sarkisian also called for more accountability and integrity in sports journalism. He specifically criticized the practice of publishing speculative stories based on anonymous sources or unverified information. “We’ve got to be better as an industry,” he said. “Throwing out accusations without facts, without context — that doesn’t just hurt our program, it hurts the entire sport. It creates division and misinformation.”
The head coach also expressed concern about how the negative attention might affect the mental well-being of student-athletes. “These are young men — many of whom are just learning how to navigate adulthood,” Sarkisian noted. “When they see their names dragged through the mud or hear people say they only came to Texas for money, it hurts. It takes a toll. These guys work their tails off every day. They earn everything they get.”
Despite the controversy, Sarkisian made it clear that he and his staff remain focused on preparing for the upcoming season. With summer workouts underway and fall camp on the horizon, the Longhorns are already being pegged as one of the early favorites to compete for a national title. Key returners and talented newcomers are expected to bolster a roster that many analysts say is one of the most balanced in the country.
“Let people talk,” Sarkisian said. “We’re focused on football. We’re focused on continuing to develop our guys, competing at the highest level, and representing the University of Texas with pride.”
Sarkisian’s strong rebuttal to NIL spending accusations may not silence critics entirely, but it has made one thing abundantly clear: the Texas head coach is confident in his program’s direction and unapologetic about its success. As the Longhorns gear up for a pivotal 2025 campaign, Sarkisian hopes the narrative can shift back to what happens on the field — where, he believes, Texas is ready to prove itself yet again.
“Talk is cheap,” he concluded. “The scoreboard will speak for itself.”
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