College football, where attitudes are as flashy as playbooks: Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has never been afraid to infuse his own style into the sidelines. And so, when EA Sports debuted its avatar for College Football 26, fans were quick to point out that something was amiss.
Many fans were spotted strolling down a tunnel during a game in his signature red polo, but sans ever-present shades. His comeback? A well-timed Instagram Story and a reaction. The shot wasn’t just funny—it was maximum Sarkisian.
The Shades, the Swagger, and the Sark Effect
You can rave all you want about Steve Sarkisian’s big-play offenses or his quarterback whisperer persona, but don’t act like the sunglasses aren’t part of the deal. Whether he’s taking the Longhorns out at DKR or delivering a fiery halftime tirade, Sark doesn’t always show up without his trademark sunglasses. They’re not something you wear just because—you wear them because they’re armor. And for EA Sports to omit them? That’s equivalent to dressing up Nick Saban in flip-flops.
When Sarkisian viewed the video of his avatar without shades, he reposted a screenshot to Instagram Story and handed down the now-viral rant: “Polo with No Shades??”. The post went viral in an instant, with fans weighing in, concurring that the virtual Sark was… incomplete.
Sark on IG.
I am howling. 😂 pic.twitter.com/VDR14ugd3u
— Claudia (@TexasEx10) May 29, 2025
Since arriving in 2021 at Texas, he’s delivered top-flight recruiting and an aerial attack. But with that, he also showed confidence that permeates everything from pre-game warm-ups to media sessions.
His appearance, usually with clean polos, fitted pants, and, yeah, those iconic shades, has become so ubiquitous on Longhorn game day. It’s one reason that fans have begun to latch onto Sark as more than just football strategy—he embodies a Texas program attempting to update and cool its way through it.
And on his behalf, the off-field work is putting in just as much effort. Sark led the Longhorns to a College Football Playoff spot last year and is entering 2025 with a roster full of NFL-ready players. From Arch Manning to Quinn Ewers previously, Sark established a quarterback pipeline while keeping his squad in the national spotlight.
The EA Sports Angle: Real Coaches, Real Style?
Interestingly, despite the excitement around the new EA Sports game, Sarkisian and his star quarterback, Arch Manning, actually opted not to attend the photo shoot for the game’s promotional cover at the Rose Bowl. Why? Preparation.
Sark spoke candidly at the Houston Touchdown Club, explaining that while the game’s promo shoot was cool, it didn’t fit into their team-first mentality. “We’re focused on football,” he noted.
This move just adds fuel to Sarkisian’s leadership style—he may like to poke fun on social media, but when it’s business, he’s focused. It’s obvious that he’s guiding the Longhorns with an “eyes on the prize” focus going into 2025.
Following the release of EA Sports’ trailer, social media exploded with responses—not necessarily to the game, but to Sarkisian’s mini-roast. Some fans called on EA to release an update. Others photoshopped sunglasses onto his in-game avatar and reshot it with postings like “Fixed it, Coach.”
This year’s EA Sports College Football 26 is a huge step up. More than 11,000 players and over 100 coaches—yes, with real likenesses—are included in the experience. It’s the first time a group of fans will get to play with their beloved college stars and coaches as real in-game characters.
But with such realism comes accountability. Coaches such as Sarkisian have large personalities and even larger fan bases.
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