The sport of college football is much more complex than that of the NFL. Texas Longhorns head coach, Steve Sarkisian, recently explained the chaos that is calling plays on game day. While many fans think it’s sometimes easier than it looks, Sarkisian explained the chaos behind it.
Texas is becoming arguably one of the best college football programs, once again. Their former quarterback Quinn Ewers has been picked up by the Miami Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Draft, and now Longhorns fans are embracing their new Arch Manning era. Now, Sarkisian has recently discussed what goes into being a coach on the field on game day.
Steve Sarkisian Breaks Down the Intensity of Game Day Play-Calling
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian says being a play caller on Saturdays means making nonstop decisions that could alter the success, or lack thereof, of a team. Here’s how he handles it.
“There’s nothing better than game day. I get up like it’s Christmas morning,” Sarkisian tells CBS Sports’ Josh Pate. “I’m so excited for game day. When I step on the grass before the game, I go out probably a little earlier than most head coaches because there’s so much other stuff going on.”
“You’re making a decision every 30 seconds for the next 4 hours”
Sark vividly describing what Saturday is like for a head coach + play caller. This was excellent. pic.twitter.com/tut4IvwC6W
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) May 7, 2025
“You’ve got recruits there, you’ve got donors there, the music’s playing, and sometimes I just want to get into my space and my zone. I have to get myself into this space, to your point, that’s almost a little bit of a silo, to think very clearly, and to be clear minded and to be focused.
“Then, when the moment hits, when that ball gets kicked off, to put it into perspective, think about making a decision every 30 seconds. Imagine if you’re sitting at home, and for the next four hours your wife asks you what you want to eat. Every 30 seconds. When you say ‘I don’t know,’ that’s called a delay of game.”
Sarkisian continued, “Every 30 seconds, you’re making a decision every 30 seconds for the next four hours. What happens is, when it’s all said and done, there’s this odd feeling of you’re exhausted, but you’re still amped up. You have to find a way to get yourself off of that, because you’re on. You’re literally on for four straight hours.”
Sarkisian explained very well what goes through his mind as a college football coach for one of the biggest programs in the sport.
KEEP READING: Steve Sarkisian Defends Quinn Ewers After Draft Slide
It’s easy to be a spectator on the sidelines, but until you’re going through it, it’s tough to talk about the easiness of it.
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