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Steve Sarkisian puts on his politicking hat in a Monday media tour

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook2 hours agojosephcook89

The Full Ginsburg is a term describing someone who appears on all five of the major American Sunday morning talk shows in one day. While Steve Sarkisian didn’t show up on Meet the Press and four other shows on Sunday to make Texas’ case for inclusion in the College Football Playoff, what he did Monday came pretty close.

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As Evan Vieth covered earlier, Sarkisian started his day on SEC This Morning on the SEC Network. He made a lot of prescient points that he first presented after Texas’ 27-17 win over Texas A&M. He included things like how his team navigated a tough schedule, why playing Ohio State shouldn’t be punished, why the Florida loss isn’t as bad as many are making it out to be, and why Texas’ 9-3 looks a lot different than the 10-2 record other teams have.

Then, he did it again on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on FS1 and nationally syndicated radio.

Then, he did it again on the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum Show.

Sarkisian didn’t have his normal Monday press conference today considering Texas’ regular season is over and he’s likely to have an opportunity with the media on Wednesday for national signing day. But Sarkisian, and Texas senior associate athletics director for communications John Bianco by extension, didn’t take a full break from the media.

Rather, they came out firing with a full-on blitz.

There’s little doubt Sarkisian was saving some of the material used on the SEC Network and FS1 until he needed it. Last Monday, Sarkisian passed on the chance to make a College Football Playoff case for his team since the A&M game was still ahead of him. If he made an extended speech and then went out and lost to the Aggies, it would not have looked like a good decision.

So he waited until after Texas won to go on an extended speech in his postgame press conference. That followed Sarkisian advocating for his team in his postgame interview with ESPN’s Molly McGrath.

When the time came, Sarkisian was prepared to deliver the coordinated message.

The argument that Texas should have taken care of business against Florida is a valid one, but that result can’t be changed. What could possibly be changed is opinions belonging to members of the College Football Playoff selection committee. As the leader of the program, Sarkisian is simply advocating for his program.

A lot.

This isn’t about the $250,000 bonus that will come Sarkisian’s way for making the CFP. It’s about giving his team a chance to play in college football’s postseason tournament.

If hearts and minds can be changed enough to place Texas into the field of 12, all this politicking will prove to be worth it.

If not, then it won’t be for a lack of effort from Sarkisian in the aftermath of the 2025 regular season.

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