Texas' Steve Sarkisian questions NCAA's rules on player agents in NIL world: 'Might be their college roommate'

Texas Longhorns caput shot coach Steve Sarkisian still has 1 much crippled to play successful his 2025 season, but for illustration each different programme successful nan country, he has to enlistee for 2026 and beyond astatine nan aforesaid time. 

That process has evidently changed now crossed each assemblage athletics aft nan preamble of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, which has turned recruiting into a financial game. 

But 1 of nan galore holes successful nan system, astatine slightest successful nan eyes of Sarkisian, is nan deficiency of regularisation surrounding nan agents these athletes prosecute to discuss those NIL deals earlier heading disconnected to school. 

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Head coach Steve Sarkisian of nan Texas Longhorns holds Horns Up arsenic he walks into nan stadium earlier nan SEC shot crippled betwixt Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies connected November 28, 2025, astatine Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium successful Austin, TX. (David Buono/Icon Sportswire)

Before nan Longhorns return connected nan Michigan Wolverines successful nan Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Sarkisian discussed that facet of recruitment, suggesting immoderate of nan agents are not moreover qualified to beryllium negotiating deals that could beryllium millions. 

"Which supplier are you dealing with? There’s immoderate agents who are logical and past there’s immoderate wherever it’s their first clip ever being an agent," Sarkisian told reporters, per OnTexasFootball. "I don’t moreover cognize if they’re licensed to beryllium agents, and each of a sudden, they get to beryllium agents because we person nary certification process successful assemblage football, wherever nan NFL you person to beryllium certified. In assemblage football, it mightiness beryllium their assemblage roommate their freshman twelvemonth who’s their supplier correct now."

Sarkisian was asked astir what Texas is looking to do this offseason to switch immoderate cardinal players, including moving backmost Quintrevion Wisner, who entered nan transportation portal. Wisner made nan announcement of nan move this past Friday, joining CJ Baxter and Rickey Stewart Jr. arsenic Texas moving backmost transfers.

While Sarkisian explained really nan squad needs different beryllium strategic, identifying what they request versus what they want, arsenic good arsenic looking astatine nan "luxuries" they person connected nan roster, he besides made judge to mention nan precocious schoolhouse recruiting people for 2026 that needs to beryllium looked at.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian of nan Texas Longhorns speaks during SEC Football Media Days astatine Omni Dallas Hotel connected July 17, 2024 successful Dallas, Texas.  (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Either way, Texas continues to peruse nan transportation portal, and Sarkisian knows he’s going to person to proceed having telephone conversations pinch "agents" moving forward.

"Again, I deliberation there’s thing incorrect pinch that," Sarkisian said aft reflecting connected really financials person travel into play erstwhile it comes to building a assemblage roster. "We’ve conscionable sewage to tighten it up. Hopefully, we tin get location sooner alternatively than later, because again, I’m astir apt going to beryllium connected nan telephone pinch an supplier coming who’s going to propulsion a number astatine maine that I’m going to beryllium like, ‘Good luck, I dream you get it. If you don’t, telephone america back. But I can’t do that number.’"

Head coach Steve Sarkisian of nan Texas Longhorns connected nan section anterior to a crippled against nan Arkansas Razorbacks astatine Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium connected Nov. 22, 2025 successful Austin, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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Unlike different lower-level programs, nan University of Texas has immoderate tremendous NIL costs to activity with. In fact, nan highest-paid NIL jock successful assemblage shot is their quarterback, Arch Manning, who will stay pinch nan squad heading into 2026. He’s hoping to decorativeness beardown successful his first vessel crippled commencement connected New Year’s Eve.

Texas led nan measurement pinch a monolithic NIL fund for nan 2025 season, ranking higher than immoderate squad successful assemblage shot astatine $22.2 million, according to 247 Sports.

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