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Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian still has one more game left in his 2025 season, but like every other program in the country, he has to recruit for 2026 and beyond at the same time.
Obviously, that process has now changed across college sports after the introduction of name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements, which has turned recruiting into a financial game.
But one of the many holes in the system, at least in Sarkisian’s eyes, is the lack of regulation surrounding the agents these athletes hire to negotiate those NIL agreements before they go to school.
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Head Coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns holds Horns Up as he enters the stadium before the SEC football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies on November 28, 2025, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (David Buono/Sportswire Icon)
Before the Longhorns face the Michigan Wolverines in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Sarkisian discussed that aspect of recruiting, suggesting that some of the agents aren’t even qualified to negotiate deals that could run into the millions.
“What agent are you dealing with? There are some agents who are rational and then there are others where it’s their first time being an agent,” Sarkisian told reporters, according to OnTexasFootball. “I don’t even know if they’re licensed to be agents, and all of a sudden, they become agents because we don’t have a certification process in college football, where in the NFL you have to be certified. In college football, it could be your college roommate your freshman year who is your agent right now.”
Sarkisian was asked what Texas is looking to do this offseason to replace some key players, including running back Quintrevion Wisner, who entered the transfer portal. Wisner made the move announcement last Friday, joining CJ Baxter and Rickey Stewart Jr. as running back transfers from Texas.
While Sarkisian explained how the team needs others to be strategic, identifying what they need versus what they want, as well as looking at the “luxuries” they have on the roster, he also made sure to mention the 2026 high school recruiting class that needs to be looked at.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns speaks during SEC football media days at the Omni Dallas Hotel on July 17, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Either way, Texas continues to examine the transfer portal and Sarkisian knows he will have to continue having phone conversations with “agents” in the future.
“Again, I think there’s nothing wrong with that,” Sarkisian said after reflecting on how finances have come into play when it comes to building a college roster. “We just have to adjust it. Hopefully, we can get there sooner rather than later, because again, I’ll probably be on the phone today with an agent who will give me a number and I’ll say, ‘Good luck, I hope you get it. If you don’t, call us again. But I can’t call that number.'”
Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns on the field before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Unlike other lower-level programs, the University of Texas has huge NIL funds to work with. In fact, the highest-paid NIL athlete in college football is their quarterback, Arch Manning, who will remain with the team through 2026. He hopes to finish strong in his first bowl game start on New Year’s Eve.
Texas led the way with a massive NIL budget for the 2025 season, ranking above any team in college football at $22.2 million, according to 247 Sports.
