Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has expressed uncertainty about whether the Longhorns will schedule a future game against Notre Dame in the 2028‑2029 season, a matchup that once seemed locked in.
The Playoff Puzzle
The comment follows a season in which Texas finished 9‑3 but missed the College Football Playoff, a result influenced by losses to Ohio State, Florida and Georgia that weakened the team’s strength‑of‑schedule profile.
Sarkisian pointed out that the criteria the CFP selection committee uses to evaluate at‑large teams remain ambiguous, especially as the tournament is being considered for expansion to 16 or even 24 participants.
Pete Bevacqua, Notre Dame’s athletic director, previously indicated that the series with Texas would be played, yet the coach’s recent remarks highlight how volatile the schedule landscape has become.
The Longhorns are slated to host Ohio State in Week 2 of the upcoming season and are set to meet Michigan in 2027, games that could shape future non‑conference arrangements.
Analysts suggest that a larger CFP field could lessen the penalty for early‑season defeats, potentially opening the door for more high‑profile matchups, though the final decision will depend on how the committee weighs each program’s résumé.
Fans of both programs remain hopeful that the historic rivalry will eventually materialize, but the path forward will depend on how the playoff structure and scheduling priorities evolve over the next few years.