Texas football wanted a third consecutive College Football Playoff berth, but even without it, it seems the program was always ready to take on their postseason opponent—Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, as we learned over the weekend. In a recent interview, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian that despite his staff and the team’s disappointment over the CFP snub, the program never considered opting out ahead of, nor after, learning of their near future bowl opponent. Even so, what do bowl opt outs mean for college football? Sarkisian gets into where he thinks the latest development might lead. “Where it goes from here, I don’t think anybody really knows.”I asked Steve Sarkisian if Texas considered opting out of its bowl game. He said UT did not.Why the Longhorns want to play – and what impact Notre Dame’s decision to opt out could have on college football.… pic.twitter.com/mHZDj9hyrq— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) December 7, 2025WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS Austin American-Statesman: Citrus Bowl: Texas Longhorns brace for opt outs of Michigan bowl gameAustin American-Statesman: Who does Texas volleyball play next in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16?Austin American-Statesman: Replay: Longhorns rout Texas ex Tai Dillard’s Prairie View A&M teamAustin American-Statesman: This is Texas basketball’s biggest concern, says coach Sean Miller247Sports: With the departure of CJ Baxter, Texas football’s running back room could be entering a new eraInside Texas: Transfer Portal Outlook: Early Over/Under on Texas exPortsInside Texas: The Reheat: Texas vs. Michigan doesn’t have to be meaninglessInside Texas: The Truth About Texas and the Playoff: Go earn itICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION Texas hosts Southern at crossroads following UVA blowoutNo. 13 Texas Longhorns taking on No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus BowlTexas sweeps defending champion Penn StateTexas LB Anthony Hill Jr. declares for the NFL DraftTexas QB Trey Owens to enter the NCAA transfer portalTexas RB CJ Baxter to enter the NCAA transfer portalTexas DT Melvin Hills III enters the NCAA transfer portalRECRUITING ROUNDUP 247Sports: Following The Future: How Texas football commits performed over the weekend247Sports: National Signing Day 2025: One thing we love about every SEC class247Sports: The Stampede: Superlatives for the Longhorns’ 2026 recruiting classInside Texas: Texas Longhorns 2027 DB Targets: Early priorities and where things standSEC SHOWDOWN Good Bull Hunting: Playoff selection press conferenceRock M Nation: Mizzou to play Virginia in the TaxSlayer Gator BowlAnd The Valley Shook: Lamar Brown, Deuce Geralds, Trenton Henderson all sign with LSURed Cup Rebellion: CFP Rankings: Ole Miss makes history with first playoff berthRocky Top Talk: Tennessee heading to Music City Bowl to face IllinoisAnchor Of Gold: Vanderbilt football headed to ReliaQuest Bowl to play IowaRoll ‘Bama Roll: Alabama gets 9th seed, will play Oklahoma againA Sea Of Blue: Is this the worst 6-year run in Kentucky basketball history?WHAT WE’RE READING SB Nation: Philip Rivers, who is a grandfather now, considering comeback with ColtsSB Nation: Notre Dame’s crying about CFP snub has has instantly killed their goodwillSB Nation: Not even Patrick Mahomes can save these ChiefsNEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND Get ready to see more of this next season. Arch Manning uncorks an absolute moon-shot, dropping a 56-yard dime right into the arms of a wide-open Parker Livingstone, who glides into the end zone like it was reserved for him!Arkansas Razorbacks at Texas LonghornsTexas rolls, 52–37!Nov. 22, 2025 pic.twitter.com/CeTUZCArZS— Longhorn🤘Highlights (@LonghornClips) December 8, 2025