On Saturday morning, Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini reported that representatives for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian have informed NFL decision-makers he would be interested in potential head coaching openings — including the Tennessee Titans’ job.
That single report could send shockwaves through Austin. If Sarkisian is seriously exploring NFL opportunities, Texas may soon find itself in the market for a new head coach — and one name that could immediately rise to the top of their list is Curt Cignetti.
Texas: A Program on the Edge of Desperation
Texas might be one of the sport’s most iconic brands, but make no mistake — there’s a growing sense of urgency in Austin. The Longhorns have cycled through high-profile hires and elite recruiting classes, yet they’re still chasing consistency, playoff relevance, and the ultimate goal: a national championship.
The boosters, the donors, the fans — everyone around Texas knows what’s at stake. The program has everything: an SEC home, world-class facilities, and the kind of NIL war chest that can move mountains. When Texas wants something, they don’t ask twice — they write checks.
If the Longhorns decide Cignetti is their guy, money won’t be a problem.
The Buyout Barrier
The biggest roadblock? The massive buyout attached to Cignetti’s new deal at Indiana. After taking the Hoosiers to national relevance faster than anyone imagined, Indiana made him the third-highest-paid coach in college football, behind only Kirby Smart and Ryan Day.
Here’s how his buyout breaks down if he leaves Bloomington:
- $15 million over the next year
- $12 million (2027–28)
- $9 million (2028–29)
- $4 million (2029–30)
- $2 million (2030–31)
- $1 million (2031–32)
There’s also a clause that cuts those numbers in half if Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson or president Pamela Whitten are no longer in their roles.
On paper, that’s an intimidating contract. But as we’ve seen before — especially in the SEC — intimidating contracts don’t stop oil money.
Would Cignetti Really Leave Indiana?
That’s where things get complicated. Cignetti has said multiple times that he intends to finish his career in Bloomington, and his actions have backed that up. He’s embraced Indiana’s culture, built a staff that fits the Midwest recruiting footprint, and publicly bought into the idea of making Indiana football relevant for the long haul.
Leaving now, with the program finally on the rise, would be a major shift in character.
But if Texas came calling? That’s the kind of offer that can make even the most grounded coach think twice.
The Bottom Line
If Sarkisian does indeed pursue an NFL opportunity, Texas will have a massive decision to make — and they’ll have the resources to make a statement hire.
Curt Cignetti to Texas isn’t likely, but it’s far from impossible. The Longhorns are as desperate and well-funded as any program in the country, and they’re hungry for a proven program-builder.
Indiana’s buyout gives them some protection, but in modern college football, big buyouts are just numbers on a page when a powerhouse decides it wants someone badly enough.
If Texas wants to make a splash and fast-track its return to the top of the SEC, Cignetti would be one of the first calls to make.
Because when the Longhorns open the checkbook, there’s not a coach in America who can’t be reached.
