Texas' Sarkisian: Matchup vs. Alabama doesn't impact season goals

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian isn't putting much stock into his team's marquee matchup Saturday against No. 1 Alabama.

"My goal is to be in Dallas on Dec. 3 (for the Big 12 championship game)," Sarkisian told reporters Monday, according to the Longhorn Network. "This game has no impact on that. We don't impact them going to the SEC championship. But it's an awesome opportunity. Great setting for college football."

"We need to be enamored with us," Sarkisian added. "Focused on us."

The Week 2 matchup between the Longhorns and Crimson Tide marks the first time the schools have played each other since the 2009 BCS national championship game.

Sarkisian is one of several Texas coaches who once worked under head coach Nick Saban at Alabama. That list also includes offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and special teams and tight end coach Jeff Banks. The Longhorns hired Sarkisian after Alabama's 2020 national title run.

While the clash between the two schools is a non-conference contest, Texas and Oklahoma will join the SEC by 2025.

The Longhorns' 52-10 win over Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday drew praise from Alabama's coach.

"Sark's done a really good job there," Saban said, per ON3's Clint Lamb. "They've got some really good players on offense. ... Played much better last week on defense than they did at points last year."