​Former Texas football head coach Mack Brown says it’s tougher than ever to sustain a consistent, winning program. That’s notable coming from the last coach to deliver a national title to Texas in 2005. On his podcast, The Stampede, Brown spoke earlier this week with co-hosts Vince Young and Bob Ballou about how challenging it is to recruit the right people and then develop them to win games. The addition of NIL money adds another hurdle in shaping team chemistry, especially given the disparities in what players are paid. “What (Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian) has done is he’s trying to balance that money, land the right fits, coach them hard, and still develop them,” Brown said. He added that he’s “very, very impressed” with Sarkisian’s approach to NIL funding, matching players to the Longhorn program, and developing them so Texas can win.
Texas’ 2025 financial report shows the athletic department spent about $3.2 million on revenue sharing, and standout quarterback Arch Manning carries an NIL valuation reported at $5.4 million, per On3. Brown highlighted how other programs have invested in football and seen improvements. He pointed to Texas Tech as a recent example—standing as a No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff rankings—along with Vanderbilt, an SEC program on the rise, and Indiana, the reigning national champions. He also referenced programs that face the same realities but haven’t reached the playoff as often as Sarkisian’s squad.
“Texas A&M has recruited the No. 1 class in 2022 and still hasn’t won,” Brown noted. “Florida State went from a national championship shot, to having a quarterback injured, and now they’re really, really struggling.” He added, “So just because you have money doesn’t guarantee you’ll win.” In the past decade, Texas A&M and Florida State have combined for only one College Football Playoff appearance, despite A&M’s top-10 recruiting classes and Florida State’s recent success with a 13-1 season in 2023 followed by a 7-win stretch. Brown’s point remains: financial resources matter, but they do not assure success.
Brown knows from experience how to counter A&M. During his tenure at Texas, he defeated the Aggies in 10 of their 14 meetings. The rivalry remains fierce as Texas prepares to face A&M again, a matchup that continues to draw attention for recruiting, development, and who can convert potential into consistent victories on the field.