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The Big XII handed out its Coach of the Year choice this week with the regular season coming to an end. While the league’s pick will be on the sidelines in the conference title game, it’s not the person many thought it would be.
Social media is saying it’s the Big XII’s final parting shot before Texas bails for the SEC.
The Longhorns went 11-1 in 2023, and they’ll look to cap a successful season with a league championship in their final year as Big XII members. Steve Sarkisian led his team to victories over Alabama, Kansas State, and Kansas, all of whom were ranked at the time of their meetings.
Texas did fall to Oklahoma on the final drive of the game, but they still boast a resume that keeps them in the College Football Playoff conversation.
That wasn’t good enough for Sark to land Big XII Coach of the Year honors, though. Instead, it was Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys improbably made it to the championship game, finishing 7-2 in league play. OSU was picked to finish seventh by the media in the preseason, though they did land one first-place vote.
While they overcame the odds to finish second in the standings, there were some embarrassing lows – most notably paying South Alabama $300K to blow them out on their home field.
Many have been quick to make that point after hearing the news.
Mike Gundy, whose 9-3 team lost a game 33-7 to South Alabama and 45-3 to UCF, has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year.
As opposed to 11-1 Steve Sarkisian.
Who votes on this? Other Big 12 coaches.
Bon voyage, Texas.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 29, 2023
Big XII still holding a grudge? Some believe so.
After all, the league’s AD said before the year started that he’d be in attendance for Texas’s final game, actively rooting against the Longhorns. He left disappointed after UT walloped Texas Tech 57-7.
Texas will wrap up its Big XII affiliation soon, and while its head coach won’t win that prestigious honor, the team can go out on top with a win over the Cowboys this weekend.