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STEVE SARKISIAN

West Virginia beats Texas, Longhorns' bowl hopes dashed

Suddenly, Texas has just a week left in a stunningly bad season under first-year coach Steve Sarkisian. West Virginia will get one more chance to avoid joining the Longhorns in ending the year in late November. Jared Doege threw three touchdown passes and Leddie Brown rushed for 158 yards and a score to lead West Virginia to a 31-23 victory over Texas on Saturday, handing the Longhorns their sixth straight loss and eliminating them from bowl consideration.

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Robinson, Texas running game rumble over Rice 58-0

Texas turned to a punishing run game to wipe out any lingering bad taste of a bad loss. Bijan Robinson ran for three touchdowns in the first half and the Longhorns rolled up 427 yards on the ground in pounding Rice 58-0 Saturday night, a week after a loss a humiliating loss at Arkansas knocked the Longhorns out of the Top 25. Texas quarterback Casey Thompson got his first career start, but it was the smashing running game behind Robinson and Roschon Johnson that had the game quickly out of hand.

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Report finds 'no racist intent' behind song 'Eyes of Texas'

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, fans join in singing "The Eyes of Texas" after Texas defeated UTEP 59-3 in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas. The University of Texas' long-awaited report on the history of the school song The Eyes of Texas found it had no racist intent, but the school will not require athletes and band members to participate in singing or playing it at games and campus events. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas' long-awaited report on “The Eyes of Texas” has found that the school song has “no racist intent," but the school president said athletes and band members will not be required to sing or participate when the song is played at games and campus events. The report also noted the song was first performed at a minstrel show, most likely with performers in blackface. “Nobody has been, or will be, required to sing the song," Hartzell said.

Texas regents approve Sarkisian $34.2 million contract

(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)AUSTIN, Texas – University of Texas System regents on Thursday approved a six-year, $34.2 million guaranteed contract for new football coach Steve Sarkisian. The regents also approved more than $21 million in guaranteed contracts for Sarkisian's staff. Sarkisian was hired in early January to replace Tom Herman, who was fired three seasons and more than $15 million left on his guaranteed contract. His starting salary at Texas will be $5.2 million, escalating to $6.2 million in the final year. Sarkisian's contract also includes 20 hours use of a private plane annually, $250,000 in relocation expenses, an a one-time payment of $1.2 million on Dec. 31, 2024 if he is still the Texas coach.

$34 million, private planes, cars and housing allowances: Here’s how much UT-Austin is paying football coach Steve Sarkisian

Sarkisian, who was hired Jan. 2, will make $5.2 million in his first year as coach and is guaranteed a $200,000 raise each year. He will additionally receive a one-time payment of $1.2 million if he is still head coach on December 31, 2024. The board will also approve the guaranteed compensation of coordinators and assistant football coaches, most of which exceed $1 million. Sarkisian’s starting salary is over $5 million more than former head coach Tom Herman and $10 million more than former head coach Charlie Strong, according to the Dallas Morning News. Before that he was head coach for the University of Washington and the University of Southern California.

AP Top 25 Podcast: Sarkisian's road from rehab to Texas

Sarkisian is the new head football coach at the University of Texas. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)Steve Sarkisian was out of college football five years ago, having lost a dream job because of his struggles with alcoholism. Now Sarkisian is a head coach again, landing the job at Texas after helping Alabama win a national championship as offensive coordinator. Plus, Urban Meyer's first misstep as an NFL coach and Gus Malzahn lands at UCF. Ad___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban announces he tested positive for COVID-19

Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also announced a positive COVID-19 test. Saban says he "immediately left work and isolated at home" after being informed of his positive test Wednesday afternoon. Saban informed the team of his positive test on a Zoom call Wednesday afternoon. Originally slated to kickoff September 3, the first SEC games were instead played September 26.

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