Did Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian use AI for on-field decision?

On Friday, the University of Texas announced a revolutionary AI collaboration between the Texas Longhorns Athletic Department and the McCombs School of Business called Bevo Lab. UT says that it brings together sports, AI and analytics to support how athletes and coaches train, prepare and compete.

UT Austin is one of the best colleges in the nation and is often on the forefront of technological breakthroughs. But the announcement of this innovative initiative has brought up more questions about Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian.

Down 20-17 and facing a fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter in last Saturday's loss to Florida, Steve Sarkisian and his staff turned to their new artificial intelligence data analytics platform for advice on the play.

Ultimately, the play was a disaster, with Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning losing three yards that led to a UT punt that led to the Gators clinching touchdown. Yet, UT athletic director Chris Del Conte used this moment as an example of how Bevo Lab can be used.

“It’s happening,” Del Conte told the Austin American-Statesman. “They’re bought in.”

The University of Texas is built on pride and a tradition of winning. Now, Texas Athletics and the McCombs School of Business are helping shape the future of sports innovation through Bevo Lab. By bringing together sports, AI and analytics, Bevo Lab aims to turn data into… pic.twitter.com/hS2FXkxeuh

— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 23, 2026

Del Conte later clarified that the example is what the AI platform could suggest, not of what it actually did.

Bevo Lab is now the UT athletic departments’ personal AI sports platform. Coaches, trainers, nutritionists, student-athletes and analysts will use it to improve performance on and off the field. Sponsored by Dell Technologies Inc., Google and SHI International, it is also described as a "living, breathing classroom for undergraduate students to shape the future of AI in sports."

what starts here changes the world 🤘#HookEmpic.twitter.com/FuUhFMwlQU

— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 23, 2026

Obviously, the announcement of Bevo Lab this week has been in the works for weeks. But the timing doesn't help Sarkisian at a time when public opinion about the Longhorns coach is at its lowest. Whether the coaching staff did or didn't use AI to make their decision on fourth down, it's can be perceived as more evidence the football team has strayed away from tough, hard-nosed football an into more corporate decision making.

Watch today’s Bevo Lab panel at @UTexasMcCombs’ Business of Sports Summit! 🤘https://t.co/gWYJK6j8ABpic.twitter.com/wt8jf3rzjh

— LHN (Longhorn Network App) (@LonghornNetwork) October 23, 2026

“I have no doubt this will fundamentally change how college athletics programs look at data and utilize data,” Deputy Athletics Director Drew Martin said.

While Bevo Lab AI could ultimately be an ahead of its time tool that will make UT athletics a leader in the "Moneyball" aspects of sports preparation and analytics, fans will think Sark is relying on AI to make (ultimately wrong) decisions.

Built by Longhorns, for Longhorns. Introducing the first class of Bevo Lab students.#HookEmpic.twitter.com/4mFfQrEINP

— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 23, 2026

“I’m fired up," Del Conte said. "I’m excited. This is earth-shattering.”

Of course, some UT fans might prefer AI over Sarkisian right now. It is an interesting side story to follow as the Longhorns laborious season moves forward.