Desmond Howard’s insinuation about Texas football resurfaces

Was the old Wolverine right? Was he aware of Moore’s potential departure? Could his prediction come true?

Let’s go back a little.

The 2025 college football campaign saw the highest number of midseason head coaching firings in recent memory. Jobs at Penn State, Virginia Tech, Florida and Auburn all opened up before the final month of the season.

Howard had the following to say about the next possible change to the coaching carousel on November 17:

Desmond Howard said Texas could lose its football coach.

“Don’t be surprised if this Texas job opens up at the end of the season,” he said in an Instagram post. “Imagine how you’ll feel if that position in Austin opens up. I’m not calling and saying someone’s going to get fired. Maybe a mutual split, anyone dig?”

Most thought this suggestion was referring to the firing of Steve Sarkisian, which would cost the Longhorns just under $60 million. This decision was immediately criticized by the school’s athletic director.

“This is news to me… Thanks for the insight,” Chris Del Conte responded on social media.

Since then, things have happened to bring Howard’s insinuation back to the forefront. The question is no longer about possible dismissal, but rather about the possibility of Sargsyan accepting a new job.

Michigan fired Sherrone Moore.

The head coach was kicked out for having an inappropriate affair with a staff member. The decision to relieve Moore of his duties came just after signing day.

Will the domino effect impact the Texas football program? Here’s how it could…

Steve Sarkisian is not expected to leave the Longhorns for Ann Arbor. He is not among Michigan’s top targets.

But Kalen DeBoer is. His release would open the Alabama job, one of the few jobs perhaps considered better than Texas.

Sarkisian had two different stints in Tuscaloosa under Nick Saban. If he’s targeted for a return, it might be hard to turn down — especially after a relatively disappointing 2025 campaign in Austin given preseason expectations.

I don’t see this as Sark to Michigan at all

Personally, I read this as Desmond knowing Moore was gone and counting on Michigan’s pursuit of DeBoer to end up with a vacant job at Alabama, so the tide was turning toward Sark.

Which would in some way be a mutual rapprochement

Just speculation

–Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) December 11, 2025

Will this happen? Time will tell.

It’s worth noting that Michigan would have known about Moore’s alleged transgressions for weeks, meaning Howard, a man close to the program, might have had some knowledge of his potential exit.

From there, he might have simply pieced together the previously mentioned card drop. Or he would throw something at the wall to see if it stuck.

We don’t know if Steve Sarkisian will leave Texas. We know Sherrone Moore’s firing will have major impacts on another program as the search for his replacement intensifies.