Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian not concerned whether Alabama showdown defines Longhorns program

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian knows the college football world is focused on the Longhorns facing No. 1 Alabama on Saturday, with two of the sport's biggest brand names facing off for just the 10th time in history.

But Sarkisian also is cautioning his team not to get too distracted by all the focus.

The Longhorns are 19-point underdogs at Caesars' Sportsbook and are likely to close with their longest odds to win at home since the 1978 FBS/FCS split, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Still, it's a huge opportunity to see how Sarkisian's progress stacks up against his old boss Nick Saban.

«It's one game, you know?» Sarkisian said Monday. «It's a chance for us to do what we love to do. I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is [thinking] this is going to be the game that's going to define our program.

»It might, it might not. I'm not that concerned about it. I'm more concerned about just the way we play the game."

Sarkisian said that his goal is to play for a Big 12 championship. While the Crimson Tide will be a future SEC opponent, Saturday's matchup is a non-conference game for now, and Sarkisian said he's focused on what he can control.

«All along, my goal is to be in Dallas on December 3,» he said. «This game has no impact on that.… I want to play really well. I want to make sure that our guys play our style of football, our brand of football and do it the way I know we're capable of doing it.»

Sarkisian, who spent three seasons as an assistant at Alabama, was asked how Saturday's game against Saban compared to facing another former boss in Pete Carroll in 2009, when Sarkisian's Washington team upset then-No. 3 USC, 16-13.

«Very similar scenario,» Sarkisian said. «I worked for Pete Carroll for seven years