During a lull in the Cotton Bowl action, cameras zoomed around the stadium finding multiple big-name stars among the crowd. Then, cameras found Jerry Jones.

The boos that rained down were incredible.

The longtime Dallas Cowboys owner is used to criticism. Getting booed inside AT&T Stadium probably isn’t as unnerving to Jones as it might be to others.

But now Jones has the chance to shift public opinion with breaking reports that the Cowboys are parting ways with Mike McCarthy, who coached the 2024 season under the final year of his contract.

In looking at all the possibilities, would Jones really hire Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian? And would Sarkisian really even entertain it?

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter stirred the pot by saying NFL team would be interested in Sarkisian, a report that athletic director Chris Del Conte called “stupid.” Del Conte dismissed the report as someone, most likely Sarkisian’s agent, creating headlines right before the Horns’ biggest game.

And frankly, it does seem hard to believe Sarkisian would be open to leaving Texas prior to the start of the 2025 season.

Why would Sarkisian walk away from coaching Arch Manning? The Horns’ projected starter could be a one-year hit as he will be eligible for the NFL Draft in 2026. But Manning could be a two-year college starter that already has Texas in position to be oddsmakers’ favorite to win it all next season.

Sarkisian also probably wouldn’t trading Manning for Cowboys starter Dak Prescott, an established veteran who has shown MVP capabilities but also had interception problems at one point and may be on the downhill side of his career.

Could Sarkisian even work with Jones, someone who still calls all the shots? Right now, Sarkisian has a great working relationship with Del Conte and UT System Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife.

Yes, the Horns are getting a new president at some point now that Jay Hartzell is stepping down to go to SMU. But as long as Del Conte and Eltife are around, Sarkisian will feel comfortable.

The Horns are projected to have 13 NFL Draft picks this spring. But they also have the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class coming to campus in 2025. Good players are leaving, more good players are coming. Would Sarkisian give that up and take his chances with the NFL Draft?

Texas also pays Sarkisian well enough to stay put, more than $10 million annually. With Jones, Sarkisian might have to take a pay cut.

There are so many reasons why it doesn’t make sense for Sarkisian to leave for the Cowboys. But it’s also America’s Team, and anything is possible with Jones.

If you’re putting down bets, it’s smarter to bet that Sarkisian stays with the Longhorns than heads to the Cowboys.