Eleven months after his firing at USC, Alabama head coach Nick Saban brought on Sarkisian as an offensive analyst for the Crimson Tide. It was only a few months before he was back coaching, though. He took over as offensive coordinator on an interim basis after Lane Kiffin left for a job at Florida Atlantic.

Six practices into training camp, 25 days before Texas and Ohio State square off in the first-ever matchup between the top two teams in a preseason poll to start the season, Sarkisian said his defense has the upper hand on the offense.