Texas is back, folks. And the man that brought them there is on the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football revealed the cover of its 2025 summer edition on Monday — the 66th annual “Bible of Texas Football” — featuring Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Coming off back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff, the Longhorns' coach appears on the cover in front of a wall of trophies under the headline "SARK: Rebuilding Texas, His Way". Sarkisian becomes the sixth Longhorns coach on the cover of the magazine, joining Darrell K Royal (1963, 1974), David McWilliams (1987), John Mackovic (1996), Mack Brown (1998, 1999) and Tom Herman (2017).
The image was shot by Austin-based photographer John Dougherty, and the cover was conceptualized and designed by Dallas-based design and marketing firm TractorBeam.
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"There’s a weight to every Dave Campbell’s Texas Football cover,” editor-in-chief Greg Tepper said. “This year, it felt right to spotlight the man at the center of the most fascinating story in the state. Steve Sarkisian has elevated Texas back into the national spotlight, and with the Longhorns entering 2025 with sky-high expectations, this moment felt historic — and worth capturing.”
For the 10th straight year, the magazine features a second “gatefold” cover, and this year, think small-town — at least for now. The Celina Bobcats — coach Bill Elliott, superstar quarterback Bowe Bentley and bruising linebacker Luke Biagini — grace the secondary cover of the magazine after winning the program's ninth state championship. Enjoying a stop at Lucy's On The Square in downtown Celina, the Bobcats appear under the headline of "SOMETHING IN THE ORANGE: Celina's Golden Hour."
The image was shot by Austin-based photographer John Dougherty, and the cover was conceptualized and designed by Dallas-based design and marketing firm TractorBeam.
“This is more than a football story — it’s a story about time,” Tepper said. “Celina is playing maybe its best football ever, right as the town prepares to transform into something new. We wanted to honor what’s made the Bobcats so special for generations, and preserve this golden moment before it becomes a memory.”
The 400-page, all-color annual magazine covers football in Texas — from high school to recruiting to college to the pros — as only Dave Campbell’s Texas Football can. Inside the magazine, readers will find:
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A revealing profile of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian as he leads the Longhorns into 2025 — and into the highest expectations in a generation — written by Texas Football’s Mike Craven
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A sweeping look at the Celina Bobcats, a dynasty reborn amid booming growth, and a program determined to preserve its identity even as the town around it changes, written by Texas Football’s Carter Yates
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A tribute to the late Dave Campbell, on what would have been his 100th birthday, reflecting on the man who built the magazine that shaped football in Texas, written by ESPN's Dave Wilson
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The sixth annual 40 Under 40, spotlighting the best young coaches across the state
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In-depth analysis of all 49 Texas college football teams — from multi-page previews for every FBS program to full breakdowns of FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior colleges
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Conference outlooks that explore the SEC and Big 12, SMU's ascent in the ACC, and what’s ahead for in-state teams across the AAC, C-USA and more
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Individual previews for more than 1,500 Texas high school football teams
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The Preseason All-Texas College Team, honoring the top returning college players in the state
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The annual Super Teams and Top 300 rankings, highlighting the best high school recruits in Texas
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The coveted Coverboy honor for each high school classification
GET YOUR COPY
Want your copy of Texas Football as soon as possible? Become a Dave Campbell's Texas Football Insider!
- Two magazines — the 2025 summer edition and the 2025 recruiting edition (coming in December) — mailed directly to you
- A year of access to Dave Campbell's Texan Live, our streaming platform with more than 2,000 live Texas high school events — including more than 600 live Texas high school football games, and more than 150 live Texas high school football playoff games
- A year's worth of exclusive online content at TexasFootball.com including digital archives of all 66 editions of Texas Football, expanded previews of every Texas high school football team, exclusive podcasts, never-before-seen recruiting analysis, expert insights year-round and more
SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO SECURE YOUR COPY OF THE MAGAZINE.
WHEN YOU CAN GET THE MAGAZINE
Subscribers will begin to receive their magazine in late June. The magazine should be available on shelves across Texas in mid-July.
MEDIA REQUESTS
To request interviews with Editor-In-Chief Greg Tepper, please contact greg.tepper@davecampbells.com. To download high-resolution images of the cover, click here.
About Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports (formerly Sports In Action)
Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports is the definitive voice of high school football and Texas sports culture. As the exclusive trademark licensee of the UIL, we’re a trusted institution for athletes, coaches, and fans across the state. In the year ahead, we will formally transition from Sports In Action to Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports - uniting our coverage of high school and college athletics under one iconic and future-facing brand. We deliver comprehensive, year-round content across print, digital, social and streaming via our annual publication, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and our platforms - TexasFootball.com and TexanLive.com. While the name is evolving, our mission remains the same: to elevate the teams, athletes, and communities that make Texas sports legendary.
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