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Steve Sarkisian Makes Request to Reporter Behind Texas Departure Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Kevin Matthew Borba | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 12:05 AM ET

Steve Sarkisian and the No. 22 Texas Longhorns took a trip to Starkville on Saturday to face off against a frisky Mississippi State Bulldogs team. The Longhorns found themselves trailing by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter and needing overtime to prevent the upset, but ended up winning 45-38.

Leading the way for Texas was quarterback Arch Manning, who completed 29-of-46 passes (63%) for 346 yards and totaled four touchdowns. Manning connected with wide receiver Ryan Wingo five times for 183 yards, while backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell came in during overtime to throw the game-winning touchdown after Manning went down.

While Texas overcame the upset push, they were also able to look past the major rumors swirling around Sarkisian from before the game. In the build-up to the game, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that Sarkisian's representatives "would be interested" in NFL head coaching openings.

Sarkisian, who was the Alabama offensive coordinator when Texas hired him in 2021, spent time as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator in 2016. Although many coaches aspire to make the leap to the NFL, Sarkisian made it clear after the game that he has no desire to, and that he was quite frustrated with the report.

When asked about his alleged interest, Sarkisian revealed that he was pissed by the report and also revealed he would love to speak to Russini to discuss.

"It really pisses me off that one person can make a report that in turn, the entire media, sports world runs with as factual," Sarkisian said, as posted by Fox College Football. "To the point of my agency and my agents have to put a statement out that they have never have done historically ... I had to do that to protect my locker room and my team. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous.

"I thought it was completely unprofessional of that person to put that report out, and the fact that everybody ran with it is borderline embarrassing for the media."

Sarkisian said he respects media practitioners but reiterated that running an unconfined report is "embarrassing."

"I respect what you guys do, I really do, and everybody else, but the fact that everybody ran that as truth is really embarrassing," the Texas coach said. "I've got a small circle when I make decisions on what I do and what I don't do, and nobody would speak on my behalf without me knowing. And so where that report came from, I'd love to talk to that person."

Sarkisian signed an extension with Texas in January that has him set to be in Austin through 2031. As for his immediate future, he may have to figure out a gameplan that doesn't feature Manning for the team's Week 10 game against No. 10 Vanderbilt, as the first-year starter is in the concussion protocol.

Texas and Vandy are set to face off in a game that will kick at noon ET next Saturday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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