Steve Sarkisian Rips Ole Miss For Its Low Academic Standards

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Steve Sarkisian Rips Ole Miss For Its Low Academic Standards

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 12, 2026 11:20 AM ET

Steve Sarkisian took a shot at Ole Miss while unloading on college football's culture.

The Texas head coach eviscerated the game's chaotic environment in a no-holds-barred interview with USA Today's Matt Hayes. Sarkisian claimed that programs have abandoned any academic standards.

"It's like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL," Sarkisian said.

Sarkisian singled out Ole Miss, noting Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney's claim that Rebels coaches recruited Tigers linebacker Luke Ferrelli -- who had just transferred from California -- while he was in class. Ferrelli allegedly received a photo of a $1 million check before going to Ole Miss.

Sarkisian suggested that Ole Miss has created an "inequitable" advantage by deprioritizing academic obligations.

"At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player’s academic credit hours," Sarkisian said. "You may be a semester from graduating, but you're going all the way back to 50% if you play here and want a degree. But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree."

Sarkisian goes off on tampering, CFP selection committee

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images© Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images

The NCAA has yet to take any action on Swinney's claims of Ole Miss tampering. Sarkisian argued that there's currently no accountability in college football

"There’s a reason in the NFL, when you get caught tampering, you get drilled. You lose draft picks," Sarkisian said. "You don’t practice the right way, you lose practice days, coaches get fined. There are a lot of things in place to protect their rules and guardrails. Right now in college football, there’s no fear. People do whatever they want."

Sarkisian also took aim at the current College Football Playoff process. His 10-3 Longhorns missed last season's 12-team field after playing five games against top-10 opponents at the time of their matchups.

“Everyone talks about NIL. But my biggest gripe is the selection committee," Sarkisian said. "There’s no transparency on what exactly the committee is doing. We have to figure that out."

Amid talk of further CFP expansion, Sarkisian would prefer to downsize back to the original format.

"I'd go back to a four-team playoff, and have your own conference playoff to get the four teams if you want more inventory for your television partners," Sarkisian said. "We have to think outside the box. Just adding teams and going to 24, that’s a very spastic view, thinking that’s going to solve the problem. Forever in college athletics, we don’t think about the unintended consequences of decisions we make. It’s all knee-jerk reactions. Look where it has gotten us."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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