The Longhorns coach called out an SEC rival's academic standards amid piping-hot recruiting buzz.
Steve Sarkisian set the recruiting world ablaze Monday by calling out SEC rival Ole Miss for poor academic standards in comparison to the Texas Longhorns.
In a conversation with USA TODAY's Matt Hayes, Sarkisian first shared how life in collegiate athletics "wears you out." Even if you're a high-profile coach at one of the country's most financially liquid institutions, things are in a state similar of the "wild, wild west."
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"We all signed up to be part of the NCAA, and then we all allegedly make the rules," Sark began in discussing modern recruiting methods.
"Everyone knows the rules, right? Then we go to our attorney general and say we don’t like that rule, let’s just sue. Right now, no one is afraid of the consequences."
Here, Sarkisian is seemingly jabbing at how players will go to bat in court in order to cling to as much eligibility as possible.
One recent example is Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss this past offseason, who was granted an extra year and plans to return to the Rebels next season.
That's only part of the controversy plaguing college football nowadays, along with the transfer portal, NIL, revenue-sharing growth, and the ever-changing CFP format.
The biggest thing Sarkisian harps on, however, is the academic standards appearing to take a backseat in these programs' agendas.
"It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL," he said.
And this time, Sark calls out Ole Miss directly.
He compared Texas' academic policies to those of Ole Miss, which is in the midst of a football coaching change as Pete Golding takes over for Lane Kiffin, who darted to LSU.
"At Texas, we will only take 50 percent 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."
For reference, the University of Texas at Austin is ranked No. 7 among top public colleges and universities nationwide by USNews. The University of Mississippi is ranked No. 92 on the same list.
But when it comes to athletic teams matching the standards set by the institution's academics, Sarkisian claims he maintains a strong emphasis on the classroom in Austin.
Among the laundry list of difficulties the NCAA is facing, whether or not academic honesty is a high priority, the Longhorns' coach is making sure it's one he won't go away quietly about.
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