By Chris Marler
Ole Miss can’t seem to catch a break this week. They’ve been hit with more strays than a drive by in the last two days.
On Monday it was Lane Kiffin’s interview with Vanity Fair. On Tuesday it was Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian who took a shot. In an interview with USA Today, Sarkisian commented on Texas’ academic standards. Not in comparison to others mind you, just speaking about his own school and university.
NEW: Steve Sarkisian on Ole Miss’ transfer portal practices and academic standards:
“At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player’s academic credit hours. 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… pic.twitter.com/1fjQSpal0b
— On3 (@On3) May 12, 2026
“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.”
Ole Miss isn’t exactly the Harvard of the South, but that doesn’t mean the comment was warranted. Sarkisian’s point was probably valid to an extent when it comes to the lack of prioritizing and focus on academics in the world of collegiate athletics.
“It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL,” Sarkisian said.
He’s not wrong about the academics part in general around the sport. Not sure why Ole Miss had to be the butt of the joke, but nevertheless, here we are. Luckily new Florida head coach Jon Sumrall provided some much needed tension breaking laughter to it with this tweet.
Grateful to coach at a top 10 public university that also offers advanced basket weaving! 🐊 https://t.co/eGhYWkETAx
— Jon Sumrall (@CoachJonSumrall) May 12, 2026
Ole Miss and Texas will play each other on October 24 this year. No word yet on if all players will be academically eligible or if underwater basket weaving midterm grades will be released by then.
More SEC News
