Steve Sarkisian makes example of Ole Miss 'basket weaving,' decries academic standards
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Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian took a shot at Mississippi’s academic standards when it comes to recruiting efforts in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday, May 12.
Sarkisian touched on the situation in which Clemson coach Dabo Swinney alleged former linebacker signee Luke Ferrelli, from California, was being recruited by Ole Miss while in class at Clemson. Ferrelli ultimately flipped to the Rebels, despite already signing at Clemson.
The fifth-year Longhorns coach said that wouldn’t happen at Forty Acres.
“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.”
“Basket weaving,” of course, is used to describe an easy academic course or degree. And Sarkisian didn’t just criticize Ole Miss’ standards, either. He also called out numerous other college programs in the current landscape of the sport, also mentioning Cal bringing in 32 players despite being one of the most academically renowned public schools in the country.
“It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL,” Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian has his own set of complaints about the current landscape, although he coaches at one of the richest athletic departments in college sports. The Longhorns landed one of the best transfer portal classes of the offseason, including additions like former five-star receiver Cam Coleman from Auburn and former North Carolina State running back Hollywood Smothers, who originally committed to Alabama before flipping to Texas.
The former Alabama offensive coordinator and Southern California head coach has a 48-20 record at Texas, and has led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals in two of the last three seasons. While Texas missed the CFP and ultimately underachieved in 2025 after being ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls, it still has the potential to contend for a national title in 2026, especially with quarterback Arch Manning back.
And despite all of Texas’ success and advantages in the sport, Sarkisian believes there are still some challenges for the college football blue blood.
“We all signed up to be part of the NCAA, and then we all allegedly make the rules,” Sarkisian said. “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.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Texas’ Steve Sarkisian called out Ole Miss ‘basket weaving’ in recruiting
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