Steve Sarkisian Appears To Take Shot At Ohio State's Academics

Next college football season we'll get a rematch of Ohio State vs. Texas when the Buckeyes take on the Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. But while that game is more than half a year away, it hasn't stopped Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian from starting the smack-talk a little early.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Sarkisian spoke about the Longhorns' spring practice schedule. He said that it's more grueling because players have to go to classes in person unlike "some other folks" that have online courses available.

“Our players have to go to school at the University of Texas. They have to go in person,” Sarkisian said. “You know, we don’t get to go online every day and do it maybe like some other folks get to do it.”

The remark comes mere days after former Ohio State wide receiver Mylan Graham, not at Notre Dame, admitted that the biggest adjustment between the two programs has been the in-person class requirement.

"“You just have to actually go in person,” Graham said. “… At Notre Dame obviously everybody knows how it is with academics.”

Fans realized that Sarkisian's remark was a dig at Ohio State - intentionally or not. The timing certainly seems to strange to be a coincidence.

Reaction

Fans were pretty dismissive of Sarkisian's attempt to hype up the Texas academic schedule though. Many asserted that the team's high grades is likely a byproduct of easy majors being taken by the students.

"Texas posting GPA is hilarious. Most Popular Majors: Physical Education, Sports Management, Human Dimensions of Organizations. Didn’t he say they spent 8 hours a week in class? The football players haves sections that are only open to athletes. Sarky has some really good Profs," one user mocked.

"Most of these guys are sport management or health majors… If Vince Young can get through it I’m sure they can," another wrote.

"Can’t tell if this is a shot at others or a hint of jealousy," wrote a third.

Last season Ohio State won a hard-fought battle against Texas at Ohio Stadium. That Texas loss wound up being the difference between making the College Football Playoff and not.

But it's going to take more than going to some classes in person for Texas to knock off Ohio State in 2026.