Seems like Steve Sarkisian’s jab at Ole Miss academic standards hasn’t gone unnoticed. Now, Stephen A. Smith has chimed in with a strong statement.
Why Stephen A. Smith Called Out Steve Sarkisian for His Ole Miss Comments
Sarkisian quipped that certain programs at Ole Miss were akin to undergraduate degrees in basket weaving, a jab intended to contrast the academic standards at Texas with those of their SEC rivals in Oxford. On “First Take,” Smith delivered a scathing rebuke of the Longhorns’ head coach, labeling the remarks as unnecessary and derogatory.
“Steve Sarkisian, that was low. There’s no reason for that.”@stephenasmith reacts to Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian’s comments on Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/NZ1UDUH9ad
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 14, 2026
Smith said, “Steve Sarkisian, that was low… There’s no reason for that. There’s no reason for that whatsoever. I respect Steve Sarkisian. He’s a damn good coach, although I didn’t think he did a good job last year.”
Smith went further, questioning the timing of such a statement when Sarkisian still has much to prove on the field compared to Ole Miss. A significant portion of Smith’s critique centered on the two programs’ quarterback situations, specifically Arch Manning.
He continued, “They got a big-time quarterback in [Trinidad] Chambliss, not Texas. We hope Arch Manning will be that way, but at this moment in time, [Ole Miss] has the better quarterback.”
As the 2026 season approaches, the pressure is on Sarkisian to continue developing Manning. With Manning now entrenched as the full-time starter after a breakout 2025, the college football world is watching to see if the young signal-caller can live up to the generational hype that has followed him since high school.
Texas enters the season with one of the most talented rosters in the country, but as Stephen A. Smith pointed out, the distractions must end. Smith concluded, “Texas is lucky to have him, and this year will be a lot better than last year’s was. Having said that, that’s a low damn blow. Ole Miss didn’t deserve that.”
“It was really below the belt, and a classless thing for him to say.”
Whether that making up happens on the scoreboard or through a formal apology to the folks in Oxford remains to be seen. One thing is certain: In 2026, the Longhorns have the target on their backs, and Steve Sarkisian just gave Ole Miss a little extra motivation to hit it.
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