Texas coach Steve Sarkisian criticized Ole Miss for its academic standards for transfer students, claiming they are inequitable. He stated that Texas only accepts 50% of a player's academic credit hours, unlike Ole Miss.
Key points
Steve Sarkisian criticized Ole Miss's transfer academic standards
Texas accepts only 50% of a player's academic credit hours
Ole Miss has more lenient academic requirements for transfers
Sarkisian mentioned 'basket weaving' as an example of easy courses
The comments reflect broader issues in college football transfer policies
Mentioned in this story
TexasOle MissSteve Sarkisian
Texas' Steve Sarkisian takes shot at Ole Miss over academic standards for transfers
Ole Miss football has drawn criticism from Steve Sarkisian due to its academic requirements for transfers.
The Texas football coach shared his thoughts on the Rebels' "inequitable" standards with USA TODAY.
āAt Texas, we will only take 50% of a playerās academic credit hours,ā Sarkisian said. āYou may be a semester from graduating, but youāre 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.ā
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss talks with a fan at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Q&A
What did Steve Sarkisian say about Ole Miss's academic standards?
Steve Sarkisian criticized Ole Miss for allowing students to take easier courses to meet transfer requirements, claiming their standards are inequitable.
How does Texas's academic policy for transfers differ from Ole Miss's?
Texas only accepts 50% of a player's academic credit hours for transfers, while Ole Miss has more lenient requirements.
Why did Sarkisian mention 'basket weaving' in his comments?
Sarkisian used 'basket weaving' as an example of an easy course that Ole Miss students could take to fulfill academic requirements for a degree.
What are the implications of Sarkisian's comments on college football transfers?
Sarkisian's comments highlight the ongoing debate about academic integrity and standards in college football, particularly regarding transfer policies.
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Walker Glahn poses with the Sugar Bowl trophy at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Fans get autographs at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Robert Edwards gets a football autographed by head coach Pete Golding at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Tammy Kennedy, left, gets a shirt autographed by Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
David Kellum, left, talks with head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Defensive lineman Will Scholes (52) signs a schedule at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Tiffany Hill gets a shirt autographed at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Drew Denstel poses with the Sugar Bowl trophy at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Ben Hawkins, left, and Waylon Kennon pose with the Egg Bowl trophy at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Ricky Blitzer gets a photo of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium signed at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Submarine Perkins signs a schedule at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Head coach Pete Golding signs autographs at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Ole Missā Micah Stallworth poses with his mother Shanika Stallworth at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Andrew Levy, Terry Levy, James Levy, and Kell Levy get items autographed at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Oscar Bird signs a schedule at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Trinidad Chambliss signs a football for fans at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro signs a newspaper clipping showing his game winning kick against Georgia, at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
John Braasch holds an autographed schedule in front of the Sugar Bowl trophy, at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Oscar Bird, left, and Lucas Carneiro hold a photo of themselves from the Rebels win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Morgan, Chance, and Henry Ragsdale pose with the Egg Bowl trophy at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Robert Edwards, left, gets a football autographed by head coach Pete Golding at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Fans gather to get autographs from head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Fans gather to get autographs from head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Offensive coordinator John David Baker speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss signs items at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Fans gather to get autographs from head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Head coach Pete Golding signs autographs at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
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Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
1 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
2 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss talks with a fan at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
3 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Walker Glahn poses with the Sugar Bowl trophy at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
4 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Fans get autographs at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
5 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Robert Edwards gets a football autographed by head coach Pete Golding at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
6 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Tammy Kennedy, left, gets a shirt autographed by Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
7 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
David Kellum, left, talks with head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
8 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Defensive lineman Will Scholes (52) signs a schedule at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
9 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Tiffany Hill gets a shirt autographed at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
10 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Drew Denstel poses with the Sugar Bowl trophy at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
11 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Ben Hawkins, left, and Waylon Kennon pose with the Egg Bowl trophy at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
12 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Ricky Blitzer gets a photo of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium signed at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
13 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Submarine Perkins signs a schedule at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
14 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Head coach Pete Golding signs autographs at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
15 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Ole Missā Micah Stallworth poses with his mother Shanika Stallworth at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
16 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Andrew Levy, Terry Levy, James Levy, and Kell Levy get items autographed at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
17 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Oscar Bird signs a schedule at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
18 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Trinidad Chambliss signs a football for fans at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
19 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro signs a newspaper clipping showing his game winning kick against Georgia, at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
20 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
John Braasch holds an autographed schedule in front of the Sugar Bowl trophy, at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
21 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Oscar Bird, left, and Lucas Carneiro hold a photo of themselves from the Rebels win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
22 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Morgan, Chance, and Henry Ragsdale pose with the Egg Bowl trophy at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
23 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Robert Edwards, left, gets a football autographed by head coach Pete Golding at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
24 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Fans gather to get autographs from head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
25 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
26 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Fans gather to get autographs from head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
27 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Offensive coordinator John David Baker speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
28 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss signs items at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
29 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Fans gather to get autographs from head coach Pete Golding at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
30 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Head coach Pete Golding signs autographs at āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
31 / 31
Fans met the 2026 Ole Miss football team during Meet the Rebels Day at the Manning Center
Head coach Pete Golding speaks at Ole Miss āMeet the Rebelsā in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The comments were part of Sarkisian's larger critique of the unruly nature of college football recruiting, especially in regards to the transfer portal.
One of his primary concerns was the lack of focus on academics and programs making sure athletes are set up to succeed. He mentioned Ole Miss due to accusations of tampering involving linebacker Luke Ferrelli after he already transferred to Clemson.
"Itās like weāve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL,ā Sarkisian said.
Ole Miss AD Keith Carter responds to Steve Sarkisian comments
Following the release of Sarkisian's comments, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter took to social media.
"Kind of amazing how uncomfortable our success is making some people. #rebelnation," he wrote followed by a thinking emoji and a shrug emoji.
Ole Miss football advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season in its first CFP appearance.