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Why Stephen A. Smith says Steve Sarkisianâs Ole Miss comments crossed the line
TL;DR
Stephen A. Smith criticized Texas coach Steve Sarkisian for his comments on Ole Miss's academic standards, calling them classless and a low blow. Sarkisian's remarks compared Texas' strict transfer rules to Ole Miss's more lenient approach.
Key points
- Stephen A. Smith criticized Steve Sarkisian's comments
- Sarkisian called Ole Miss's academic standards lenient
- Texas accepts only 50% of transfer credits
Mentioned in this story
Texas LonghornsUniversity of MississippiStephen A. SmithSteve Sarkisian
Why Stephen A. Smith says Steve Sarkisianâs Ole Miss comments crossed the line originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Stephen A. Smith delivered a scathing rebuke of Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian during a May 2026 broadcast of ESPN's First Take. Smith labeled Sarkisian's controversial remarks about the University of Mississippi's academic standards as "classless," "totally wrong," and "a low damn blow".
In an interview with USA Today Sports, Steve Sarkisian criticized the transfer portal's loose academic regulations. He compared Texas' strict credit-transfer rules to what he implied was a far more lenient approach at Ole Miss.
Sarkisian stated that the University of Texas only accepts 50% of an incoming transfer student's academic credit hours, forcing players backwards academically to earn a Texas degree.
Sarkisian remarked, "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."
An Ole Miss spokesperson later told ESPN that Sarkisian's comments were taken out of context regarding recruiting tampering. Sarkisian was attempting to emphasize Texas' commitment to rigorous academics.
Q&A
What did Stephen A. Smith say about Steve Sarkisian's comments on Ole Miss?
Stephen A. Smith labeled Sarkisian's remarks as classless and a low damn blow during a broadcast.
What were Steve Sarkisian's criticisms regarding Ole Miss's academic standards?
Sarkisian criticized the transfer portal's loose academic regulations, implying that Ole Miss has a more lenient approach compared to Texas.
How does Texas's transfer credit policy differ from Ole Miss's according to Sarkisian?
Sarkisian stated that Texas only accepts 50% of an incoming transfer student's academic credits, which he suggested is stricter than Ole Miss's policies.
