Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian Criticizes Ole Miss Academics Amid SEC Offseason Barbs

Ole Miss keeps drawing fire from SEC rivals. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian joined in Tuesday with pointed criticism of the Rebels' academic policies for transfer players.

LSU coach Lane Kiffin drew backlash last week after telling Vanity Fair that recruiting to Oxford faces hurdles beyond money. "Hey, coach, we really like you. But my grandparents aren't letting me move to Oxford, Mississippi," Kiffin recounted parents saying. "That doesn't come up when you say Baton Rouge, Louisiana." He added that parents praised LSU's campus diversity as feeling like the real world without segregation.

Kiffin later clarified to media that his comments were factual, not shots at Ole Miss. He hoped they came across respectfully. He denied any racist intent.

Sarkisian spoke to USA Today about the transfer portal's chaos and players shortchanging their education. "At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player's academic credit hours," he 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 take is basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree."

Sarkisian also criticized the system broadly. "We all signed up to be part of the NCAA, and then we all allegedly make the rules," he 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."

The remarks echo Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's accusations three months ago. Swinney claimed Ole Miss tampered with transfer linebacker Luke Ferrelli, who left Clemson days after arriving. He cited text messages and a picture of a $1 million check sent to Ferrelli. Ferrelli ended up at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter posted on social media: "Kind of amazing how uncomfortable our success is making some people."

The Rebels drew attention this season with a strong run before their College Football Playoff bid. Kiffin, once Ole Miss coach, now leads LSU.