Sports

Steve Sarkisian Looks Like A Hypocrite With Contradictory Ohio State Complaint After Being Rude To Holly Rowe

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Steve Sarkisian Schedule Texas Ohio State Holly Rowe Interview
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Steve Sarkisian was thrilled to see Texas beat Ohio State, obviously. However, the sixth-year head coach did not show grace toward ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe and stood in direct contrast of his own complaints from earlier in the year,

It was not a great look for one of the most polarizing figures in the sport.

Some college football fans love how Sarkisian operates in the media and how he always speaks his truth. Others consider him to be an insufferable hypocrite who loves to whine when things do not go his way.

Steve Sarkisian did not have time for Holly Rowe.

Down 23-3 at the end of the third quarter, Texas rallied back with 21 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes of play to defeat Ohio State by one point on a game-winning touchdown with 25 seconds remaining. It was a remarkable comeback.

The energy in Austin was palpable during the fourth quarter. Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium was rocking. The players ran to celebrate with the student section. Sarkisian ran to celebrate with his players.

However, ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe was able to track down the winning head coach before he took off to join the party. She was prepared to ask him a few questions about the game. He chose not to stick around and completely blew her off. The visible frustration on Rowe’s face was completely warranted.

To be fair to Sarkisian, he was also involved with a broadcast snafu at halftime. He ran back into the tunnel before he spoke with Laura Rutledge and declined the interview.

Rutledge later explained that it was not the head coach’s fault. ESPN had technical issues that held him up longer than he could wait.

That does not excuse how Sarkisian acted toward Rowe after the big win. She was just trying to do her job. Is it really that hard to answer a few questions? Give glory to God, credit to the players, show respect to the opponent and call it a day.

Sarkisian would’ve been free to celebrate with his team in less than five minutes. Maybe less than three. Instead, he made himself look like a jerk for no reason. Do the interview!

Texas didn’t have to schedule Ohio State.

Steve Sarkisian had no choice but to answer questions during his postgame press conference. There was no escaping.

In doing so, the 52-year-old spoke about Texas’ decision to play Ohio State during the nonconference schedule. He quipped that the Longhorns could “be like other teams” and win big over “Jones Junior High.” Instead, they chose to play the Buckeyes.

Mind you, Texas will play Texas State and UTSA in two of the first three weeks of the season. So there’s that.

Plus, this home-and-home series was scheduled in 2012. Sarkisian was still the head coach at Washington when the game was put on the calendar. He had nothing to do with the decision. And he complained about it last season!

Texas lost to Ohio State in 2025. Sarkisian said in November that his team should not be left out of the playoff with three losses because it chose to schedule a top-10 opponent during the early season. He referenced Jones Junior High.

“Do you want us not to schedule Ohio State? Because if we’re a 10-2 team right now, this isn’t a discussion. We’re in the playoff. But we were willing to go up there and play that game.”

Sarkisian did it again in July.

“If we beat Ohio State (last year), we’re surely in much better place for the playoffs. If I don’t play Ohio State & play Jones Jr. High, we’re 10-2 & our losses are to Georgia & Florida & we’re a playoff team.”

And now he is mocking other schools for playing inferior opponents? After he threatened to do exactly that? While his team has two Group of Six programs on the schedule? Seems contradictory, no?

The Longhorns are legitimate Playoff contenders. Steve Sarkisian is a good college football coach. He is also abrasive and rude. Multiple things can be true at once.

Though, to be fair (again), Sarkisian did stop to take some photos with fans after the game.

Maybe he realized he needed to regain some ground with Lady Karma.