Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is not holding back when it comes to sharing his opinion about how one of his SEC rivals is conducting business.
Sarkisian on Monday said programs that are bringing in players who spent time in NFL training camps are “morally” wrong. The Texas coach believes it is unfair for players who have worked with teams for the better part of the last year to suddenly be cast aside in favor of someone who just transferred in after getting a chance in the NFL.
“These players on all of our rosters, not just ours, have been working for nine months for this moment on Saturday, which then will lead into the next five to six months,” Sarkisian said. “The fact that somebody out there is going to take a player off of an NFL roster and tell somebody who’s been doing it for nine months to go kick rocks, that doesn’t sit well with me. I think that’s wrong. That, morally, is wrong.”
"I think that's wrong. That morally is wrong."
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) August 31, 2026
Steve Sarkisian speaks to college programs trying to bring back professional players to their roster. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/fx5yKWXCf3
Whether intentionally or not, Sarkisian is definitely calling out LSU. The Tigers have been very aggressive in bringing in transfer players who just received an additional year of eligibility even after spending time in NFL training camps. LSU coach Lane Kiffin has said he is seeking to bring in such players because if he doesn’t, someone else will.
A number of high-profile former college players were granted an additional year of eligibility after a legal fight, much to the consternation of the NCAA and many of its conferences. Many leagues are still seeking to ban such players from playing, but the likes of LSU are betting on the legal system continuing to take their side.
