Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian faced criticism following his team's dramatic 24-23 comeback victory over No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, September 12, 2026. In the immediate aftermath of the win, Sarkisian was captured on camera cutting short an interview with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe.
As the Longhorns celebrated their 21-unanswered-point fourth-quarter rally on the field, Sarkisian approached Rowe. Before she could begin her questions, he loudly exclaimed, "That's called Texas fight! That's called Texas fight! Hook 'em!" He then made the "Hook 'em" gesture and walked away to join his celebrating team, leaving Rowe visibly frustrated.
The incident drew immediate reactions on social media. ESPN's Madelyn Burke called Sarkisian's actions "rude," emphasizing Rowe's professionalism. Richard Deitsch of the "Sports Media Podcast" noted the contrast with how coaches are often lauded and highlighted Rowe's status as a "pro." Kendra Middleton of 98.5 The Sports Hub described the move as "classless" and urged the coach to "just answer the damn question." Others echoed sentiments of disrespect and a poor look for Sarkisian.
This was not the only interview interaction that created a stir. Earlier, during halftime, ESPN experienced technical difficulties that delayed a scheduled interview with Sarkisian. The coach waited for a significant period, but the broadcast was unable to connect, prompting the network to move on as Sarkisian headed to the locker room. Laura Rutledge, on the field, explained the situation, stating Sarkisian had to leave after waiting a long time and that the network should apologize to him. She later clarified that Sarkisian had not declined the interview but had been patient with technical issues and had apologized to the crew.
The victory improved the Longhorns' record to 2-0. Their next game is scheduled for September 19, when they will host UTSA.