The Texas Longhorns are doing damage control after head coach Steve Sarkisian's postgame interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe went viral for all the wrong reasons. Following a jaw-dropping 24-23 comeback victory over No. 1 Ohio State, Sarkisian's sideline chat with Rowe was cut short, leaving fans and pundits questioning his demeanor.
Texas officials were quick to offer an explanation: ESPN's technical gremlins struck again. According to a spokesperson who spoke with The Athletic's Christopher Kamrani, the network faced issues on the field after the game, which contributed to Sarkisian's curt behavior. This mirrors the halftime drama when Sarkisian skipped an interview with Laura Rutledge, also due to reported technical delays.
During the broadcast, Rutledge clarified that Sarkisian had been patient through earlier problems and apologized for the mix-up. "He had waited a long time, been very patient with some technical issues that we had. He apologized to us. We should be apologizing to him, which we did," she said. Now, similar excuses are being floated for the postgame snub.
The Athletic's Richard Deitsch had even anticipated this scenario, suggesting that if technical issues resurfaced, Sarkisian might simply walk away rather than wait again. "He wouldn't have known about ESPN's on-air apology earlier in the game, and in the heat of the moment, maybe he just didn't want to waste his time again," Deitsch noted.
Regardless of the reasons, the optics were poor. Sarkisian, riding the high of a historic rally—Texas scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, with Arch Manning leading the charge—seemed more focused on celebrating with his team than chatting with Rowe. The moment was captured and quickly spread across social media, with criticism raining down on the coach.
This isn't the first time Sarkisian has found himself in the spotlight for his sideline behavior. Earlier in the game, after a rough start that had Longhorns fans turning on him, he sprinted off the field at halftime, skipping the scheduled interview. The technical issues excuse may hold water, but it's also becoming a pattern.
For Texas, the win vaulted them to No. 1 in the AP Top 25, a stunning turnaround from a season that seemed in jeopardy just hours earlier. The Buckeyes' collapse will be talked about for years, but Sarkisian's postgame actions have overshadowed the triumph.
ESPN has yet to officially comment on the postgame scene, leaving fans to speculate. Some are sympathetic, noting the chaos of a live broadcast. Others see it as a coach who, in the moment, prioritized his team over media obligations—something that might be more forgivable in victory.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Sarkisian's postgame interview will be remembered as much as the game itself. Whether the technical excuse holds up or not, the Longhorns are moving on, focused on their new No. 1 ranking and the challenges ahead.
