Steve Sarkisian didn't have a mic drop moment in No. 3 Texas football's 24-23 comeback win vs. top-ranked Ohio State.
As a matter of fact, he never even saw one in the Longhorns' home win at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. He twice declined an interview with ABC during the game, first with Laura Rutledge at halftime, then again with Holly Rowe immediately following the game.
Instead, Sarkisian told Rowe he was going to sing "Texas Fight" with his team, doing the Hook 'em gesture at the camera and then leaving a clearly frustrated Rowe by herself.
The Steve Sarkisian postgame interview with Holly Rowe was quite brief. https://t.co/TWV6JrA9Ro pic.twitter.com/xo0z8oidMN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2026
Earlier in the
game, ABC cameras found Rutledge by herself in front of the Texas football tunnel, explaining that Sarkisian, whose Texas team trailed 20-3 at the half, had waited with her briefly for a halftime interview. However, he ended up leaving toward the tunnel as the network was having some technical difficulties.
"Alright, we actually just lost Sark because he had to go. I'm sorry about that, you guys. He waited for a long time. Credit to him for waiting. We'll try to get him on the way out of the half." - Laura Rutledge on Texas HC Steve Sarkisian pic.twitter.com/pacpABhvZh
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2026
Indeed, Rutledge issued an apology for holding up the Texas coach, whom she reported also apologized for leaving early:
Laura Rutledge: "I do want to make sure we clear something up. [Steve Sarkisian] did decline the interview at the half. 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." https://t.co/y9o6lXgNhx pic.twitter.com/yE08r5BNpD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2026
It's uncertain whether Sarkisian's refusal to interview Rowe had to do with the earlier technical difficulties or if he simply was caught up in the moment of a massive comeback win.
Either way, the Texas coach certainly made himself sparse to national audiences in the victory.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Sarkisian blows off Holly Rowe interview after Texas comeback vs Ohio State
