Paul Finebaum reacts to Steve Sarkisian rant over coaching rumors: 'He's having a terrible season and is trying to deflect'

Steve Sarkisian began Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference by clearing his name of any speculation. He made sure people knew there was nothing to the rumors of him leaving Texas at the end of the 2025 season. Started by ESPN’s Desmond Howard on Monday, Sarkisian went on a lengthy monologue on the matter.

Paul Finebaum gave his reaction shortly after, saying Sarkisian might be attempting to deflect. Texas is certainly not having the season many expected, currently holding a 7-3 record. Finebaum believes the less-than-ideal results may be why Sarkisian put together this rant.

“Did someone ask him, ‘Are you leaving to go to the Titans?’ Because I thought we handled that about three weeks ago,” Finebaum said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “So now, apparently, Desmond Howard, the bastion of everything that’s right with sports media and journalism, tweeted something about him, so he felt compelled to respond?

“I don’t know what is going on with Sark. One of the most engaging people I’ve ever met in college football. But lately, he has just been, well, so defensive. Could be, maybe, that he’s having a terrible season and is trying to deflect.”

Both of these comments, from Sarkisian and Finebaum, came days after Texas took a 25-point loss in Athens to Georgia. Many wondered if a College Football Playoff bid was still possible if the Longhorns finished the season 9-3. Well, the committee moving them down to No. 17 likely tells us the answer is no. Even if two wins to close things out take place.

Texas does finish the season in Austin, first hosting Arkansas. A rivalry game dating back to the Southwest Conference days, an even bigger matchup takes place the following week with Texas A&M. Ones that Texas won a season ago, the goal is to repeat the feat and at least give people in Grapevine, TX, something to think about.

“We had kind of wondered, can Texas still get in as a three-loss team, given the strength of schedule and who they lost to?” ESPN’s Greg McElroy said on Tuesday. “Well, the seven-spot drop, not looking like they’re going to have enough firepower to get back into the top-12 as the at-large. Even though that last game against Texas A&M, a win against them, a top-three opponent, still won’t be enough to get into the field.”

From there, a bowl game is presumed to be the most likely course of action. Offseason mode then becomes priority No. 1 on the 40 Acres, hoping to improve upon the “terrible season.” Sarkisian just wants to make it known he will be on campus to be the head coach, apparently leading to even more questions for Finebaum.