Steve Sarkisian Criticizes Pass Interference Officiating
Texas head coach says cornerbacks are receiving unfair penalties while his own team fails to draw calls.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Football
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Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian recently addressed reporters to publicly criticize officiating regarding pass interference penalties. He argued that his cornerbacks, including Bo Mascoe and Kade Phillips, have been unfairly penalized during recent matchups.
Why it matters
Sarkisian expressed frustration that his offensive receivers are not getting similar calls in their favor while his defense is consistently penalized. The coach, who manages team duties and play calling, suggested that these officiating trends are impacting his team's performance.
Bo Mascoe drew two pass interference penalties against Tennessee, while Kade Phillips drew a penalty against Oklahoma. Currently, no Texas cornerback maintains a position in the top 70 of PFF positional coverage rankings.
The players
Steve Sarkisian
He serves as the Texas football head coach and play caller who previously played quarterback at BYU in the 1990s.
Bo Mascoe
He is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound fifth-year senior cornerback who transferred to Texas from Rutgers.
Kade Phillips
He is a 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback who started three games as a freshman in 2025.
The details
Sarkisian raised these concerns during a weekly Zoom conference held on October 15, 2026. The comments follow a recent stretch of games where the Longhorns defeated Tennessee 20-17 on September 26 before falling to Oklahoma 27-24 on October 10.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: Texas defeated Tennessee 20-17.
October 10, 2026: Oklahoma defeated Texas 27-24.
October 15, 2026: Steve Sarkisian criticized officiating during a press conference.
October 17, 2026: Texas plays Florida.
Season Trajectory
The team's inability to place cornerbacks in the top 70 of the Pro Football Focus positional coverage rankings underscores a season-long struggle with defensive consistency. These officiating concerns arrive as the Longhorns attempt to recalibrate before their upcoming game against Florida.
The focus on pass interference penalties highlights a potential liability for the Texas secondary ahead of the upcoming matchup against Florida. Fantasy and betting observers should monitor how these officiating complaints influence future defensive aggressiveness in the secondary.
The takeaway
Sarkisian's public stance signals an attempt to draw more attention to how games are called as his team prepares for late-season matchups. Consistency in coverage remains a priority for the coaching staff as they evaluate player performance against independent analytical data.
Further reading
For more updates on the Longhorns this season, visit the Austin Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
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Do you believe football officials apply pass interference rules consistently during games?
