Steve Sarkisian Calls Ohio State “No. 1 in the Country for a Reason,” Says He Was “Shocked” Michigan Fans Stormed the Field

With No. 1 Ohio State set to travel to Austin for a top-five showdown against No. 4 Texas, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t hold back in his Monday press conference — both in praising the Buckeyes and in sharing his honest reaction to Michigan’s controversial finish against Western Michigan.

Steve Sarkisian’s Full Praise for Ohio State and Ryan Day

Sarkisian opened his comments with a direct and lengthy tribute to what Ryan Day has built in Columbus. According to Sarkisian, Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in the country for a legitimate reason, crediting Day for the job he’s done with the program since taking over — including winning a national championship a few years ago. He specifically pointed to Day’s staff additions, noting that bringing in Matt Patricia last season helped Ohio State lead the country in nearly every major defensive statistical category, and that adding Arthur Smith this offseason gives the Buckeyes the rare luxury of having two former NFL head coaches serving as play-callers.

Sarkisian didn’t stop at coaching praise, either. He broke down Ohio State’s roster in detail, acknowledging star receiver Jeremiah Smith as a player everyone already knows about, while also highlighting quarterback Julian Sayin and running back Bo Jackson as key offensive weapons behind a veteran offensive line. He noted the Buckeyes have reloaded at receiver even after losing Carnell Tate, and praised Ohio State’s defensive rebuild as well, name-checking returning contributors like Jaylen McClain, Jermaine Mathews, Payton Pierce, Kenyatta Jackson, and Devin Sanchez, alongside newcomers Christian Alliegro and John Walker. Sarkisian summarized Ohio State as an extremely talented, well-coached football team, and said he considers it a privilege for his staff, players, and fan base to be part of a game of this magnitude.

Steve Sarkisian Says the Ohio State-Texas Game Could Be One of the Most-Watched in College Football History

Beyond the on-field matchup, Sarkisian also addressed the sheer scale of attention this game is expected to draw. With both Ohio State and Texas entering the season ranked in the top five nationally, Sarkisian predicted the primetime showdown at DKR-Memorial Stadium could approach 20 million viewers, potentially making it one of the most-watched games in the sport’s history.

Steve Sarkisian Reacts to Michigan Fans Storming the Field vs. Western Michigan

Sarkisian was also asked about Michigan’s controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan, a game that ended on a Hail Mary touchdown following a heavily disputed clock ruling. Sarkisian was candid in admitting he didn’t watch the finish live, instead catching the aftermath through sports shows and follow-up coverage. He said he was genuinely curious about the sequence but still doesn’t fully understand or agree with the final ruling, acknowledging there was a player ruled out of bounds who touched the ball first, and uncertainty over whether one second should have been added back to the clock. Sarkisian noted the discrepancy between the stadium clock and the Big Ten’s own timing system, admitting there were simply too many moving parts for him to claim full understanding of the situation.

He also expressed genuine sympathy for Western Michigan, saying it was unfortunate for a team that competed hard all game to lose in that fashion, adding that he’s personally experienced a heartbreaking Hail Mary loss before and understands exactly how much that hurts — which he said is part of why games are played for a full 60 minutes.

Where Sarkisian didn’t hold back, though, was his reaction to Michigan’s fans rushing the field afterward. He said his biggest takeaway from the entire sequence was genuine surprise that fans stormed the field given the circumstances, calling it an unexpected reaction to the way the game had unfolded.

Why Steve Sarkisian’s Comments Carry Extra Weight

Sarkisian’s perspective on rivalry pressure and big-game moments isn’t purely theoretical — Texas has been on both sides of high-stakes environments recently. The Longhorns went into Michigan Stadium in 2024 and defeated the Wolverines 31-12 in front of a sold-out crowd of over 111,000, a result Sarkisian later attributed to his team’s experience handling high-pressure environments. That context makes his surprise at Michigan’s field-storming reaction after a considerably smaller, more controversial win over Western Michigan all the more notable.

What’s at Stake in Ohio State vs. Texas

With Ohio State looking to build on a dominant start to defend its national championship and Texas eager to prove it belongs in the same tier as the nation’s top teams, Saturday night’s showdown in Austin carries legitimate playoff implications for both programs. Between Sarkisian’s respectful, detailed breakdown of Ohio State’s roster and his candid comments on the Michigan controversy, the Longhorns’ head coach has made clear he understands exactly how much attention this matchup is about to receive — and he expects both teams to earn every bit of it.