The Texas Longhorns are charging into the college football season with national title dreams, and all eyes are on senior quarterback Arch Manning. If he lives up to the sky-high expectations, the Longhorns could very well hoist the championship trophy. But while the excitement builds in Austin, head coach Steve Sarkisian isn't holding back his frustration with the current state of college football.

"I try my best to not get consumed with how bad it is," Sarkisian told USA Today, his tone reflecting a growing weariness. "It just wears you out."

The veteran coach didn't stop there. He took a pointed jab at the academic standards some programs operate under, specifically calling out Ole Miss. "At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player's academic credit hours," Sarkisian explained. "You may be a semester from graduating, but you're going all the way back to 50% if you play here and want a degree. But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree."

Sarkisian's critique underscores a broader concern about the balance between athletics and education. "It's like we've forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL," he said, highlighting the reality that most student-athletes won't make it to the pros.

The Texas coach also turned his attention to the College Football Playoff committee and the rumored expansion to a 24-team playoff. "The committee doesn't have the bandwidth to watch that many games," he argued. "They see the media and coaches polls, and they copy them. You've got a 12-team playoff, and that means there are at least 30 teams that impact it. Now all of a sudden, you want to go to 24? Now the polls become an even greater factor, because now you're asking (the committee) to watch 40 teams a week — if not 50."

In a final, cutting remark, Sarkisian summed up the chaos: "We all signed up to be part of the NCAA, and then we all allegedly make the rules."

As the season approaches, Sarkisian's words serve as a stark reminder that even in the midst of championship aspirations, the foundation of college sports is facing serious questions. Whether it's academics, playoff expansion, or the sheer volume of games, one thing is clear: the game off the field is just as intense as the one on it.