Calls for Arch Manning to leave Texas grew louder this week as a chorus of national voices suggested the quarterback might be better off elsewhere.
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky was among the most direct. “Arch should definitely go back to school (as of right now) and definitely not at Texas,” Orlovsky said on social media this morning.
He wasn’t alone in floating a possible exit. Sports Illustrated’s Gene Wojciechowski pointed to Indiana as a destination, linking Manning to the work head coach Curt Cignetti did with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in 2025.
“I’m not saying it hasn’t worked out, but could it work out better someplace else, given what Curt Cignetti has shown, is it Indiana?” he questioned. Pat Forde then piled on, calling it a possible “one year rocket ride” for Manning to the top of the draft board.
CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco also suggested Manning could move on from Texas, while former NFL general manager Ran Carthon offered Miami as another possible landing spot.
While the outside noise builds, Texas is making a move of its own at quarterback practice. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the Longhorns are “expected to give an up-tick in first-team quarterback reps to redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr this week in practice.”
Even with that development, Steve Sarkisian left no room for debate about the current depth chart. The Texas coach said Manning remains the starter.
“Arch can play better for us; he’s our starter, but I need to see a better version of Arch Manning,” Sarkisian said Monday. “Like I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now. We need to see a better version of him this week.”
Through six games, Manning has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,295 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also been sacked 17 times, a steep jump from the 23 times Texas allowed him to be sacked across the entire 2025 season.
No. 19 Texas will host No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night.
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Alabama Pass Rush Problem Could Follow The Tide Into Texas A&M
The pass rush has become one of the more uncomfortable storylines around Alabama after the Tide managed just one sack in each of their last two games, both losses. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has pointed to the same issue showing up again and again, with recent opponents getting the ball out quickly enough to blunt pressure before it can turn into a disruption.
Now the challenge appears to be waiting again with Texas A&M, which could bring a similar approach when it meets Alabama. If the Aggies are able to spread the ball around and keep the quarterback moving through reads fast, the Tide will need to find a way to create heat without relying on a rush that has not consistently gotten home lately. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces Growing Pressure To Stop This Slide Fast
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Texas A&M brings its own questions, but the Aggies have at least shown signs of improvement on defense, which only adds to the challenge Alabama is facing. Both teams need a response to steady their SEC standing, and for Alabama the pressure is about more than one result. It is about whether the slide gets stopped now, before it becomes something harder to shake. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Finally Has A Real Opening For AK Dear
AK Dear has spent most of the 2026 season waiting for his chance, and so far it has been a quiet one. The Alabama running back has only two carries for six yards, a number that reflects how limited his role has been since the season began, even after he arrived with the kind of recruiting buzz that made him one of the more intriguing young players on the roster.
Now the path looks a little more open. With EJ Crowell dealing with a knee injury and Alabama struggling to get much going on the ground, Dear could be in line for a bigger workload when the Crimson Tide face Texas A&M. He flashed promise in his debut season, but his usage has dipped this year, and this matchup may finally give Alabama a better look at what he can do with real touches. [Read more 🡒]