The chatter around Texas has reached a point where the quarterback question is no longer theoretical. With the Longhorns coming off back-to-back losses and Ole Miss on deck in Week 8, Paul Finebaum made it clear Monday that he would make a change under center if he were calling the shots.
On First Take, Finebaum said KJ Lacey Jr. - who is reportedly seeing more work with the first-team this week - should get the start over Arch Manning against the Rebels.
“It’s a painful thing to say… what’s the point in continuing this agony?” Finebaum asked.
“If you’re going to give KJ the reps in practice, let him start the game… give him a series or two. Are you wasting it?
Maybe. But maybe Arch Manning will pick something up on the sideline.”
Finebaum doubled down on the idea that Manning’s long-term upside is still intact, even if he thinks the current setup is hurting him.
“I still think [Arch Manning] can be an elite quarterback. But I also believe that Steve Sarkisian has completely screwed it up,” Finebaum said. “[He] shouldn’t be the offensive coordinator… he has put too much into Arch Manning’s head.”
Manning did have a solid outing against Florida, finishing 14 of 20 for 173 yards and a touchdown. Even so, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Manning will start against Ole Miss, sticking with his quarterback heading into a game Texas badly needs.
The stakes are obvious: with a loss to Ole Miss, Texas would be all but out of the College Football Playoff race. The Longhorns and Rebels meet Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
In Other News...
Auburn Just Lost A Key Defender As Georgia Watches Closely
Auburn entered its matchup with Georgia already short a linebacker, and the situation around Xavier Atkins only grew more consequential in the hours after the suspension was announced. Coach Alex Golesh said Atkins was not with the team for the game, leaving the Tigers to navigate a key absence in a spot Georgia usually likes to test with depth and tempo.
Atkins then added another layer by saying on social media that he plans to enter the transfer portal after the semester ends, turning a temporary team issue into a longer-term personnel question. For Georgia, it is the kind of development worth watching closely, especially with Auburn still sorting out what comes next for a defender who was no longer available when the teams met. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Blew A Winnable Home Game In The Most Frustrating Way
Georgia had a home game there for the taking against Auburn, but the kind of mistakes that have a way of haunting a season took over instead. Penalties kept piling up, turnovers blunted momentum, and even with some solid individual efforts the Bulldogs could never fully settle into the rhythm they needed at Sanford Stadium. Craig Dandridge finished with 88 receiving yards, while Raylen Wilson turned in a busy defensive night with 10 solo tackles and a sack.
The frustration only deepened because Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown ran for 115 yards, which outpaced Georgias entire offense and underlined how often the Bulldogs were chasing the game. It was the sixth home loss of Kirby Smarts tenure, another reminder that even at home, Georgia can still beat itself when execution slips at the wrong time. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Suddenly Faces Pressure To Rebound While Keeping Recruiting Momentum
Georgias latest slide in the AP poll came after a loss that exposed the kind of issues Kirby Smarts team usually avoids, with turnovers, penalties and injuries all piling up at the wrong time. Even so, the timing of the bye week gives the Bulldogs a chance to reset physically and mentally, and there is a real expectation inside the program that a healthier roster can help steady things when play resumes.
On the recruiting front, Georgia also picked up some good news with the commitment of Newton County athlete Braylon Miller, a late-blooming prospect who had previously pledged to Liberty. It is the kind of addition that helps soften the sting of a rough Saturday, and it also serves as a reminder that Georgia still has momentum on the trail even while it sorts through the pressure that comes with trying to rebound on the field. [Read more 🡒]