The chatter around Arch Manning is getting louder, but Texas is not making a quarterback change. Steve Sarkisian said Monday that Manning remains the starter, even as the Longhorns prepare to give redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr more first-team reps in practice this week.
Sarkisian didn’t dodge the conversation, either. He was blunt about what he wants to see from his quarterback.
“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.”
The outside noise has been relentless. Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky was among those pushing Manning to move on, writing on social media this morning, “Arch should definitely go back to school (as of right now) and definitely not at Texas.”
Sports Illustrated’s Gene Wojciechowski went a step further, floating Indiana as a possible destination after Curt Cignetti’s work 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 suggested it could be a “one year rocket ride” for Manning to the top of the draft board.
CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco also hinted Manning should move on, while former NFL general manager Ran Carthon raised Miami as another possible landing spot.
For now, though, Texas is keeping Manning in place while trying to squeeze more out of him. Through six games, he has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,295 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Opposing defenses have sacked him 17 times in those six games, a number that already tops the 23 times he was sacked across the entire 2025 season.
No. 19 Texas hosts No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night.
In Other News...
Pacers Open The Season With A Problem They Didn't Want
The Pacers head into their season opener already having to reshuffle the rotation, and the timing could not be much worse. Aaron Nesmith has been ruled out with a left hamstring strain, leaving Indiana without its starting small forward as it tries to get the new season moving in the right direction. His absence hands Kelly Oubre Jr. a chance to step into the lineup, while the injury also nudges the coaching staff toward more minutes for the wing depth behind him.
There is more uncertainty in the backcourt, too, with T.J. McConnell still sidelined by a right hamstring strain. For a team that leans on pace, pressure and energy, losing two rotation pieces before the first game is a frustrating start, especially when the bench is supposed to help stabilize things early. Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard are among the players who could be asked to pick up some of the slack, and the opening stretch now comes with an immediate test of Indiana's depth. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Trade Buzz Hints At A Bigger Plan Around Haliburton
The Pacers offseason chatter has started to sharpen around the idea that the front office is looking for more than just a bounce-back year. Bleacher Reports Dan Favale recently named three possible trade targets for Indiana in Yves Missi, Jaylin Williams and Jordan Walsh, a list that points to the kind of roster-building decisions the team may be weighing as it tries to keep pace in a crowded East.
A healthy Tyrese Haliburton changes the conversation almost immediately. Indiana is expected to take a step forward with Haliburton back from injury, and the projections reflect a team that could win a lot of games if the supporting cast fits properly around him. Haliburton already signed his five-year extension in 2023, so the long-term plan is clear enough - now the interesting part is whether the Pacers use trade talks to accelerate it. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Suddenly Face A T.J. McConnell Concern They Can't Ignore
T.J. McConnells availability has suddenly become an early Pacers concern, with the veteran guard expected to miss the first game of the season because of a hamstring strain. For a team that leans on his pace, energy and steadying presence, the timing is hard to ignore, especially with the regular season just getting underway and the point guard room looking thinner than usual.
McConnells value has always come from the same relentless style that has helped him last this long, even as he enters his mid-30s and continues to battle the wear that comes with playing that way. The bigger question now is not just how long he sits, but what Indiana does if this becomes more than a short-term issue, because there isnt a clear like-for-like answer waiting behind him. [Read more 🡒]