Steve Sarkisian isn’t wrong about the weight Arch Manning carries every time he steps on the field. The Texas quarterback doesn’t just play with the Longhorns on his chest; he plays with one of the most recognizable names in football on the back of his jersey, and that guarantees a different kind of scrutiny.
That scrutiny sharpened after Manning threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in Texas’ 27-24 loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry in Week 6. For critics already leaning on the familiar “nepo baby” label, it was more fuel for the fire. Sarkisian, though, pushed back Monday and made clear he thinks the quarterback is judged more harshly than most.
“If you took the last name off the back of his jersey and you said, 'Here's Joe Smith playing quarterback at the University of Texas,' ... we'd be praising the guy,” the coach said Monday (h/t Julian Martinez of KTBC-TV in Austin).
Sarkisian also pointed to Manning’s record against elite competition, noting that four of his wins have come against Associated Press top-10 opponents. One of those victories came this season, when Manning helped Texas rally from a 23-3 third-quarter deficit for a 24-23 win over then-No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2.
That comeback was impressive, but Manning’s numbers in that game were modest: 23-of-37 passing for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception. More broadly, his season has been defined by steady production without a major leap forward. Through five starts in 2026, he has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,122 yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
That stagnation matters because Manning was expected to build on a strong finish in 2025, when he tied for 17th in the nation with 26 touchdown passes in 13 games. Instead, questions have emerged about how quickly he reads defenses and whether he’s taking the next step as a quarterback. Sarkisian said he doesn’t believe Manning is having trouble processing information, but Fox analyst Joel Klatt sees it differently.
“He doesn't process information all that quickly,” the former Colorado Buffaloes QB said in a clip posted to X Monday. “His eyes tend to be in the wrong spot at times. You saw that on the last interception [against Oklahoma].”
What’s fair to say is this: Manning’s name has turned him into a target for criticism that wouldn’t land the same way on a quarterback without the Manning family pedigree. But the name isn’t going anywhere, and neither are the expectations that come with it. The challenge now is for Manning to keep absorbing that pressure while Sarkisian keeps guiding him through it.
Texas, now 4-1, turns to Florida next. The Longhorns host the Gators, who are 4-2, on Saturday at noon ET on ABC.
In Other News...
Ole Miss-Texas Just Became A Bigger Game Than State Fans Wanted
For Mississippi State fans, the bigger-picture irritation is easy to see: Ole Miss keeps finding itself in the kind of spotlight that can turn a good season into a national stage. The SEC has already lined up the Rebels matchup with Texas as a prime attraction, and it comes with all the ingredients that keep the rest of the league watching, from rankings near the top of the polls to the kind of postseason stakes that can reshape the College Football Playoff race.
Texas brings its own extra layer of attention because of Arch Manning, whose family name still resonates strongly in Oxford. The Longhorns and Rebels do not meet often enough to make this feel routine, and the historical backdrop only adds to the intrigue as another high-profile SEC test draws closer for Ole Miss. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Faces A Real QB Decision Heading Into LSU
Jeff Lebby brought in AJ Swann for a reason. The veteran transfer arrived with SEC starting experience and was supposed to give Mississippi State experienced depth behind Kamario Taylor, but the Bulldogs recent trip to Alabama offered a different glimpse at the backup picture. When Taylor left the game and the staff needed a replacement, it was redshirt freshman Parker Puckett who got the first look instead of Swann, a detail that adds another layer to a quarterback room already trying to settle itself.
Now Mississippi State heads toward LSU with no clear answer on who would take over if Taylor cannot go. Lebby has listed Puckett and Swann as co-backups, and the uncertainty matters because the Bulldogs need a plan they can trust if the starter is unavailable. For a team trying to stay steady in SEC play, the quarterback depth chart is suddenly one of the more closely watched decisions on the board. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Can Expose Mississippi States Biggest Offensive Problem
Mississippi State heads into its matchup with LSU trying to sort out more than just an opponent. The Bulldogs are dealing with uncertainty at quarterback after the injury to Will Rogers, and that only adds to an offense already searching for answers on the ground. For a team that has leaned on the passing game, the timing is not ideal, especially with LSU also trying to clean up its own defensive issues.
The coaching staffs have plenty to work through in the lead-up, but Mississippi States biggest concern is obvious: how to create enough balance to keep LSU from pinning its ears back. If the Bulldogs cannot threaten the Tigers with a more effective run game, they could spend the night asking their quarterback situation to do too much. How Mississippi State chooses to handle that challenge may end up saying as much about the game as the score itself. [Read more 🡒]