Texas is staring down a dangerous stretch, and Paul Finebaum thinks the answer at quarterback is simple: make the change now.
With the Longhorns riding back-to-back losses and Ole Miss coming to town in Week 8, Finebaum said on Monday’s edition of First Take that KJ Lacey Jr. should get the nod over Arch Manning. Lacey, who is reportedly seeing more work with the first-team this week, would start if Finebaum had the call.
“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.”
Manning’s latest outing against Florida was efficient enough on paper. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, good for a 70% completion rate. Still, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has already said Manning will start against the Rebels, signaling that the staff is sticking with him for now.
Finebaum, though, doesn’t think the problem is only about one game or one stat line. He said Manning has the talent to become an elite quarterback, but argued that Sarkisian has mishandled the situation.
“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.”
The stakes are obvious. A loss to Ole Miss would leave Texas nearly out of the College Football Playoff picture.
The Longhorns and Rebels meet Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Catches A Huge Break In High Stakes Texas Showdown
Ole Miss got a significant early boost for its trip to Texas, with the Longhorns expected to be without standout defensive end Colin Simmons after he suffered a high ankle sprain against Florida. Simmons was ruled out for the rest of that game, and his status now figures to be evaluated week to week, a notable development for a matchup that already had plenty riding on it.
Simmons has been one of the most disruptive defenders in the country and leads the nation in sacks, so his absence changes the look of a Texas front that typically leans on him to set the tone. For Ole Miss, it removes one of the toughest individual problems on the schedule and adds another layer of intrigue to a game that was already shaping up as a high-stakes test. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Looks Ready For Much Bigger Games After Statement Win
Ole Miss spent Saturday looking every bit like a team built for the bigger stage, taking control early and never really letting Missouri get comfortable in a 31-3 win. The Rebels defense set the tone throughout the afternoon, keeping the Tigers away from their preferred answers and making the kind of steady, disciplined stops that can travel well when the schedule tightens up.
Pete Goldings group now heads into the heart of SEC play with some real momentum behind it, and his record against ranked opponents sits at 6-1 after another statement performance. The challenge for Ole Miss is obvious enough: this level of defensive sharpness has to hold when the opposition gets tougher, because the next stretch will say a lot about whether this was simply a strong showing or a preview of what the Rebels can sustain. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Golding Sends Ole Miss Fans A Warning About Arch Manning
Pete Golding spent part of the buildup to Ole Miss meeting with Texas pushing back on the easy take about Arch Manning. The Rebels defensive coordinator said the notion that Manning is not an elite player is crazy, a notable stance given the turnovers that have shadowed the quarterbacks season. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has already confirmed Manning will stay in the lineup against Ole Miss, which keeps the focus on how the Rebels plan to handle a passer Golding clearly still views as a major challenge.
Golding pointed to more than just the stat sheet, crediting Mannings athletic ability and past success while suggesting some of the struggles have been a matter of bad luck. For Ole Miss, that kind of warning matters because it comes from inside the opposing scouting report, not from a fan debate or a headline. If Manning settles in, the Rebels know they could be facing a quarterback Golding believes is far better than the public conversation has suggested. [Read more 🡒]