Texas has stayed with Arch Manning through the rough stretch, and now Steve Sarkisian is asking for something a little different from his quarterback: a response.
Manning has not come close to the level Texas expected from him, or the rest of the country expected either, and the Longhorns are carrying a two-game losing streak into a home matchup with No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday. Still, Sarkisian is keeping Manning in place as the starter while also making it clear that the quarterback has changed since first arriving on the 40 Acres.
"I think that somebody texted me today that we lost the 'Ah Shucks kid', you know, and we've created something else. I don't know if we lost him.
We created this, you know. We did, all of us, y'all included, meet the whole thing, right?
Everybody on ESPN, we've created this," Sarkisian told Inside Texas's Tyler Horka.
Over the last two weeks, Manning’s late-game mistakes have loomed large. One interception and one fumble in the fourth quarter, both coming at decisive moments, arguably helped swing those games away from Texas. The result is a team that sits at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play, with a quarterback whose confidence and command are under a louder spotlight than ever.
Sarkisian didn’t hide from that reality, but he also didn’t sound worried about Manning backing down. If anything, he sees a quarterback with a sharper edge than before.
"I would use the word edgy, and I like it. He's edgy right now," Sarkisian said of Manning.
"We'll see what comes out of it... But he's edgy right now.
And honestly, I appreciate that about him. At some point, he's gotta fight back.
And the best way for him to fight back is going out and playing really good football with his teammates and enjoy playing football with his teammates. And so I'm looking forward to watching him compete Saturday night."
That may be the clearest sign yet that Texas believes Manning still has something to prove, and maybe something to reclaim. His supporters have been tested, and the noise around his struggles has only gotten louder. But Sarkisian’s stance suggests the Longhorns are betting on a quarterback who is ready to answer it.
There’s still no guarantee that the “edgy” version of Manning produces the turnaround Texas wants. He could still fall short against Ole Miss, and if that happens, KJ Lacey or Dia Bell could finally get a shot. For now, though, Manning remains the guy, and the message from his head coach is simple: fight back, play free, and show it on Saturday night.
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Arch Manning Is Showing Texas Something Different At A Crucial Time
Arch Manning has been drawing a different kind of attention around Texas this week, and Steve Sarkisian noticed it during practice. After a rough stretch and a two-game losing streak, the Longhorns are looking for a spark from their quarterback, and Sarkisian said Manning has looked edgy in practice as the team tries to steady itself before Ole Miss.
Sarkisian sounded optimistic that Manning can turn that edge into production when it matters most. He also pointed to backup KJ Lacey as a steady presence behind the scenes, praising the freshman's solid play and coachability this season, a small but meaningful reminder that Texas is still trying to sort out its quarterback room while the pressure keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Legend Sparks SEC QB Debate With Arch Manning Shot
David Pollacks latest SEC quarterback rundown landed with some weight, especially in Texas circles, because it came with a clear endorsement of Georgias Gunner Stockton and a sharp critique of Arch Manning. Pollack, who has long had a strong feel for the leagues biggest quarterbacks, stuck with Stockton even after a rough outing, framing the Georgia signal-caller as someone he still trusts as the games get bigger and the pressure rises.
For Texas, the more pointed part of the discussion was the Manning evaluation. Pollack pointed to an underwhelming performance and issues in key games during Mannings second full season as a starter, a reminder that the scrutiny around the Longhorns quarterback is only growing. With Texas always measured against the SECs best, comments like that add another layer to the conversation about how Manning stacks up when the spotlight is brightest. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Must Face A Recruiting Miss At The Worst Time
Kewan Lacys path to this point carries a little extra sting for Texas. The Dallas native and Ole Miss running back was a three-star prospect who had long wanted to play for the Longhorns, but Steve Sarkisian and his staff never extended a scholarship offer. Now Lacy has turned into a productive piece for the Rebels, and Texas is set to see him up close in a matchup that arrives with plenty on the line for both sides.
The Longhorns meet Ole Miss on Oct. 24 in a game scheduled for ABC, and the timing could hardly be worse for Texas. Its defense is already dealing with injuries to key players, which puts even more pressure on a unit trying to hold up against an offense featuring a runner it once passed on. For Texas, it is the kind of recruiting miss that can feel much bigger when the calendar finally circles back. [Read more 🡒]