Arch Manning’s latest Texas scrimmage didn’t exactly calm the noise, but it also didn’t call for alarms.
Steve Sarkisian said Manning was “inefficient” early in the Longhorns’ most recent scrimmage before finishing much stronger, a snapshot that fits with what has surfaced throughout fall camp: some sharp moments, some accuracy questions, and enough unevenness to keep people talking as Texas gets ready for the 2026 season.
That’s the part worth tracking. Not spiraling over.
Manning is carrying the kind of expectations that turn every miss into a headline. Heisman Trophy buzz and No.
1 NFL Draft pick chatter tend to do that. But there’s a real gap between a quarterback having stuff to clean up and a quarterback situation that’s truly in trouble.
This feels like the former.
Missing spring practice didn’t help his rhythm, and that matters. Timing, footwork and chemistry are all part of the deal for a quarterback trying to take another step after an up-and-down 2025 season. If Manning is regularly missing throws he should make, Sarkisian has a problem to solve.
Still, “inefficient” in August is not the same thing as broken in September.
Camp evaluation can be messy because every rep has a winner and a loser. If Manning is having trouble against Texas’ defense, that could mean the offense is off.
It could also mean the Longhorns have a defense that’s going to make quarterbacks miserable this fall. The only way to sort that out for real is to see Texas against an opponent.
What Texas needs is the version of Manning who surfaced late last season and kept building from there. That’s the bar now.
The Longhorns aren’t trying to get by with a quarterback who’s merely solid. They’re aiming higher, and that means Manning has to become one of the best players in college football.
The checklist is obvious: better accuracy, better efficiency, fewer wasted chances. What it does not require is perfection in a scrimmage in August.
There was also at least one encouraging note in the buildup. Manning reportedly had a productive week before Saturday’s uneven showing, which makes the next stretch of practices especially important.
Sarkisian still has time to tighten things up, rebuild the offense’s rhythm and get No. 16 comfortable before the games start. For now, the message is simple: keep watching, keep demanding progress, but hold off on the panic.
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Texas Transfer Newcomers Are Already Shaping Key Camp Battles
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Sarkisian has also pointed to the way the newcomers and returning players are blending as the Longhorns get closer to the real work of the season. For Texas, the appeal of this part of camp is not just identifying who plays, but how quickly the transfers can settle into the system and make the roster stronger where it needed it most. [Read more 🡒]