Texas came out of the Red River Rivalry with a loss, and Arch Manning came out of it under a brighter spotlight than ever. That part was inevitable.
He threw two interceptions in the No. 1 Longhorns’ loss to unranked Oklahoma, and both picks became immediate talking points - one returned for a touchdown, the other giving the Sooners the ball back with 39 seconds left in a tie game.
But the tape tells a fuller story than the headlines.
Manning’s mistakes were damaging, no question. Still, the idea that he was a turnover machine doesn’t match what he’s shown this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he has logged a turnover-worthy play on just 3.2% of his passes.
The first interception came early in the fourth quarter on second-and-13. Texas was working a read from right to left, starting with Ryan Wingo’s comeback route at the top of the screen.
Wingo’s defender stayed disciplined and didn’t open his hips, so Manning needed to keep moving through the concept. Jermaine Bishop Jr.’s hitch was covered.
Emmett Mosley V’s drag was open.
By then, though, pressure was already in Manning’s face. He tried to step up, then escaped the pocket and rolled out.
That’s when he spotted Cam Coleman separating from the defenders around him and running into open space in the secondary. It was a dangerous throw to try on the move, but not an unreasonable one.
The problem was the delivery. Manning sailed it right into Peyton Bowen’s hands, and Bowen took it back for a touchdown to put Oklahoma ahead. It looked as if the ball slipped out on him, turning a workable decision into a disastrous result.
The second interception came with 24 seconds left in the tie game on second-and-10. Texas called a three-man dagger concept to the left and a comeback to the right, while Oklahoma crowded the line with six defenders and kept a seventh in the box. On the right side, the Sooners had five possible rushers over Texas’ four blockers, which meant if Omarion Robinson, labeled '2,' came on the blitz, Manning was supposed to hit the underneath hitch to tight end Emaree Winston.
Robinson did blitz. Oklahoma, though, dropped defensive Jake Kreul, No. 98, into that throwing lane, so Manning moved to Coleman’s comeback on the backside with a free rusher coming up the middle.
There was a narrow opening, but the ball went about five yards too far inside, and Courtland Guillory made the play. In that spot, Manning would have been better off taking the sack or throwing it away.
Those two throws were ugly. They were also not the whole story.
Manning had other rough edges in the game - passes he left in bad spots for his receivers, moments when he passed on vertical shots, and times when he didn’t find wide-open options in the middle of the field. But he also had to carry Texas’ offense against an Oklahoma defense that was as sturdy as advertised.
The numbers were fine, even good: 260 passing yards, three touchdowns, 19 completions on 31 attempts, and a 67.4 PFF offensive grade. That grade was actually better than what he posted against UTSA or Tennessee.
And on film, some of his best work showed up in this game. Two of his three touchdown throws were high-level deep balls that beat coverage.
He also hit a deep post to Cam Coleman on the drive after the pick-six, then followed it with another touchdown pass to Bishop two plays later. That Bishop throw stood out for the way he stayed patient and used his eyes to manipulate the defense.
Manning also flashed improvisation and clean footwork throughout the night. Still, the final image will be the mistakes, not the flashes. If Steve Sarkisian wants to change the conversation around Manning and Texas, the offense has to put him in better positions - leaning into what he does well and limiting what can go wrong.
In Other News...
Texas May Be Getting A Very Different Florida Offense Than Expected
Floridas quarterback situation is suddenly a major subplot for the Longhorns, with Aaron Philo trending toward sitting out the upcoming game because of a shoulder injury. If he cannot go, Texas would be preparing for a different look entirely, with sophomore Tramell Jones lined up to make his first career start in a game that already carries plenty of weight for both teams.
Jones was a four-star recruit and has flashed efficiency in limited action this season, enough to draw praise from head coach Jon Sumrall as a potential starting quarterback. For Texas, that means the film and the plan may need a late adjustment, because the offense coming to Austin could be shaped as much by inexperience as by the usual Florida personnel. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Colin Simmons Problem Fans Will Fear
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Simmons was taken off the field for further examination, and Texas felt the effect almost right away as Florida moved ahead on a field goal while he was out. For a defense built around his disruption, the bigger concern now is how much time the Longhorns may have to manage without the player who had been driving their pass rush all game. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Have A Colin Simmons Problem They Can't Afford
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Simmons has been central to everything Texas wants to do up front, giving the Longhorns the kind of edge pressure that can change a game in a hurry. Any absence would put extra pressure on a defense that leans on him to disrupt opposing quarterbacks, and it adds another layer of urgency as Texas waits to learn more about the extent of the injury. [Read more 🡒]