Urban Meyer isn’t buying the idea that Arch Manning should shoulder all the blame for Texas’ offensive issues, and he said the criticism comes with the territory for a quarterback carrying that last name.
Meyer, the national championship-winning former head coach, pointed to the bigger picture around Manning while discussing the reaction after Texas dropped its season opener to Ohio State last year.
““I think the common denominator of every great quarterback is a great group of players around him. And I remember talking to Sark about this, you know, everybody’s all over Arch Manning and I get it, you’re a quarterback and you had that last name, get used to it, pal.
That’s going to be the rest of your life. However, when players aren’t open, that’s not the quarterback’s fault.
And the receivers against Ohio State really struggled. They’re very talented.
They didn’t play great in that game. Yeah.
Every quarterback that has a great year, he is surrounded by dudes,“ Meyer said.
Meyer’s point was simple: quarterbacks get the praise, but they also need help. In his view, the receivers’ struggles against Ohio State were a major part of the story, not just Manning’s play.
Elsewhere around the Longhorns, the conversation has been moving in a few different directions. Texas is drawing attention for its wide receivers, with 247Sports taking a numbers-based look at three under-the-radar stats to monitor in 2026.
Inside Texas also has been tracking several football angles, including Melvin Siani’s work in Wake Forest’s rushing attack, a look at “The lethal cocktail that no program can survive,” and a Week 1 Q&A touching on expectations, penalty cleanup and the five-star wide receiver race.
There’s been movement in the baseball program, too. Ethan Mendoza has announced his return to Texas, and LHP Haiden Leffew is also set to come back.
On the recruiting front, Texas is in the mix for a number of prospects. Five-star PG Beckham Black, the 2027’s top basketball recruit, has scheduled an official visit to Texas.
Four-star RB Landen Williams-Callis has set an announcement date for August 1. Texas has also been linked with 2028 OT target Jamarios Canton, who recently recapped his recruitment and new home, while a visit to the states brought multiple offers for 2028 NFL Academy OT Teauariki Siaoloa.
Inside Texas also says Texas tight end recruiting is approaching elite levels.
And in the SEC conversation, the Austin American-Statesman has ranked defensive lines around the league, including where Colin Simmons and the Longhorns fit.
In Other News...
New Manning QB Twist Could Catch Ole Miss Fans Attention
The Manning quarterback pipeline is adding another layer, and this one starts at Baylor School in Tennessee, where Marshall Manning is set to begin his high school career in a familiar family spotlight. Baylor coach Erik Kimrey has already confirmed the arrangement for the upcoming season, and it puts Marshall in a program with a quarterback room that already has a clear front-runner.
Ahead of him is Keegan Croucher, a highly regarded 2027 recruit and Ole Miss commit, which gives the Rebels another reason to keep an eye on what happens in Chattanooga. For Texas fans, the Manning name always carries extra weight, and this latest twist is a reminder that the familys next chapter may unfold a little differently than some expected. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Miller Has Texas Back In The Top 10 Conversation
Sean Miller has already put Texas back into the kind of preseason conversation the program expects to occupy, and the roster-building has matched the buzz. A Sweet 16 run gave the Longhorns a springboard, and the follow-up work has been strong enough to keep them in the national picture even before a game is played, with an early SportsCenter NEXT ranking showing just how high the ceiling looks.
Jon Rothsteins preseason top 45 for 2026-27 had Texas sitting ninth, a spot that keeps the Longhorns in the upper tier of the sport and right in the mix among the SECs best. The schedule will offer an early test of whether that respect holds up, with the Rady Childrens Invitational on the front end and the SEC-ACC Challenge waiting later in the season against Louisville and Memphis. [Read more 🡒]