Arch Manning has taken 20 sacks in the first five SEC games this season, a brutal statistic that echoes last year’s full 8-game total and has Texas’ national championship aspirations looking more fragile than ever. After a 31-3 win over Mississippi State on Saturday, where Manning still took five brutal sacks and finished with a bloody right hand, head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t mince words. “The five sacks sucks, that’s not something we’re proud of,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t want [Arch Manning] to have to endure that.” It’s a valid concern, because the hits aren’t stopping.
The Brutal Numbers Don’t Lie
Look, 20 sacks in five conference games is not just bad; it’s a flashing red light for an offensive line unit. Last season, the Longhorns allowed 20 sacks in *eight* SEC games. They’ve already matched that in two-thirds fewer contests. On Saturday alone against Mississippi State, Manning faced pressure on nine of his 28 drop-backs, and get this: those nine pressured plays generated zero completions. That 32.1 percent pressure rate was actually Texas’ *best* mark in SEC play this season! They’ve allowed a pressure rate of at least 37 percent in every single SEC game, including a season-high 46.7 percent against Tennessee in a tight 20-17 win back in September. This O-line is putting their star quarterback in harm’s way on a consistent basis, and it’s hard to watch.
Who’s To Blame: QB or O-Line?
It’s tempting to pull the trigger on the easy answer, “sacks are a quarterback stat,” and sure, Manning isn’t blameless. There are multiple instances where he just holds onto the ball for too long, waiting, waiting, waiting to make a throw before getting crumpled. Take the Mississippi State game: he failed to feel pressure from his right, then walked into a sack after more than four seconds, even against a three-man rush! And yeah, sometimes the route concepts are just plain ugly, like two eligible receivers in the backfield. You’d expect a quarterback with 22 career starts and four years under Sarkisian to avoid some of these hits. But let’s be real: Manning’s miscues are only a piece of the pie. An “outsized share” of these hits can be directly attributed to the offensive line’s errors. Remember the last-minute interception against Oklahoma? Texas had six blockers for six rushing Sooners, and somehow a linebacker still got right in Manning’s face. Or the sack, fumble, and defensive touchdown against Ole Miss? Replacement left tackle Andre Cojoe got beat immediately off the snap. Manning might be a better talent than a field processor right now, but his offensive line’s constant shortcomings are absolutely making that problem worse.
What This Means for a “Contender”
Texas claims to be a national championship contender. But honestly, you don’t protect your quarterback like one when you’re ranking No. 14 among 16 SEC teams in sacks allowed, and a dismal No. 119 among 138 Division I teams nationally. That’s just a shocking stat that screams “problem.” Manning’s final sack against Mississippi State was reportedly the “most indicative” of the offensive line’s struggles. If they want to truly compete for a national title, this O-line has to figure it out, and fast. The season is flying by, and every hit on Manning is a hit on their championship dreams.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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