Texas just dropped its second straight game to an unranked opponent, a 27-24 loss to Florida, and now everyone’s looking at quarterback Arch Manning wondering what’s up.
Manning’s Grip Slipping, Says Meyer
The job security for Manning as starter is officially on thin ice, especially with No. 7 Ole Miss rolling into Austin this Saturday. Coach Steve Sarkisian has precious little time if he’s gonna make a change. Urban Meyer, a three-time national champ coach and Big Noon Kickoff analyst, isn’t holding back. He believes Manning’s hold on that starting spot is absolutely slipping. Meyer said it himself on Monday’s edition of The Herd: “The final two drives against Ohio State, I finally sat down and said, ‘Wow. There’s Arch Manning. Here we go.’ And it’s been in reverse ever since.” That Ohio State game, it was epic. In Week 2, Manning led the Longhorns to a wild 24-23 comeback win over then-No. 1 Ohio State. Texas was down nearly the whole game, then the offense put together three straight scoring drives to stun the Buckeyes. Manning was slinging it, completing 23-of-27 passes for 198 yards, a touchdown, and just one pick. That win actually shot Texas straight to No. 1 shortly after.
“Unsettled Feet” and a Call for Change
But since that heroic upset against the Buckeyes? Man, it’s been rough. Texas is sitting at a 1-2 record in SEC play. They scraped by Tennessee 20-17, but then got burned by Oklahoma and Florida, both 27-24 losses. Meyer isn’t just seeing the losses, he’s seeing a shift in Manning’s whole vibe. “I see the unsettled feet. I see a lack of confidence. You saw a change that the Wolverines made, and it was instant. The team’s excitement and enthusiasm picked up,” Meyer pointed out. He’s talking about Michigan’s quarterback switch last Saturday. Against Penn State, after a scoreless first half, coach Kyle Whittingham pulled starter Bryce Underwood and put in backup Tommy Carr. What happened? Carr immediately led the Wolverines to a 21-18 win over the Nittany Lions. If Texas is thinking about benching Manning before Ole Miss, Meyer isn’t counting it out. He flat out said, “If the backup can help you win, I’d think about it.”
So now, it’s all on Sarkisian. With No. 7 Ole Miss coming to town, the pressure is immense. Does he stick with the guy who looked like a superstar against Ohio State, or does he make the tough call that Meyer is hinting at? This Saturday is gonna be massive, no doubt.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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