Arch Manning is absolutely still Texas’s starting quarterback this Saturday night when the No. 19 Longhorns host No. 7 Ole Miss, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian. He made that crystal clear Monday, telling reporters, “he’s our starter.” But here’s the kicker: Sarkisian wouldn’t guarantee Manning finishes the game as QB1, especially after ESPN dropped a report that sophomore backup KJ Lacey is getting an “up-tick” in first-team reps at practice this week.
The QB1 Rollercoaster: From Heisman Hopeful to Hot Seat
Look, the Longhorns are in a tough spot, having lost their last two games and tumbling all the way from No. 1 to No. 19 in the AP poll. That’s a brutal fall. Manning, who kicked off the season as a Heisman Trophy contender, had that incredible fourth-quarter comeback against then-No. 1 Ohio State. But those highs? They’re getting drowned out by his late-game mistakes against Oklahoma and Florida. You gotta wonder if those two recent losses have him feeling the pressure.
His numbers tell part of the story, too. Manning’s tossed 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, and the Longhorns are only averaging 23.0 points per game against Power Four defenses. When you stack him up against other SEC quarterbacks, he’s ninth in passing efficiency (145.2), tenth in completion percentage (63.9), and eleventh in passing yards with 215.8 per game. Sarkisian didn’t pull any punches, either: “Arch can play better for us. He’s our starter, but I need to see a better version of Arch Manning. I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now, but we need to see a better version to end this week.” Oof.
Backup Buzz and a Chip on the Shoulder
The buzz around KJ Lacey getting more first-team reps isn’t exactly a minor detail, no matter how Sarkisian tried to play it off. When asked directly about the ESPN report, Sarkisian retorted that Lacey “takes first-team reps every week.” Yeah, of course the backup practices with the starters, but “up-tick” implies more than usual. So when pressed if Lacey would see more time with the starters, Sarkisian got a little coy: “Not to me, but we’ll find out as the week goes.” That’s not exactly a vote of confidence that everything’s totally fine, is it?
Despite the struggles and the backup talk, Manning sounds ready to fight. Sarkisian mentioned a “productive meeting” with Manning on Sunday, sensing a “chip on his shoulder.” Manning himself echoed that sentiment, saying, “It’s hard to not have a chip on my shoulder right now. I think I play better with it on.” He’s gonna need every bit of that chip this Saturday.
This weekend’s matchup against No. 7 Ole Miss is huge. It’s at Royal-Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. and it’s gonna be a must-watch. Adding to the drama? Ole Miss has retired the jersey numbers of Manning’s grandfather, Archie, and his uncle, Eli. Talk about family history on the line! Ole Miss’s defense is giving up 236.5 passing yards per game, which is twelfth in the SEC, so there might be some opportunities for Manning to air it out. He needs to seize them and prove he’s still the guy.
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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